Windows 11 24H2 May 2025 Update

 


The Windows 11 May 2025 update (version 24H2) 


is set to bring a host of exciting new features and improvements to enhance user experience and productivity. Let's dive into the key highlights of this update, keeping in mind that feature availability may vary by region and rollout schedule.

Mobile Sidebar in Start Menu

A new mobile sidebar is being introduced to the Start menu, offering quick access to

Text messages

Phone calls

Photos from your mobile device

Recent activities

File sending option

To customize this feature go to

Settings > Personalization > Start > Toggle mobile sidebar on/off

Note

 This feature requires linking your mobile phone using the Phone Link app on Windows 11 and the Link to Windows app on your mobile device.

Desktop Icons Improvement

Icons created on the desktop will no longer show the accent color backplate

Shortcuts created from the All Apps menu will have larger icons

Windows Update Offline Time Estimate

The Windows Update settings will now display an estimated time for how long your computer will be offline during update installation.

Windows Recall

Windows Recall, an AI powered feature that takes screenshots of your activities and makes them searchable using natural language, is finally rolling out to Copilot Plus PCs.

               Key points

Available in early 2025 for most markets (later in the European Economic Area)

Optimized for English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish

Accessible via a dedicated button on the taskbar

Click to Do Feature

This new feature allows users to interact with screen content more efficiently

Select text or images to perform various actions

Open selections in different apps

Search the web or ask Copilot about selections

Accessible via Start menu, taskbar pin, or keyboard shortcuts (Windows key + mouse click or Windows key + Q)

Semantic Indexing

Enhances Windows search capabilities using AI and natural language processing

Improved file and content searchability

Works with text, images, and documents

Optimized for select languages including English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish

Narrator Speech Recap

A new feature for Windows Narrator that allows users to keep track of spoken words

Access speech recap with Narrator key + Alt + X

Copy all text directly with Narrator key + Ctrl + X

File Explorer Updates

New recommended section on the homepage showcasing recent Microsoft 365 files

Improved text scaling across dialog boxes

Enhanced performance for extracting ZIP content

Share with Edit Option

When sharing images, users can now edit (crop, rotate, add filters) without opening a separate application.

Studio Effects Automatic Framing

For supported devices, the automatic framing filter will be enabled by default when opening the camera for the first time.

Widgets for Developers

Microsoft is opening up the widgets experience for developers to create interactive widgets using existing web content.

              Additional Improvements

Various bug fixes and performance enhancements

Improved taskbar icon navigation using arrow keys

Microsoft may delay or cancel new features at any time.