UPDATED 2/2/2023: Windows 11 22H2 (2022 Update) is available from September 20, 2022. This is the first major update of the new generation of Windows. It introduces a set of new features and improvements to improve security and overall user experience.

On September 20, Microsoft made available the Windows 11 2022 Update as a free upgrade for devices already running Windows 11 21H2 (and those compatible computers running Windows 10) that are known to have a smooth upgrade experience. Over time, the update will continue to expand to more devices based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of the hardware, and other factors. Then sometime during the first half of 2023, Windows 11 22H2 will be fully available.

Like previous releases, you will be notified to download the new version manually through Windows Update. If you are a “seeker,” you can force the upgrade by clicking the Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings and then the Download and install button. Alternatively, you can install the new update using a USB installation media or ISO file to perform an in-place upgrade or clean installation. In addition, you can use the Installation Assistant to upgrade.

This guide highlights the improvements as they appear in previews through the Windows Insider Program and will be updated regularly to reflect the changes. Last updated on February 2, 2023, with the changes available to build 22622.1105 in the Stable Channel.

TL;DR

These are the new features for Windows 11 22H2:

• New Start menu folders to group apps.
• New option to change the number of pins in the Start menu.
• Taskbar ability to drag and drop files and apps.
• Taskbar Overflow menu to hide apps that don’t fit.
• New Snap layouts drag and drop interface.
• New Task Manager with a modern interface.
• New Live captions feature to improve understanding of spoken content.
• New Voice access feature to control a device with voice.
• New touch gestures for tablets.
• News Smart App Control (SAC) feature to block dangerous apps.
• Legacy interface with visual changes.
• Updated Focus feature with focus session integration.
• Updated File Explorer with tabs and redesigned navigation pane.
• Updated Quick Settings with options to control Bluetooth devices.
• Updated Print Queue and Print dialog apps with automatic printer detection.
• Improved power management tweaks to reduce energy composition.
• Option to uninstall updates from the Settings app.

What’s new on Windows 11 22H2

These are the new Windows 11 22H2 features already available through the Windows Insider Program.

Start menu improvements

Windows 11 22H2 brings new settings to customize the “Recommended” section in the Start Menu. While it’s still not possible to disable and remove the feature, you can now choose from three different options in the Start settings page to show fewer recommended items and more pins, including “More pins,” “Default,” and “More recommendations.”

The “More pins” only shows a single row of items and allows you to show more pins. The “Default” option shows three rows of recommended items and three rows of pin items, and the “More Recommendations” option offers more recommended items and two rows of pins.

In addition, this new version adds another entry in the right-click context menu for the “Recommended” and “More” buttons in the Start menu to refresh the items.

As part of the power menu settings, Windows also adds a quick access button that opens the “Sign-in options” page.

The “Windows Easy of Access” folder has been renamed to “Accessibility,” the “Windows Terminal” to “Terminal,” and “Windows Media Player” to “Windows Media Player Legacy.”

Another big feature of the Start menu is folders. You can now drag an app on top of another to create a folder. You can add more Apps to a folder, rearrange apps within a folder, and remove apps from a folder.

It’s also possible to rename the folder with the “Edit folder” option.

Taskbar changes

In the Taskbar, you can now scroll the mouse wheel in the Taskbar volume icon to change the volume level. On the Taskbar settings page, you will now find the option to enable or disable the ability to share a window from a Taskbar on apps like Microsoft Teams.

The experience is getting a minor update that shows when you use spatial sound in the tooltip.

Windows 11 22H2 brings some changes for the “Quick Settings” flyout, including a new option to open the “Bluetooth & Devices” setting page when right-clicking the “Bluetooth” button. In addition, there’s a new icon next to the volume slider to make the option more discoverable. Also, the tooltip on the volume icon has been updated to show when you are using spatial sound.

In the “Notification Center,” the experience improves the visibility of app names from the notifications. In addition, the notification design has been updated to include an acrylic background. And the animation used in the Windows Hello notification when setting up the feature has been updated.

