- Windows 11 has a new build in the Release Preview channel
- This brings changes that will likely debut in next month's update
- There isn't much in the way of new features in terms of major changes, but there's some notable activity with honing and fixing the OS
We've caught a glimpse of what's next for Windows 11, with a bunch of new features dropping – and while there's nothing hugely exciting in that regard, there's evidence of quite a bit of fixing going on.
Remember that Microsoft recently announced that it's going to "improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people", meaning it'll go back to the fundamentals to fix bugs and performance issues with the OS?
Well, what we appear to be seeing here is the first result of that work. There are a number of moves to shore up various parts of Windows 11 in the latest incarnation of the operating system in the Release Preview channel, as detailed in Microsoft's blog post.
That channel is the final stage of testing before release, as the name indicates, and what's happening in here is likely to roll out to Windows 11 very soon. Indeed, much of this work may well land in the next update for March, which is due in a few weeks.
Want to know exactly what's in store here? I'm going to round up the tweaks which Microsoft is implementing, grouping them into two broad categories: reliability improvements and performance boosts. Individually, these are minor tweaks, but they'll add up to some useful improvements overall – particularly for sleep mode and printers.
After that, I'll touch on some of the new features inbound for Windows 11, which, as noted, aren't particularly earth-shattering or remarkable. However, there's an interesting addition for the taskbar, and some new emojis too – plus a disappointing extra that's worth grumbling about, and I could well live without, frankly.
Reliability improvements
Microsoft says it's smoothing over issues with the reliability of the login screen in Windows 11. The company is also making sending bigger files with Nearby Sharing a more reliable process.
Microsoft further notes it's improving the "reliability of displaying the project pane after pressing the Windows key plus P".
There's also a bit of work that's been applied to File Explorer in this build, introducing better reliability when displaying the various devices listed on the Network page.
Furthermore, Windows 11 is getting a tweak for when waking from sleep in a specific niche scenario, namely those using their notebook with the lid closed while hooked up to a docking station (in other words, viewing the desktop on an external monitor, not the laptop screen).
Microsoft explains: "For laptops used with a docking station while the lid is closed, improved reliability of resuming from sleep when connecting to AC power, without needing to open the laptop lid."
Performance enhancements
The settings page for Windows Update options is being tweaked so it runs in a smoother and more responsive manner, we're told by Microsoft. Also, in Storage Settings, Windows 11 will have faster performance when it comes to scanning for temporary files.
For those using a printer, Windows 11 is getting some tweaks which should, in Microsoft's words, "ensure smoother performance and prevent slowdowns during high‑volume printing", which sounds like it could be useful for offices.
And again, sleep mode is getting some attention here, with some performance tweaks relating to the display that will mean a PC wakes from sleep more quickly in situations where the system is doing a lot of work (with a ton of apps open, say) – and also in other unspecified scenarios. In short, resuming from sleep should be a bit snappier all-round in the near future. (Notably, all this follows some nasty bugginess with sleep mode in recent times).
New features – and an unwelcome intrusion
As mentioned, there are quite a few new features here, but many of these are pretty lowkey or not that relevant to the average user (business-related stuff, in other words).
Notable introductions are new emoji for those who use them regularly via Windows 11's emoji picker. The Emoji 16.0 release brings a "thoughtfully curated set" of fresh creations, one of which is added to each major category.
There's a new network speed test coming to the taskbar, too. You can access it via the network icon in the system tray (far right of the taskbar), and the test fires up in the default browser, giving you a readout on current Ethernet, Wi‑Fi and cellular speeds (whichever of these connections is available on your PC). This way you can quickly check for flaky performance, and it's a convenient touch for Windows 11 users.
I mentioned a downside in terms of the new introductions coming for Windows 11, and it's the following: "A new entry point in the account menu on the Start menu now directs you to the benefits page" where you can "explore and manage the benefits associated with your Microsoft account".
In other words, this is some extra promotion for why you should sign up for an account if you haven't already, and there's quite enough of this kind of unwanted fluff and general cajoling of folks in Windows 11 as it is.
It'd be good if Microsoft's fixing of Windows 11 didn't just include bug squashing, reliability improvements, and performance boosts – but also some streamlining of the bloat around the interface, not adding more.
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