What’s new in Windows 11: Everyday experiences, reimagined

[TWF Bot]

Every day, your PC helps you get things done, stay connected, capture ideas and make time for what you enjoy. That’s why Windows 11 continues to evolve, starting with a faster, more dependable and refined experience. Throughout the year, we’ve worked with the Windows Insider community on improvements to Windows that are now beginning to roll out broadly, with more to come. That same care shapes our latest Windows experiences, building on these foundational improvements with new possibilities that make everyday moments on your PC simpler and more intuitive. From new features for gamers, to a modernized Photos experience, to more seamless phone to PC integration, Windows is built to support the way you work, create, play and connect.

A faster, more responsive Windows experience​

Responsiveness shapes nearly every experience on your PC. It’s the difference between staying in your flow and waiting for your device to catch up. That’s why we’ve continued to invest across Windows, from the platform and shell to the apps people use every day, to make Windows feel faster, more responsive and more efficient. The result is a Windows experience that’s up to 20% more responsive, with improvements you can feel as soon as you boot into your PC and extending to Start, File Explorer, Search, Snipping Tool, Microsoft 365, Edge and more1. A big part of that work is making smarter use of memory and system resources. We’ve improved memory management and efficiency across Windows to help keep more of your PC’s resources focused on what you’re actively doing. That work can make an especially meaningful difference on PCs with 8GB of memory. Windows can now keep up to 2GB more of your active data in memory instead of moving it to slower storage, helping your PC stay responsive as you open more apps or browser tabs. Windows is also making additional memory-saving improvements that reduce background memory use. For example, on PCs with 8GB of memory or less, Widgets load only when you open them, making more than 200 MB of memory available for your apps and other work2. It’s one example of the broader work underway to reduce the Windows memory footprint and deliver a fast, responsive experience across the PCs people use every day, an area we’ve made an explicit focus for Windows. But a great Windows experience isn’t only about speed. It’s also about making your PC feel dependable, less disruptive and more your own. We’re giving you more flexibility to personalize Start and your taskbar, including choosing where it appears on your screen, while making Widgets cleaner and quieter so you have more control over what gets your attention. And we’ve improved Windows Update to give you greater control over when updates happen and better coordinate updates to reduce restarts, while continuing to reduce the time it takes to apply an update. We’re also improving the everyday interactions you depend on. Bluetooth headphones work more reliably on Windows, with smoother pairing, reconnection, audio and calls, including an AirPods pairing experience that’s up to 15 seconds faster3. And we’ve made signing in with Windows Hello easier, faster and more reliable, with improvements to both face and fingerprint recognition. Alongside that work, we’re partnering with our hardware ecosystem through the Driver Quality Initiative to improve driver stability, reliability, security and performance across Windows devices. The result is a Windows experience that feels faster, more responsive and more thoughtfully designed around you, whether you’re opening an app, finding a file, connecting your headphones, arranging your taskbar the way you want or simply getting back to what you were doing.

From searching to doing, faster​

For hundreds of millions of people each day, Windows search on the taskbar is where intent begins. It’s one of the quickest ways to get started, whether finding a file, opening an app, or changing a setting. This release builds on the search quality improvements we delivered in recent months, with clearer results and more control over suggestions. Now, we are carrying those improvements forward with a new interface and expanding search from a place for finding information into a place for getting things done. Finding the right result is often only the first step. After finding what you’re looking for, you often need to navigate to another destination to complete the task. Actions allow you to complete common Windows tasks directly from the search results. When searching for a system setting like dark mode or night light, you can now make the relevant change without opening Settings or searching for the right sub-menu. Search can also help with managing your workspace, like minimizing or arranging open windows, and coming soon, the ability to interact with your connected phone. These actions are designed to make common tasks faster and more intuitive: simply search and act directly from the taskbar. The new Windows Search experience is available to Windows Insiders today and will roll out more broadly later this year. Learn more about the new Windows Search experience.