Microsoft is also updating its notification system. For example an application that sends notifications or call alerts may have three high-priority notifications stacked at the same time. This means you can see 4 notifications at once (3 high priority and 1 normal priority).

The Windows 11 2022 update finally updated the floating design of system hardware indicators such as on/off privacy camera volume brightness and airplane mode to match the new system style design language. The new items also support light and dark color modes.

Furthermore, when using the “Windows key + ALT + K” keyboard shortcut, you will now see a confirmation flyout when muting a Microsoft Teams call.

Also, when you open the “Quick links” menu by right-clicking the Start button or using the “Windows key + X” keyboard shortcut, you will notice that the “Apps & Features” entry has now been renamed to “Installed apps.”

Additionally the menu now has a Terminal entry to open the Windows Terminal as Applications is the new default setting for all command line applications. Windows PowerShell entries are displayed if the console is not available.

Also, Windows 11 now shows the estimated battery life in the tooltip for the battery icon in the System tray.

The Task View (Windows key + Tab) experience now shows Snap groups allowing users to switch to different snap groups quickly. Also, the preview for Snap groups will now show part of the desktop wallpaper to make it easier to distinguish between the groups.

When you open Task View on a system with multiple monitors, the background should now be acrylic on both monitors.

In addition, this version makes the keyboard focus visuals more prominent in Task View to make them easier to see.

Furthermore, when using the “ALT + Tab” keyboard shortcut, the experience will show running apps in a windowed interface instead of a full-screen experience. However, clicking the Task View button in the Taskbar will continue to show running apps in full-screen. Also, The selected item in “ALT + TAB,” “Task View,” and “Snap assist” will now use the system accent color.

In addition, this new version has a new interface to switch between languages and keyboard layouts with an acrylic background. Also, Microsoft made improvements to its overall performance and reliability.

Windows 11 22H2 also provides the ability to drag and drop files between application windows by hovering over an application in the taskbar to bring its window to the front.

Attaching a file to an Outlook email brings the window to the foreground by dragging and hovering over the Outlook icon on the taskbar. In Preview paste the file into an email to attach it.

You can also drag and drop it onto a task to pin the task to apps from the Start All Apps menu. And you can drag and drop to the desktop by pointing from the desktop to the left corner of the taskbar.

Microsoft has added a new visual indicator to the shared window task list that shows which windows are shared. This is important when you have many applications running on your mind or shared across multiple monitors. When you want to share a window in Microsoft Teams call your shared window now surrounded by a colored border.

Multi-color profiles laptop or desktop you can add quick settings to easily switch between these modes.

When casting (Windows key + K) from your computer, a “Cast” icon will appear at the lower-left corner of your Taskbar to indicate you are casting. Clicking the icon will open the “Cast Quick Settings,” where you can quickly stop the stream.

Microsoft has also updated the battery charging indicator to use a lightning bolt instead of a power cable.

Clicking on the Bluetooth option in Quick Settings will redirect you to a new page that allows you to view external devices available to connect and disconnect and view the battery status of supported devices.

Also, the “Keyboard Layout” section has been removed from the Quick Settings flyout.

Taskbar Overflow

This new version also introduces the taskbar overflow feature making it easier to display and launch applications when you dont have much space on the taskbar. According to the company the taskbar will automatically switch to this new overflow mode when it reaches its maximum capacity.

In overflow mode the taskbar will provide an entry point for the overflow menu so you can see your apps in one place.

The overflow menu contains most of the functionality of the taskbar including pinning apps to jump lists and extending the interface. At runtime the overflow menu closes silently after you click outside of it or navigate to the app.

Do Not Disturb and Focus

On Windows 11, the “do not disturb” feature makes it easy to silence notification banners. In the Notifications settings, you can set up rules to automatically turn on do not disturb. For example you can set Do Not Disturb to work automatically outside of your hours. Additionally you can control notification priority when recording calls and interrupt special apps.

In addition to changing the name from “Focus assist” to “Focus” to help you stay on track, the feature now integrates with the Clock app for other focus tools, such as a focus timer and calming music.

