16 new options coming in Home windows 11’s enormous December replace

On Tuesday the ninth, Microsoft will launch December’s month-to-month patch for Home windows 11. The final Patch Tuesday in 2025 might be enormous, as a result of based on Home windows Central, there might be no fewer than 16 new options included within the replace (although given the character of Home windows 11 previews, none of those are assured till they seem on dwelling PCs).

These embrace numerous design modifications to necessary parts such because the Begin menu, particular enhancements to present capabilities and fully new options. Let’s take a peek in any respect new options at a look.

1. Visible enchancment of the Home windows search

The Home windows search subject has been visually improved to match the peak of the brand new Begin menu design. This could get rid of some inconsistencies within the design. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless the issue that the brand new Begin menu covers massive elements of the display for a lot of customers. It stays to be seen whether or not Microsoft will handle this concern going ahead.

2. New “Share with Copilot” characteristic within the taskbar

Microsoft’s Copilot AI can be making its manner into Home windows 11, this time within the taskbar, the place the “Share with Copilot” choice will quickly seem. You’ll then see a thumbnail of the app you’re at present utilizing and might rapidly begin a dialog with the chatbot by way of Copilot Imaginative and prescient. As well as, the transition between apps within the taskbar must be smoother once you transfer the mouse pointer over them.

3. Modifications to Home windows Highlight for the desktop

Home windows Highlight, the characteristic for dynamically altering background pictures in Home windows 11, can be receiving enhancements. You’ll be able to right-click on the desktop to alter the background extra rapidly. There’s additionally the “Discover background” choice, which gives extra details about the background.

4. Choice to disable Drag Tray

Microsoft is introducing the choice to disable Drag Tray extra simply. This usually permits you to choose information and drag them to the highest of the display to show choices for direct sharing. Nevertheless, many customers discovered this annoying. After the replace, you possibly can deactivate Drag Tray underneath Settings > System > Close by sharing .

5. Higher darkish mode in File Explorer

There’s additionally one thing for followers of darkish modes. The darkish mode of File Explorer has been improved and given a extra uniform design in dialogue home windows, for instance for copying or shifting. The affirmation dialogues and different views are additionally being tailored. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless doable that some parts don’t correspond to the brand new design or that the File Explorer briefly flashes white on startup. Microsoft will proceed to work on this.

6. New system data card within the Begin settings

If you’re searching for details about your system, you not must click on by means of menus. It’s because a brand new tab referred to as “Machine data” seems proper on the beginning web page of the settings, which shows details about your PC’s processor, reminiscence, RAM and graphics card, amongst different issues.

7. Settings for cell units within the settings

A brand new configuration menu for cell units seems within the Home windows 11 Settings app. Right here you possibly can add new units, entry the settings of linked cell units or take away a tool out of your account. It’s easy and easy.

8. Redesign of the data web page

Microsoft can be altering the look of the data web page with the December replace. It is going to now solely comprise a thumbnail view of the desktop background with an choice to rename your laptop. Some sections may even be renamed or obtain new entries with additional data.

9. Superior settings with digital workspaces

Modifications are additionally being made to the “Superior” part. It comprises a brand new web page referred to as “Digital Workspaces”, the place you possibly can handle virtualization capabilities such because the Home windows Sandbox or protected hosts.

10. Settings for Bluetooth keyboards and textual content cursors

Beneath Settings > Bluetooth and units > Keyboard you will see that new choices for keyboards and textual content cursors after the patch. For instance, the keyboard repetition fee, reassignment of the copilot key or accessibility.

11. New default configuration for Fast Machine Restoration

Since September, customers have been ready to make use of Fast Machine Restoration to rapidly restore Home windows 11. Microsoft is bettering the default setting for this feature in December to make it simpler to make use of.

The brand new configuration solely searches for options as soon as after which prevents the consumer from utilizing different choices to resolve the issue. This could stop the pc from persevering with to seek for options in a form of steady loop as an alternative of providing focused assist.

On Tuesday, Home windows 11 will introduce a brand new widgets board with a extra constant design. The brand new widgets might be extra clearly separated from the Uncover board and can not use a web page overlay. Notifications may even be displayed with an icon of the board to which they belong.

Home windows Central

13. Haptic suggestions for digital pens

Home windows 11 units with contact perform obtain haptic suggestions for the usage of pens within the type of vibrations. These accompany the interplay with sure parts, for instance when closing home windows.

Copilot PCs have a brand new context menu referred to as “Click on to execute”. Actions akin to open, save, copy or share are organized on this menu. There’s additionally a brand new enter subject that permits you to entry Copilot extra rapidly.

15. Xbox full display mode for extra handheld units

The brand new Xbox Full Display Mode is now out there on extra units. Till now, customers may solely apply it to the Asus ROG Ally and Ally X, however now the full-screen expertise in console design may also be used on regular PCs.

Navigation must be a lot simpler and smoother, particularly with a controller. The mode additionally reduces the useful resource consumption of the desktop and saves as much as 2GB of reminiscence.

You’ll be able to activate the mode underneath Settings > Gaming > Full display expertise after which apply the change by restarting.

16. Home windows Studio Results for exterior cameras

If in case you have a Copilot PC, you can even lengthen the AI-powered digital camera options of Home windows Studio Results to secondary cameras. This contains USB webcams and built-in rear cameras.

Along with the brand new options, the December patch of Home windows 11 may even comprise some bug fixes and closed safety gaps. As at all times, we are going to report on these in a separate article.