Move between your phone and PC seamlessly​

When you’re in the middle of something on your PC, your phone’s messages, apps and files should be within reach too. Windows 11 brings more of your phone experience to your desktop, so you can reply to a message, answer phone calls, open apps, and keep going without reaching for another device4. Preview messages and notifications from your Android phone or iPhone in Start to see what needs your attention. When a conversation needs a reply, open it in a window focused on your chat, send your response and get back to what you were doing. Quick Settings keeps useful phone controls close, whether you want to silence or ring a misplaced phone. With a supported Android phone, open your phone apps in separate, resizable windows on your desktop, with room to work on the larger screen alongside your other apps. Browse your phone files in File Explorer and open what you need without switching devices. And when you take a photo on your phone, a notification on your PC lets you open it with one click, ready for a closer look. When you do move between devices, Resume helps you pick up supported activities where you left off instead of finding your place again. It’s your phone and PC working together, so you can stay connected from the screen you’re already using.

From capture to creation, faster​

Spend less time searching for your photos and more time enjoying them. The new Microsoft Photos app brings images from your PC and connected libraries into one fast, beautiful Gallery, with more of your collection in view. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite trip or browsing everyday snapshots, it’s easier to see what you have and rediscover moments worth keeping close. Find a favorite by describing it in your own words or bring memories together in albums to share. Bring out the best in a favorite photo with a new Editor that loads faster and gives you easy-to-use, precise editing tools on your PC’s larger display. From a quick crop to fine-tuning colors, you have room to see the details and make the adjustments you want. Quickly remove a distracting object from the background, or use Relight to correct lighting and explore a different look. The Photos app now launches up to 20% faster and the redesigned Viewer opens photos with less clutter and more room for your pictures to shine5. When you find a photo you want to pass along or put on display, everyday actions like sharing and printing are within easy reach. Learn more about the new Photos experience.

The most PC games, and the best place to play6​

Nobody likes waiting. Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) is designed to reduce the initial load time of your games by delivering precompiled shaders for supported titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Gears of War: E-Day, so your games load in seconds instead of minutes. To get the most from ASD, install the XBOX PC app before downloading a supported game and make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. Learn more about ASD and supported titles. There’s never been a better time to start playing games on Windows. And to celebrate 25 years of XBOX, starting this November, eligible Windows 11 PC purchased in the US can claim a collection of 25 fan-favorite games at no additional cost. The collection includes $500+ worth of games, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Minecraft Dungeons, Gears of War: Reloaded, and more. Once claimed, the PC versions of the games are linked to your Microsoft account and you can play them on any compatible Windows PC, with select titles also playable on XBOX Series X|S consoles with XBOX Play Anywhere. Note that some devices eligible for the offer cannot play all the games in the collection7. Once you're playing, press Win+G to open Game Bar, where you can find useful widgets for recording your gameplay, connecting with friends, and managing your audio settings. You can also use Microsoft Edge for Game Bar to pull up guides, videos and websites on top of your game, without switching away. It's one of the exclusive features that make Microsoft Edge the best browser for gamers on Windows.

Bring ideas to life more naturally​

Some ideas are easier to draw than describe. With Microsoft Ink Canvas, pen and touch become a more natural way to sketch, annotate and bring thoughts together on a flexible canvas. Select notes, drawings and references and use Copilot to help turn them into visual or written output you can copy and transfer into another document or presentation8. It is a more fluid path from the first rough draft to something ready to share. Ink Canvas is pre-installed on Surface Pro 12-inch (2nd Edition), and users with other supported Windows devices can download it now from the Microsoft Store9.

Feel the difference in every interaction​

Advanced haptics in Windows 11 bring a sense of touch to everyday work and creativity. Whether you’re snapping a window into place, aligning an object in Microsoft PowerPoint or Affinity by Canva, or snapping a clip to a Filmora timeline, subtle tactile cues provide immediate physical confirmation that helps you work with confidence. A library of curated effects connects each cue to the action, making interactions feel more natural and responsive. Supported accessories—including Surface Mouse (2nd Edition) and Logitech MX Master 4—bring these experiences to your fingertips10. Learn more about advanced haptics.