To start “Focus” is easy from the Notification Center by pressing the Start Focus button.

When you start a “Focus” session, Taskbar badging will turn off, flashing of applications in the Taskbar will turn off, a focus timer will appear on screen, and do not disturb will turn on. When your focus session ends, you’ll receive a notification letting you know your focus time has been completed. You can personalize your focus experience on Settings > System > Focus.

New Snap layouts drop menu

Microsoft is also adding a new way to snap windows into snap layouts for both touch and mouse. You can try it by dragging a window to the top of the screen to reveal the snap layouts, dropping the window on top of a zone to snap it, and using Snap assist to finish snapping your windows in the selected layout.

The company has improved Snap assist to seamlessly animate between zones in a layout for a better end-to-end experience.

Snap assist will now show the three most recent tabs of Microsoft Edge as suggestions to snap in the layout. You can always disable the feature from the “Multitasking” settings page in the “System” section.

When resizing apps in the snap layouts, you will see the corresponding app “icon” on top of the acrylic background.

If you press the “Windows key + Z” keyboard shortcut to open Snap layouts, the layouts will now appear with numbers to make them easier to identify.

Microsoft has updated the snap group visuals to include the desktop wallpaper to make it easier to differentiate your groups from normal windows. This will appear when using “ALT + TAB,” Task View, and Taskbar previews.

You will also notice a new transition animation that shows going from one snapped window state to another. Rotating the computer between portrait and landscape orientation is snappier and more responsive. And Microsoft has reduced the number of notification sounds that play when you connect and disconnect docks and monitors.

It is now easier to move the cursor and windows between monitors by letting your cursor jump over areas where it would previously get stuck. This behavior is controlled in System > Display > Multiple displays settings and using the Ease cursor movement between displays option.

Windows 11 also made minor changes to the snapping options under System > Multitasking to help simplify them and make them easier to understand.

Finally, since build 22621.819, Windows 11 has re-introduced the “Task Manager” option in the Taskbar context menu.

File Explorer update

Starting with the 2022 Update, Windows 11 introduces an update for File Explorer that includes several visual changes and improvements.

For example, this version ships with new and highly requested features, including support for tabs and redesigned navigation pane. You will find a new Home page, OneDrive integration, shortcuts, changes for the context menu, and more.

New Home page

File Explorer has a new default “Home” page. However, this isn’t something entirely new. Microsoft has only renamed the “Quick access” page to “Home” and added a new icon. Also, the “Quick access” name will now be the name of the first section in “Home” that holds your pinned folders, and the “Pinned files” section is now called “Favorites.”

The “Recent” section holds your recent files locally stored on the device or in the cloud. Also, the recent and favorite files sections are now searchable using the box in File Explorer, even if they are not local files.

The “Add to Favorites” support through the context menu will now be available for files and folders, and these contents will appear in the new “Favorites” section above “Recent” in Home.

When using a Microsoft, work, or education account, “Favorites” and “Recent” files from Office.com will also appear on the “Home” page.

The “Home” page can show content from OneDrive, Downloads, and virtually from all the index locations. If files are unavailable locally on the computer, they will show thumbnails, and you can share them through OneDrive.

Changes that pin or unpin files hosted in OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams will sync and be reflected in Office.com and Office apps. Also, file activity updates from collaborators, such as edits and comments, are shown in the “Tiles” view and can also be shown in the “Details” view.

On the “Folder Options” page, in the General tab, the “Open File Explorer to” option lets you decide to open the file manager on the OneDrive folder, This PC, or Home page. Also, a new “Show files from Office.com” option allows you to show or hide recent and favorites on the Home page.

Tabs support

File Explorer is finally getting support for tabs. The new tabs system work like the experience in the web browser. Instead of having multiple instances of the app, you can now use one instance of the app to navigate multiple folders and drive locations.

When you open the file manager, you will find a plus (+) button to create a new tab in the title bar. Or you can right-click a folder and select the option to open in a new tab.

