Windows 11 is real, and it will be the next version of the operating system that will eventually replace Windows 10, which Microsoft is touting as the most significant update in more than a decade. While the OS hasn’t been officially introduced, an internal preview (build 21996) recently found its way into the internet, revealing many of the new user interface (UI) changes and features expected to ship with the final version of Windows 11 later this fall.
In this hands-on video, you will get a first look at the new Start menu with its more minimalistic design, traditional icons, and without Live Tiles. You will also get to know the updated taskbar that aligns all items at the center of the screen. In addition, the video showcases the new Widgets feature, improvements to the Task View and Windows Ink experience, and the new system sounds.
Windows 11 is also expected to ship with new multitasking improvements, including a new Snap Layouts feature, part of the Snap Assist system, which is a menu that appears when hovering over the maximize button on a window that gives you a visual aid to snap windows on the screen. The menu offers different layouts you can use, depending on the size of the monitor. Furthermore, when using the updated snapping experience, the taskbar will now show the groups the app is part of when hovering over the button.
In addition, this video walks you through many of the UI changes, including the new rounded corners design style that Microsoft is implementing for windows, buttons, and other elements. We look into the new animations for minimizing, maximizing, snapping, interacting with the taskbar, and more.
Although we now have a pretty good idea of what Microsoft is planning for the next generation of Windows, keep in mind that the build that leaked onto the web does not represent the final version. The company plans to host a virtual event on June 24 to officially reveal Windows 11 to the world and discuss the project in more detail and show new features and changes that were not part of the leak, such as the new app store and Settings app experience.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.