Microsoft: How Windows 11 has been improved

Explorer tabs in Windows
Image: Microsoft

“Evolution Instead of Revolution”: This is how Microsoft’s constant and cautious innovation for Windows 11 can be summed up. Because Microsoft knows that shocking moments that are so big when the changes are so stark can scare users away — and drive them into the arms of other systems and manufacturers.

However, many of the changes made to Windows are based on the fact that Microsoft has an open ear and listens to the wishes of its users. We recap what happened in the past few weeks.

Explorer tabs in Windows
Image: Microsoft

File Explorer and better focus on the essentials

According to Microsoft, Windows 11 should make it easier for all users to “stay focused and organized”. For example, Microsoft listened to Windows Insider Program participants who suggested adding tabs to File Explorer. With the latest Windows 11 update, users can start using tabs in File Explorer.

In addition to tabs, File Explorer’s updated home page gives users one-click access to their favorite and recent files. This should also help when working with other employees, for example with files shared in the cloud.

Focus mode with timer
Image: Microsoft

Especially when working from home, the influx of emails and notifications has increased, making it more difficult to focus on the task at hand. Microsoft has also spoken to customers who suffer from ADHD or have trouble focusing. Many people need a clean desk while working. They adjust their lights or set an alarm to focus on 30 minutes and turn off anything else that’s bothering them.

Microsoft introduced Focus Sessions in Windows to reduce distractions that might interfere with the task at hand. When the user initiates a focus session, the taskbar badge will be disabled, apps in the taskbar will be disabled from flashing, a focus timer will appear on the screen, and Do Not Disturb will be enabled. You can also play soothing music during a focus session.

Better touch operation

A large percentage of Windows users are no longer using Windows 11 on a computer with a keyboard and mouse, but via a touch screen. Microsoft has made improvements here, too.

One of the main things Microsoft says it added to Windows 11 is the ability for the user interface to track the user’s finger, allowing for more touch gestures. In addition to the normal swiping, pinching, and swiping, the user can also swipe in from the edge of the screen to open useful tools such as the Start Menu and Quick Settings. Another improvement is the multi-finger gesture animation. Windows now animates and responds to three-finger gestures so the user knows what that gesture will do before the user decides.

The snap functionality was completely new with Windows 11 – but it seems that not all users were happy with it in the first release. Some users first had to look hard for the function and choose it. The new Snap experience is now designed to be available exactly when people need it, according to Microsoft. Now when the user drags a window to the top of the screen, snap layouts slide out from the top of the screen. To select a layout, the user simply positions the window over an area in the layout to capture it. Then he can use the indicative “snap guide” to finish building the required layout.

More security with sandboxing

What many Windows users don’t know (yet) is Sandboxing. According to Microsoft, the Windows sandbox provides a simple desktop environment to safely run applications in isolation. Programs installed in a Windows sandbox environment remain within the access limitation mechanism and operate separately from the main computer. So you can’t do any harm there.

However, sandboxing can only be used temporarily. Closing it will clear all programs, files, and status. Every time a user opens the app, they get a brand new copy of the sandbox.

Programs and applications installed directly on the main computer are not available in the sandbox. If the customer requires certain applications in the Windows Sandbox environment, they must explicitly install them in the environment.

Many employees, freelancers, and self-employed people want to work on the go and in the home office these days – we give tips on using mobile devices with laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

Alban Parsons

“Social media evangelist. Baconaholic. Devoted reader. Twitter scholar. Avid coffee trailblazer.”

Microsoft: How Windows 11 has been improved

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