When comparing the old and new designs, we can see some improvements. For instance, you can now right-click a tab to access a context menu with the options to close the current, close all others, or close tabs on the right. You can also rearrange the tabs as needed using the mouse.

File Explorer even includes some keyboard shortcuts to work with tabs. You can use the Ctrl + T keyboard shortcut to create a new tab, the Ctrl + W keyboard shortcut to close a tab, and you can use the middle button of the mouse to close a tab.

Redesigned navigation pane

The default file manager for Windows 11 also comes with a redesigned navigation pane. The new visual changes provide easy access to pinned and frequently used folders and OneDrive cloud profiles, which now reflect the user’s name associated with the account.

Also, when navigating to folders syncing to OneDrive, the address bar displays the correct path to make it easier to understand when the folders are on the cloud versus when they are local to you.

The known folders (Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, etc.) are no longer displayed under “This PC” to keep that view focused on the drives.

Context menu refinements

In the legacy context menu (Show More Options), the items now include more padding, and the highlight is light or dark, depending on the system color instead of blue. You will also see this in the File menu of the Task Manager experience.

In addition, the context menu will add a few new top-level options, including “Install” when right-clicking on font files and “.inf” files. “Install certificate” when right-clicking on .cer files. “Map network drive” and “Disconnect network drive” when right-clicking on “This PC.” And “Disconnect” when right-clicking on network drives.

From the “This PC” page, when you click the “See more” (three-dotted) menu, you will find the option to add a media server connection.

Also, when right-clicking the “This PC” item in the navigation pane, you will find options like “Add a network location,” “Map a network drive,” and “Disconnect network drive,” and the existing “Expand” option has a new icon.

The file manager includes new icons for the “Rename,” “Properties,” and “Optimize” options to be more consistent and easier to understand.

Finally, this version of Windows also brings the new right-click menu to Recycle Bin.

OneDrive integration

File Explorer also comes with a new OneDrive integration to help you have control over storage consumption and ensure your files are syncing. When browsing your OneDrive folders, you can now see your sync status and quota usage without leaving the app.

Folder previews

Furthermore, the app can now show previews of items within folders.

Sharing improvements

Microsoft is working on improving the file-sharing experience. For instance, when clicking the Share button for a file, File Explorer will suggest contacts to share the content, nearby people, or apps.

When sharing a local file in File Explorer to Outlook, it will now be possible to compose an email message within the share window without going into Outlook directly.

Also, when using Nearby sharing, the Share interface uses the UDP protocol (in private networks) and Bluetooth to discover even more devices, including desktop computers.

If you share a local file from File Explorer and other apps that use the Share interface, you can choose OneDrive as a target to directly upload the file to OneDrive and share it further, along with access control options.

Open With dialog interface 

When you update to this release, you will also find the new “Open with” dialog box that includes a new interface that aligns with the new design language. Microsoft has also simplified the experience by enabling you to update your default app with just one click.

New keyboard shortcuts

Also, you can use the “Shift + Right-click” shortcut to open the classic context menu instead of the modern alternative that offers fewer options.

When selecting a file or folder, it’s possible to use the “Ctrl + Shift + C” keyboard shortcut to copy the item path to the clipboard.

If you are working with tabs, you can use the Ctrl + T keyboard shortcut to create a new tab, the Ctrl + W keyboard shortcut to close a tab, and the mouse’s middle button to close a tab.

Suggested actions 

This new version also comes with “Suggested actions,” a new feature that brings up inline suggestions to create a calendar event or make a phone call when copying a date, time, or phone number.

If you copy a phone number, the inline flyout would suggest making the call with Microsoft Teams or other apps available on the computer.

Coping a date or time will suggest creating a calendar event, and when you choose the app, an event will be created with all the information already filled in.

New Task Manager design

Windows 11 22H2 has a new Task Manager design that matches the desktop style. This includes a new hamburger-style navigation bar and a new settings page. A new command bar on each page gives access to everyday actions. Microsoft has even added a dark theme for the new Task Manager.

