Windows 11’s 24H2 update is almost here — let’s talk about some of the features we’re expecting to see

Windows 11’s 24H2: fresh features and improvements incoming

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

The next major release forWindows 11,version 24H2, is expected to be released byMicrosoftany week now, and it’s bringing some neat new features to theoperating system.

Version 24H2 has been in development for a while now and has beenin testing with Windows 11 users for at least a couple of months, so here are some of the features, changes, and improvements we’re looking forward to.

Some of these will require that you have a new-generationCopilot+ PCthat has the necessary hardware to support some of the new featuresMicrosoftis bringing toWindows 11, but if you’re on a device with an olderIntelorAMDprocessor, you can still expect some new developments. This is not an exhaustive list; I’m just pointing out some of the features and changes that I think could genuinely improve the user experience.

Features we expect to see, whether you have a Copilot+ PC or not

The Start menu has been seeing many revisions recently (some better and more useful than others), and with 24H2, the Start menu is getting a new integratedPhone Linkpanel.

This will sit directly next to the Start menu, displaying handy information to have on hand about your phone and links to locations such as recent messages, battery information, and photos. If you have anAndroidphone, I can see this making your overall computing experience across multiple devices easier and smoother.

File Exploreris another Windows 11 feature that’s recently seen renovations and it looks like more improvements are on the way. This includes the ability to browse a connected Android device’s file systems and contents directly in File Explorer, the ability to quickly duplicate an opened File Explorer tab, and the ability to compress files into a variety of archive formats without the need for a third-party app - farewell,WinRAR!

There’s also Voice Clarity, a feature designed to minimize background noise to make you sound clearer while you’re on calls. This was previously exclusive to devices withNPUs (Neural Processing Units)like the newSnapdragon X Elitelaptops, but that looks like it might change with 24H2. Microsoft has optimized the AI model used to power Voice Clarity to make this possible on x86 PCs equipped with NPU-lessIntelandAMDprocessors.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

Copilot gets a makeover

The actual Copilot app in Windows 11 is also getting some big changes - though perhaps not for the better. As we reported when it was first unveiled,Copilot now behaves a lot more like a traditional windowed app, no longer anchored in the bottom-right of the interface.

This makes it easy to use, since it can be pinned or unpinned to the taskbar, resized, minimized, and moved around like a regular app on your desktop. You can also now uninstall it - a somewhat surprising move given Microsoft’s previous bullishness around its AI helper, but a welcome one.

As for what has actually changed, well… not much, it seems.Neowinnoted that it seems some of the integrations Copilot had in version 23H2 have simply vanished, such as turning on Do Not Disturb - now, the bot just explains how to do so. It’s unclear as to whether the AI has gained any actual new powers in 24H2, but it’s entirely possible that Microsoft is just holding back the juicy stuff for the full release.

Copilot+ PCs prepare for take off, we wait to see what 24H2 will be like

Now, we expect features like these to be available to all Windows 11 users with a suitable device, but some features are only expected to be available on Copilot+ PCs. These include Live Captions, which will be able to generate subtitles in real time for whatever you’re watching or listening to in any app (though we don’t know what it’ll look like), and an improvedPaint CocreatorAI assistant inthe Paint app.

We don’t expect changes that transform Windows 11 into a whole new operating system (perhaps Microsoft is waiting for the next iteration of Windows to really show off), but it packs in all kinds of improvements that I expect will feel tangible for most people. WithWindows 10’s deprecation on the horizon, Microsoft desperately wants users to make the transition, and I don’t know if 24H2 will convinceWindows 10, but it will probably be a substantial improvement to Windows 11 anyway.

There’s also the matter of the fact that we’ll have to see how these features look and feel when they’re actually rolled out to the general public, as we’ve only seen glimpses and hints for the most part fromWindows Insidersand what they’ve gleaned from preview versions of 24H2.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE…

Kristina is a UK-based Computing Writer, and is interested in all things computing, software, tech, mathematics and science. Previously, she has written articles about popular culture, economics, and miscellaneous other topics.

She has a personal interest in the history of mathematics, science, and technology; in particular, she closely follows AI and philosophically-motivated discussions.

Alt + Tab trouble: Windows 11’s 24H2 update turns time-saving shortcut into ten-second headache

Windows 11’s Paint and Notepad apps are getting smart new AI features – though one of the best will be for Copilot+ PCs only

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: A powerful and truly portable projector