Windows 11 April 2025 Update

 Windows 11 April 2025 Update   New Features, Improvements, and What You Need to Know

Windows 11 April 2025 Update

The latest Windows 11 update for April 2025 has arrived, bringing a host of new features, improvements, and fixes to enhance your computing experience. As a Windows enthusiast, I've taken a deep dive into this update to bring you the most important highlights and changes.

What's new and how it can benefit you.

Getting Started with the Update

First things first   to ensure you get all the new features, head to the Windows Update section in your Settings app. enable the option to   Get the latest updates as soon as they're available   and click   Check for updates.   This should prompt the download and installation of build 26100.3915 (KB505627).

New Features and Improvements

1. Copilot Plus Enhancements For users with Copilot Plus PCs, Microsoft has introduced some exciting AI  powered features 

Recall Preview   A new way to access and manage your digital memories.

Click to Do   A tool to help you perform various actions on your computer more efficiently.

Improved Search   Enhanced search capabilities in the Start menu and File Explorer, allowing you to find items without knowing their exact names.

2. Start Menu Upgrades The Start menu has received some notable improvements 

New Sidebar   A phone link feature is now integrated, displaying information about your connected phone, including battery level and recent activities.

File Sharing   Easily send files to your phone directly from the Start menu.

Pinned Apps Management   New context menu options allow for easier organization of pinned apps.

3. Desktop Icons Refresh Microsoft has introduced new desktop icons with a sleeker design 

Larger, more visible app icons

Removal of the accent  colored backplate for a cleaner look

4. Widgets and Lock Screen Developers now have more options for creating widgets, and users can enjoy new customization features for the lock screen widgets.
5. Accessibility Improvements Several accessibility features have been enhanced 

Narrator app improvements, including a history feature

Better support for custom text sizes across various Windows dialogs

Enhancements to Windows Studio effects

6. Power Management For laptop users, the Settings app now provides more detailed information about power usage and battery states, making it easier to manage your device's energy consumption.
7. Account Recovery New notifications have been added to help users recover their accounts by adding recovery email or phone numbers.
8. Photos App Update The Photos app now includes a new   Ask Copilot   feature, allowing users to get AI  powered insights about their images or perform visual searches using Bing.

Notable Fixes

Microsoft has addressed several issues in this update 

Fixed visibility problems with the Start menu account manager buttons when using increased text sizes.

Resolved an issue where taskbar app icon underlines remained visible after closing apps.

Addressed a blue screen error (0x18B) that some users experienced after installing the April 2025 Windows security update.

What's Missing?

Interestingly, some features previewed in the release channel didn't make it to this main release 

The drag tray feature for easy file sharing

Quick photo editing before sharing

These features may still be accessible if manually enabled, but they're not part of the organic rollout for most users.

Windows Update Improvements and Known Issues

Microsoft has added a helpful feature to Windows Update   you'll now see an estimated offline time for update installation, helping you plan your updates more effectively.

While this update brings many improvements, there are still some known issues. For a complete list, it's recommended to check the official Microsoft blog post or release notes.

Whats Next ?

Next month's feature update is expected to be even more substantial, potentially including new battery icons and other exciting features. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

The April 2025 Windows 11 update brings a mix of AI  powered features, user interface improvements, and important fixes. While some anticipated features didn't make the cut, the overall update enhances the Windows 11 experience, particularly for those with Copilot Plus PCs. As always, it's recommended to back up your important data before applying any major updates.

Remember to keep your system updated to enjoy these new features and improvements.