Following a backlash around a recent Windows 11 Start menu change, Microsoft reverses course in new preview build

Date:
Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:45:33 +0000

Description:
A new Windows 11 test build restores easy sign-outs, adds file sharing from search, and more.

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Microsoft has just issued a fresh update for Windows 11 in testing, bringing some handy improvements including a change to the Start menu, and also the lock screen, alongside a new file-sharing button.

The new features are currently being tried out by testers in the Release Preview channel for Windows 11 (23H2 and 22H2 builds), which is the last
round of user testing that preview builds go through before final release. This means that we can expect these features to arrive pretty soon.

One move Im pleased to see is Microsoft revisiting one of its recent changes to the Start menu - namely, the new Microsoft Account-related settings.

You may recall that the introduction of the new account manager section to
the Start menu caused controversy because it buried a useful option under another layer of the menu. This was the option to sign out, which was shifted from being right there in the Start menus profile panel, to being hidden behind the three-dot menu (top-right) in the new account manager panel (that replaced the previous profile UI).

The good news is that Microsoft has been listening to the folks complaining that they dont want to be forced to perform another click to sign out of
their account, so in this preview build, the option is back where it was before, with no need for any extra clicking to reach it. Also, Microsoft
notes that you can switch user profiles by clicking the three-dot icon and choosing one from the menu that appears.

Another part of Windows 11 thats been modified is the lock screen, which now has media controls towards the bottom of the screen whenever media playback
is underway on the PC.

Also, you will soon be able to share files stored on your device when they come up in Windows search results via a new share button.

These are not the only changes on the menu here, and you can see the full
list of additions with more details on Microsofts Windows Insider blog post . (Image credit: Future) A minor update, yes - but a useful one nonetheless

While this isnt the most dynamic update, it delivers some handy tweaks and
bug fixes that should make the Windows 11 experience a little smoother, and
as noted, Im really pleased to see the change for the Start menu.

As for the new sharing function for files in Windows search, that might be of more use if Microsoft spent some time further improving and fine-tuning the core of the search experience - the process and results. Lets hope for some more work in that respect.

The features mentioned here are also being tested for Windows 11 24H2 , ahead of its launch which should be coming pretty soon. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... Microsoft is giving some default Windows 11 apps a major performance boost and you could feel the payoff soon Windows 11s 24H2 update is almost here lets talk about some of the features were expecting to see Microsoft improves Windows 11 Start menu, with no new ads in sight and theres a bonus for the lock screen in latest preview



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/following-a-backlash-around-a-rece nt-windows-11-start-menu-change-microsoft-reverses-course-in-new-preview-build


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