Task Manager also includes a new Efficiency mode (formerly “Eco mode”) feature that will come in handy when you notice an app consuming high resources and want to limit its consumption, allowing the system to prioritize other apps.

You can apply “Efficiency mode” by clicking on the command bar on the “Processes” page or right-clicking on the process. You can only use “Efficiency mode” for a single process, not the entire group process. If the option is greyed out, it generally means that it’s a core Windows process, and throttling it might affect the system’s performance.

The “Efficiency mode” process will have a new “leaf” icon, and there’s a new “pause” icon for “Suspended” processes to indicate the process is in suspended mode.

In addition, the Task Manager now includes accent color support for the “Processes” tab heatmap. However, in some cases, you will see the default blue accent color to ensure readability.

Task Manager also introduces at least five new keyboard shortcuts:

• Alt + E – ends the selected process.
• Alt + N – opens the dialog to run a new task.
• Alt + V – turns “Efficiency Mode” on or off.
• Ctrl + Tab – Cycles through the tabs in the navigation area.
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab –  Cycles through the tabs in the navigation area in reverse.

The app has other shortcuts as well. You only need to press the “Alt” key to display the trigger letter on the interface.

New Print Queue and Print Dialog

Windows 11 now has a redesigned version of the Print Queue app that matches the new modern design. The app also has easier to use with visuals that make it easier to view and manage print jobs.

Also, the Print dialog interface has been updated with the new Windows 11 design language, and it can now discover network printers automatically. If you select a printer that was never available on the computer, Windows 11 will install the device automatically without opening the Settings app.

Touch experience changes

Windows 11 now launches apps maximized by default on table posture for small devices, 11-inch screen diagonal and under.

The new touch keyboard and IMEs designs will now show on the Lock screen and where you enter your account information.

Also, Windows 11 22H2 updates the media controls on the Lock screen for supported apps using a design similar to the media controls available through the Quick Settings flyout. However, these controls will always use the dark color mode to match the Lock screen environment.

Windows 11 2022 Update includes new touch gestures to make it easier and quicker to navigate the desktop and apps:

• Swipe with your finger from the middle of the Taskbar to invoke the Start menu and swipe back down to dismiss it.
• Swipe right to left from Pinned to get to All apps and left to right to get back to Pinned. The same gesture works for Recommended/More.
• Swipe with your finger from the bottom right of the Taskbar to invoke Quick Settings and swipe back down to dismiss it.
• Microsoft updated the animation when swiping to invoke and dismiss Notification Center from the right edge of your screen so that it’s more responsive and follows your finger.
• In full-screen touch-oriented apps and games, you will notice a gripper that appears if you swipe from the edges of the screen.

Lock screen improvements

Windows 11 now comes with an updated accessibility flyout on the login screen to align with the new modern design principles.

Settings app improvements

As usual, the next version of Windows 11 will include an updated version of the Settings app with various new features and improvements. For example, the app now improves results when searching for settings, and the icons from the navigation pane have been increased to make them easier to see.

Windows 11 now includes links in Settings to help customers find different programs to give their computers a second life or recycle.

Storage Sense will now be enabled by default for computers going through OOBE. Your current settings will be persisted on the upgrade. You can configure your Storage Sense settings under System > Storage.

Also, the app now supports managing apps previously only supported by Control Panel. This includes the ability to uninstall apps that have inter-dependencies and repair and modify Win32 apps.

Display page

On the Display page, the pop-up design when the “Identify” experience now has rounded corners to match the modern design of Windows 11.

Also, on supported hardware, the display calibration is now directly available under Settings > Display > HDR instead of opening a separate Settings page.

Under the “Multiple displays” settings, you will now find a new “Ease cursor movement between displays” option. The option is meant to make moving the cursor and windows between monitors easier by letting your cursor jump over areas where it would previously get stuck.

