Here's what the new 24H2 release contains

Windows 11 is getting a major makeover with its latest 24-hour update. Let's take a look at the major new features.

Relatively late in the month, Microsoft finally released the promised but optional update to Windows 11 version 24H2. The KB5040529 patch brings the operating system to version 26100.1297 and brings several features that testers have long requested.

Microsoft is currently releasing build 26100.1297 (KB5040529), which is initially available For beta testers in the Release Preview ChannelThis update promises to be rich.

Lock screen says more

One of the biggest changes in this update is the lock screen. Gone are the days when it only gave you the time and weather! From now on, you'll be able to see sports scores, traffic information, and even the latest financial news.

To activate this function, nothing could be easier: go to ” Settings > Personalization > Lock screen“. And here you have all the information you need without having to open your computer.

The Start menu gets a makeover

The Start menu hasn't been forgotten in this update. Microsoft has integrated a new account manager that gives you a quick overview of the benefits of your Microsoft account.

But the real star of this update is the return of a feature that many users have been asking for: the ability to pin apps to the taskbar by simply dragging and dropping from the Start menu.

This was a very common feature in previous versions of Windows, and its absence in the early versions of Windows 11 raised a lot of eyebrows.

File Explorer becomes more flexible

File Explorer hasn't been forgotten. What's new? You can now drag files between navigation items in the address bar.

For starters, breadcrumbs are a series of folders that appear in your address bar and show you where you are in your file tree. For example: This PC > Documents > Work > Projects“

Previously, if you wanted to move a file from Projects to Documents, you had to manually climb up the tree. Now a simple drag and drop is enough. It's a small change that can make a big difference, especially if you use different folders often.

More inclusive emojis (this will upset some people)

Windows 11 24H2 now supports emoji standard 15.1. On the list of new features: horizontal and vertical head shaking emoji, phoenix, lemon, brown mushroom, broken chain. Enough to enrich your digital conversations!

But what’s really interesting is how Microsoft handles family representations. Where some systems opt for avatars, Windows keeps human representations. It’s a choice aimed at making emoji more inclusive and diverse.

The post has been reviewed and corrected.

The Windows Share window has received a complete facelift. No more accidental closing by clicking outside the window! You now need to use the close button in the upper right corner. This change may seem trivial, but it can save a lot of frustration, especially in a professional context where every second counts.

For Microsoft Teams fans, there’s something new: direct sharing to selected Teams channels and group chats is now possible. However, please note that this functionality is only available if you’re connected to a Microsoft ID. Microsoft Intra (Formerly known as Azure Active Directory).

Another useful new feature is the ability to create QR codes for website URLs and cloud files directly from the share window. This is especially useful if you often work between different devices (from different ecosystems).

More accurate task manager

The Task Manager also got its share of improvements. The first noticeable change: DDR speed modules. Go from MHz to MT/s (Massive Transfers Per Second). This change may sound technical, but it actually allows for a more accurate measurement of your RAM's performance.

Microsoft has also fixed several issues, including those related to USB devices. The reliability and performance of the sorting process has been improved, and a bug that prevented USB devices from being safely deleted when Task Manager was open has been fixed.

Accessibility hasn't been forgotten, with improvements to keyboard focus, tabbed navigation, text resizing, and screen reader compatibility. Window resizing has also been made easier, which is especially valuable on high-resolution displays.

The tool icons on the taskbar have been redesigned and are now cleaner. Microsoft has also added a larger set of animated icons. The stated goal is to increase the “visual appeal” of the taskbar.

patience…

At the moment, these new features are not available in the stable version of Windows 11. So, a little patience. Experience shows that it often takes several weeks or even months for the functionality to be tested in the program. From inside To be widely disseminated.