A more comfortable PC experience, for everybody​

A personal computer should feel personal. It should adapt to how you see, read, learn and work, not the other way around. Windows 11 brings accessibility updates shaped by feedback from the people who use them every day, giving you more ways to make your screen comfortable, work with confidence and get started independently. Make your display feel right for you with Screen Tint. Choose a color overlay and adjust its strength to suit your preferences. If you use Magnifier across multiple displays, each screen can now keep its own zoom level. Keep reference material magnified on one screen while you work on another, with a locked view that stays where you need it. Magnifier’s refreshed design also puts contrast themes just a click away, while keeping the true colors in your photos. With Narrator, following an equation is easier. Math is read with its structure intact, so you can explore each part at your own pace. Improvements across everyday apps also help you get more done at work and school. Jump straight to an email’s sender or a meeting’s location in Outlook. Hear row and column headers as you move through numbers in Excel. Create and present your own PowerPoint slides or fill in forms on the web with confidence. Setting up a new PC should be accessible too. Narrator now supports braille displays that use the HID standard. If your display supports HID, simply connect over USB or Bluetooth without extra drivers and use it from the first screen of Windows setup, so you can set up a new PC on your own. To explore these settings, press Windows logo key + U to open Settings > Accessibility.

Make every day easier, with a new Windows 11 PC​

A new PC is a meaningful purchase, and the value should show up in more than a spec sheet. A modern Windows 11 PC brings together responsive everyday performance with more intuitive, connected and personal experiences, all supported by hardware designed for how you interact, create and play, from touch, pen and tactile feedback to immersive gaming experiences. The reason to upgrade is not just one feature; it is how all these experiences work together to make more of your day feel effortless. Explore the holiday Windows PC lineup, offers and buying guidance in our companion holiday blog, then choose the PC that fits how you work, create, play and connect.

---

[1] Based on measurements of Search, Start, right-click, Settings, Snipping Tool and File Explorer response times using Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550 compared to Windows 11 OS build 26200.7628; actual performance varies by device, configuration, usage, and other factors. Rollout timing and availability may vary by device and region. [2] Based on improvements included in Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550; actual memory availability and performance varies by device configuration, usage and other factors. [3] Based on improvements included in Windows 11 OS build 26200.8737; actual performance can vary by Apple AirPods model, device configuration, usage and other factors. [4] Requires compatible Android device or iPhone. features vary by mobile platform. See aka.ms/phonelink. [5] Based on measurements of Photos launch times using Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550 compared to Windows 11 OS build 26200.7628; actual performance varies by device. [6] Based on Steam’s catalog of PC games. Source: The Preferences Powering PC Gaming report by Ampere Analysis, commissioned by Microsoft, September 2025. [7] 25-game digital bundle; no discs included. Some devices eligible for this offer do not support all 25 games. Some games cannot be played on Xbox consoles and are subject to age-based content restrictions. Valid only with purchase of select Windows devices from participating U.S. retailers from 11/2/26 through 12/31/26, while supplies last. Offer will be available to claim on your eligible device in the Microsoft Store app no later than 11/30/26. Must activate your PC and claim the digital game bundle to your Microsoft account by 2/12/27. See aka.ms/XBOXbundle on 11/2/26 for game compatibility, system requirements, ratings, and full offer terms. ESRB Ratings for the games mentioned: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol / In-Game Purchases; Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Violence / Users Interact; Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – TEEN: Mild Blood, Mild Language, Violence / Users Interact; Minecraft Dungeons – EVERYONE 10+: Fantasy Violence / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases; Gears of War: Reloaded – MATURE 17+: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language / Users Interact; Other games in the collection are rated: EVERYONE to MATURE. [8] Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, or Pro subscription required for AI features. AI usage limits apply. Learn more about AI credits and limits. Minimum age limits may apply for use of AI features. See Copilot Frequently asked questions. [9] Microsoft Ink Canvas requires Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher and integrated touch support. Microsoft account and sign-in required. [10] Requires compatible hardware, supported Windows updates and app versions.

Continue reading...