On the “Graphics” page, you will find a new Change default graphics option that opens a new page. The page includes a new “Optimizations for windowed games” feature, designed to improve latency and unlock other exciting gaming features, including Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Latency improvements can benefit all gamers, from improving your input lag to creating a competitive edge in your gaming experience.

Sound page

On the Sound page, you will now see a warning when microphone access has been restricted in your privacy setting.

Notifications

On the Notifications page, the “Focus assist” settings become the “Do not disturb” settings, and you can now control the feature with the “Turn on do not disturb automatically” settings. Some of the settings include the ability to set the time when the feature automatically turns on and off and control several other rules.

Also, the “Set priority notifications” settings (“Priority list”) allow you to choose which notifications are permitted while the “Do not disturb” feature is turned on.

Also, starting with build 22621.674, the Widgets icon in the Taskbar brings badge notifications.

Focus page

On the Focus page, the settings have been reorganized to integrate with focus sessions and configure the features you want to have enabled or disabled ruing a session, including timer, badges, and flashes from apps in the Taskbar, and do not disturb.

As part of the Focus features, version 22H2 adds 5-minute increments for everything under a half-hour to focus session length options.

Power & battery

On the Power & battery page, the default values for Sleep and Screen off are reduced to save energy and carbon emissions when the computer is idle. Windows 11 will also offer power-saving recommendations to help reduce carbon emissions to those with Sleep and Screen offset to Never.

Storage Spaces

The Storage Spaces page has a new design to match the Settings design style on Windows 11 and new iconography. However, no new features have been added.

Disks & Volumes

The Disks & Volumes page received an update in this release to match the Settings app design style with new visuals, updated iconography, rounded corners, and more.

Multitasking

On the Multitasking page, Windows 11 also made minor changes to the snapping options to help simplify them and make them easier to understand. This means that on version 22H2, you will see five options, three of which are new ones:

• Show snap layouts when I grab a window to the top of the screen.
• Show my snapped windows when I hover over taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt+Tab.
• When I drag a window, let me snap it without dragging it to the screen edge.

Finally, the “Alt + Tab” setting is now called “Show Microsoft Edge tabs when snapping or pressing Alt + Tab.”

Bluetooth

As part of the Bluetooth improvements, Windows 11 will now remember if you turn on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi while in airplane mode. Then the next time you use airplane mode, the radios will reflect your preference.

Printers & Scanners 

The Printers & Scanners page has been updated to show more details about the printer and scanner.

Phone Link

The Phone Link page has a new name to reflect the “Your Phone” app change.

Touch page

The Touch settings page available through the “Bluetooth & Devices” section adds a link to make it so that the press-and-hold visual is now always displayed regardless of the setting state.

Ethernet and Wi-Fi

On the Ethernet and Wi-Fi page, Windows 11 22H2 adds support for “Discovery of Designated Resolvers” (DDR), allowing the system to discover encrypted DNS configurations from a DNS resolver known only by its IP address.

VPN page

On the VPN page, you can now see some VPN connection details when clicking the connection in the Settings app.

Airplane mode

The Airplane mode page will now remember whether the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi was disabled while the feature was enabled, so the next time you use Airplane mode, the radios will use the previous settings.

Advanced sharing settings

The Advanced sharing settings page is new in the “Network & internet” section. The page ports several sharing settings previously available in Control Panel, including “Network discovery,” “File and printer sharing,” and public folder sharing.

In addition, some entry points for network and device settings in Control Panel will now open in the Settings app.

Themes

On the Themes page, the contrast theme color base has been tweaked, and the links are now more distinct on hover when using the desert theme.

In addition, since build 22621.963, the Themes page also includes an option to enable Windows Spotlight to make it easier for you to discover and turn on the feature. In the past, the option was only available on the “Backgrounds” page.

Text input

The Text input (formerly “Touch keyboard”) page expands the theme and customization settings to the touch keyboard, voice typing, emoji panel, and other input methods.

The page has two parts, including “Theme” and “Touch keyboard.” The “Theme” section includes fifteen predefined themes that you can use for the text input methods. The “Custom theme” page allows you to create a custom theme for the