Microsoft plans to roll out several enhancements and new features to Windows 11 throughout 2025. While the major update, Windows 11 25H2, remains some time away, Microsoft often delivers improvements via cumulative updates outside the primary feature update schedule.
This guide offers a preview of the most anticipated changes and new features expected to arrive on Windows 11 soon.
Windows 11: Upcoming Features in 2025
Here’s a look at the top features expected to gradually roll out to users in future Windows 11 updates. Keep in mind that the exact timing of these changes remains unclear at the time of writing.
1. Enhanced Lock Screen Widget Customization
The Lock Screen experience is getting a customization boost.
Enabling or Disabling Widgets
The most effective method involves using the new “Your widgets” setting. This feature replaces the old “Lock screen status” option and allows you to control the visibility of widgets on your Lock Screen.
Group Policy Editor
For administrators who need more control, the “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen” policy within the Group Policy Editor will be available. This policy is located under Computer Configurations > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets.
Personalizing Your Lock Screen
Beyond simply enabling or disabling widgets, you’ll be able to add, remove, and rearrange them to create a more personalized experience. Furthermore, expect support for a broader range of widgets, extending beyond Microsoft’s default offerings like weather, watchlist, traffic, and sports.
2. Compact Taskbar Icons
To maximize screen real estate, the Taskbar will offer an option to display smaller app icons.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Personalization.
Step 3: Click on Taskbar.
Step 4: Select Taskbar behaviors.
Step 5: Choose one of the following options:
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Always: Immediately displays smaller icons.
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When Taskbar is full: Switches to smaller icons only when space becomes limited.
It’s important to note that while this setting reduces icon size, it won’t change the overall height of the Taskbar.
3. Taskbar Emoji Panel
The most effective method to make the Emoji panel more accessible will be a dedicated icon in the System Tray.
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Personalization.
Step 3: Click on Taskbar.
Step 4: Choose from the “Emoji and more” settings:
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Never: The panel remains accessible only via keyboard shortcuts.
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While typing: The Emoji panel button appears in the Taskbar during typing sessions.
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Always: The Emoji button is consistently visible in the System Tray.
Currently, users can open the Emoji panel using keyboard shortcuts like Windows key + ; or Windows key + .. The new icon aims to make the feature more discoverable.
4. Taskbar Battery Percentage
Users will soon be able to display the battery percentage directly within the Taskbar.
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Go to System.
Step 3: Click Power & battery.
Step 4: Toggle the “Battery Percentage” switch to the on position.
Previously, Windows only showed a battery icon without the specific percentage. This eliminates the need for third-party apps.
5. Gamepad Keyboard
A new Gamepad layout for the on-screen keyboard will improve the typing experience with an Xbox game controller.
Step 1: Navigate to Settings.
Step 2: Go to Personalization.
Step 3: Select Text input.
Step 4: Click the “Open keyboard” button under the Touch keyboard setting.
Step 5: To switch layouts, click the “Settings” button on the top-left.
Step 6: Open the “Keyboard layout” menu.
Step 7: Choose the “Gamepad” option.
This layout resembles the standard keyboard but includes visual adjustments to keys such as Esc, Tab, Shift, Backspace, and Enter. Some keys also feature extra labels to indicate their gamepad button mappings. For example, Backspace maps to the X button, Enter to the Menu button, and Space to the Y button.
6. Start Menu Layout Options
The Start menu will offer new views to help you organize your apps.
Category View
The “Category” option groups apps by type, similar to the folders feature, providing a more structured arrangement. Clicking an icon launches the app, while clicking the label or surrounding area opens the entire group.
Switching Views
You can switch between different views using the options in the top-left corner:
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Name list: Restores the traditional view.
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Name grid: Arranges apps alphabetically from left to right.
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Category: Groups apps into logical folders.
7. Mobile Hotspot with 6GHz Support
When setting up a mobile hotspot to share your internet connection, you will be able to leverage the 6GHz band. Note that this requires a wireless adapter with 6GHz support for mobile hotspots, which may not be available on all devices.
8. Enhanced Settings “About” Page
The “About” page within the Settings app will feature a redesigned view highlighting key hardware specifications. These specifications include details about storage, the graphics card, installed memory (RAM), and the processor. The inclusion of graphics card information is a notable addition, as it was previously missing from the device specifications within the Settings app.
9. File Explorer Improvements
Microsoft is working on several changes for File Explorer.
New Folder Option
The most effective method to create a new folder from a location within the navigation pane will now be included in the context menu. Right-clicking an item in the navigation pane will reveal a “New” entry to create a new folder directly from that location.
“Share With” Submenu
When right-clicking a file, the context menu will include a new “Share with” submenu, enabling you to share content directly with compatible apps.
Tab Restoration
The company is updating the logic of the “Restore previous windows at logon” option to restore open tabs in addition to previous windows.
Automatic Restart
Enabling the “Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in” feature will also automatically turn on the “Restore previous windows at logon” option if it is not already enabled.
10. Drag Tray for Windows Share
Windows 11 is introducing the “Drag Tray” to simplify the sharing process. This flyout menu appears at the top edge of the screen and provides options to share a file with supported applications. However, this feature is limited to single files and doesn’t support sharing multiple files, folders, or archive files (like .zip files).
11. AI-Powered Windows Search
Windows Search will continue to offer the same core functionality as before.
Semantic Indexing
The operating system is adding the new Semantic Indexing feature to enhance search capabilities beyond traditional keyword matching across File Explorer, the Taskbar, and the Start menu. Semantic Indexing utilizes AI, particularly Natural Language Processing (NLP), to understand the intent behind your search queries. This allows you to locate files, settings, and other content using natural, conversational language.
For example, you can create a search query in File Explorer that describes the file instead of providing keywords found in the title, metadata, or content. In the Settings app, you can describe the settings you want to modify instead of needing to know the exact setting name. The feature supports a variety of file formats, including .txt, .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf, .pptx, .ppt, .xls, and .xlsx for documents, and .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, and .ico for images. The new AI-powered search also works with images in OneDrive.
NPU Requirement
Semantic Indexing processes information using the on-device Phi Silica AI model, meaning that the device requires a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to process the data.
12. Advanced Camera Settings
For content creators and streamers, the “Camera” settings page offers new advanced configuration options for webcams.
Multi-App Camera
The most effective method will be using the “Multi-app Camera” feature. This setting introduces two new features, including “Multi-app Camera” and “Camera Basic Mode.” The “Multi-app Camera” feature enables streaming from the same camera across multiple applications.
Camera Basic Mode
“Camera Basic Mode” enables the camera to be used in debugging mode for troubleshooting purposes.
These features and improvements are expected to become available through cumulative updates and other releases. Keep in mind that new changes roll out gradually and may take time to reach all devices. Microsoft may also adjust plans to delay or cancel certain features.
These updates promise to significantly improve the Windows 11 experience, providing users with more control, customization, and intelligent features.