Windows 11 is getting these new features soon
Microsoft plans to release the next Moments update for Windows 11 soon. Moments updates are smaller feature updates that introduce changes to the Windows 11 operating system.
The company has not revealed a launch date, but it did push the changes to the Release Preview version of Windows 11, which is an indicator that a release to stable Windows 11 devices is near.
Microsoft released two moments updates and one feature update for Windows 11 up until now. The last Moments update was released in March 2023 and you can check out the features that it introduced here.
Features of the third Windows 11 Moments update
Live Captions support is now available for additional languages: Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French (France, Canada), German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Spanish, Danish, English (Ireland, other English dialects), Korean. It was available for United States English systems only previously.
Live Captions display captions for video playing on Windows 11. It is a system-wide feature, unlike captions functionality built-into browsers. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows-Ctrl-L to start using it.
Voice Access commands are supported for additional English dialects: English (United Kingdom), English (India), English (New Zealand), English (Canada), English (Australia). The in-app voice command help page shows descriptions and examples now, making it more accessible.
Voice access needs to be enabled under Settings > Accessibility > Speech > Voice Access. Windows 11 downloads a speech model when the feature is turned on for the first time. The update adds new voice commands for text selections and editing to Windows 11:
- Select from [text 1] to [text 2]
- Delete all.
- Bold that, underline that, or italicize that.
Smaller changes:
- A VPN status icon is displayed in the System tray area when the device is "connected to a recognized VPN profile".
- Seconds may be displayed in the clock on the taskbar. This needs to be enabled under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Microsoft warns that this may increase power usage and that some devices may not be able to enable the power saving mode.
- Copy two-factor authentication codes. When 2fa codes are displayed as notification toasts by apps, Windows 11 displays a copy button to quickly copy the code to the Clipboard. Only available for English.
- Access Key shortcuts in File Explorer. These one-key shortcuts allow users to run commands quickly with just a single tap on a key.
- Multi-kiosk mode is now supported. This adds the option to set environments for different users on the device. Kiosk mode allows admins to restrict access to certain apps on the device and to block certain functionality. Admins may check the help files for information on the feature.
- Task Manager option to create a live kernel memory dump. It includes a "consistent snapshot of kernel memory" and optionally other memory types, and saves these to a dump file. To use the feature, switch to the Details tab in Task Manager, right-click on the System process and select Create live kernel memory dump file. The files are saved to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\TaskManager\LiveKernelDumps.
- New Touch keyboard control options. Founder under Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard, Windows users have now three options: never, when no keyboard attached, or always. These define if and when a touch keyboard is displayed.
- Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC). Enabled for laptops and 2-in-1 devices, and found under Settings > System > Display > Brightness & color. The available options are Off, Always and On Battery only. Devices need to support CABC.
- New USB4 hubs and devices Settings page. Found under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > USB > USB4 Hubs and Devices.
- New Presence Sensing privacy Setting. Found under Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensing. Read more about Presence Sensing here.
- Search performance is improved in Settings.
- Print Screen key behavior is changed. Instead of copying the screen to the Clipboard, a tap on the key will open the Snipping Tool by default. The old print key functionality can be restored in the Settings.
- Cloud Suggestions and integrated Search suggestions improved for Simplified Chinese.
- Show 20 most recent tabs when using Alt-Tab. Alt-Tab may display up to 2 most recent tabs when invoked. The feature is found under System > Multitasking > Show tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt-Tab.
- Accounts displaying OneDrive information.
Now You: what is your take on these changes?
@basingstoke If you have 7+ Taskbar Tweaker installed on Windows 7, 8.1, 10, it is easy to add “Force close” easily with a simple tweak. Open its advanced options. On Mouse Button Control, add new item: taskbaritem|ctrl+rclick and set its value to 8. Now ctrl+right click will force close any process.
I’m specifically trying to avoid programs that will “do it for you” – it’s all fun and games until you want to achieve something that the “tweaker” programs won’t provide – what will you do then? But good to know anyways.
I am currently working on a collection of tweaks/improvements to integrate into Windows 7, to improve useability and productivity – for the most part it will be minor QoL improvements which should add up to an improved user experience. This “collection” includes things made by 3rd party developers, software, plugins, etc, as well as tweaks made within Windows. Some things will also be managed by scripting programs like AutoIt and AutoHotKey – planning on making a blog where I talk about them and show-off how to make use of them. – because I can’t think of anyone else out there doing similar.
Not everything will be everyone’s cup of tea but there’s already lots of interesting things there – and most of the improvements will be compatible with Windows 8,10,11.
Thinking of adding shift+right click “force close” and “force restart” options to taskbar program icons just because Windows 11 has it and it seems somewhat useful. Funny how some “features” are nothing more than a registry addition.
this is how people keep their jobs, remove stuff then add it back or add pointless stuff no one wants
Most desired feature missing: roll back to Windows 10 with a 10 year EOL on it.
The vast majority of users would never use the changes. A badly needed moment is an option to reject individual moment components.
On second thought, a lot of users are silly enough to accept everything ‘just in case’, so Microsoft would not bother with a ‘reject’ option. That means everyone is exposed to the problems of increasing complexity. This means more opportunity for problem updates and more potential security holes.
No one asked for this slew of pointless and irritating features. The only thing I see that users asked to be restored was the taskbar seconds because Microsoft’s dimwits didn’t consider providing a functional taskbar with RTM. Small taskbar and uncombine buttons still missing. Start menu remains not customizable and useless. Right click menu is still worthless that you need to restore the old one to function. Performance is worst than Vista on high end hardware because they are using bloated WinUI XAML on everything. Seems like these dummies at Microsoft never actually use Windows.
A OS like Windows 7 is required. Simple UI, security are the only updates, and there are no unnecessary features. It simply runs the program I install and keeps to itself. I would pay a lot to have a Windows edition like that.
Just wise words, +10. Mostly all my friends and family revert from W11 to W10 due to taskbar problems and the explorer’s menu double click. I still don’t know how Microsoft can ruin an easy OS like W10 in such ridiculous way.
I have a Dell T3600 E5-2687w CPU, running windows 11 enterprise. I just don’t like windows 11. But in windows 7, I can’t run the software I use. Thinking about going back to windows 10 EnterPrise
W10 is the health, I can sure you. None of the people here that has moved to W10 wants W11.
Mini tiny small petite moments. Every single thing deserves an entire update, upgrade, ISO or a whole SSD full of nothing!