Windows 11 24h2

Windows 11 version 24H2 is the next big Windows version update that’s now shipping on new Copilot+ PCs and is expected to roll out to more Windows 11 devices later this year. It’s a significant update that touches everything from the underlying platform to top-level features and experiences, including much-needed performance and security improvements, quality-of-life updates, and much more.

Even though this next version is already shipping on Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft is yet to formally announce the next major Windows feature update, which we expect will be titled “Windows 11 2024 Update” when it’s announced later this year. This is likely to happen sometime in September or October.

So, what can you expect to see in the Windows 11 2024 Update, also known as version 24H2? Let’s break it down.

Windows 11 2024 Update: Release date & availability

Windows 11 version 24H2 is already available on new Copilot+ PCs that began shipping on June 18. If you’ve recently purchased a device with a Snapdragon X chip, you’re already running the Windows 11 2024 Update. However, if your device was purchased before June 18, the update is not yet available to you.

According to my sources, Microsoft is targeting a September or October release window for version 24H2 on PCs that aren’t Copilot+ compatible. The company plans to finalize version 24H2 for all other PCs in August, with a rollout expected to begin shortly afterward. Version 24H2 is based on a new release of the Windows platform.

This new platform release means the update will be applied using the “OS swap” method, where the entire OS is replaced with a newer version. This differs from version 23H2, which was applied by servicing the existing OS installation—a process only possible when the platform release remains unchanged between versions.

When the update begins rolling out in September or October, it will do so in waves. This means you might not receive the update immediately, as Microsoft typically stages rollouts to ensure the update works as intended before broader distribution. However, if you don’t want to wait, you’ll be able to manually update to Windows 11 version 24H2—and you can actually do that right now.

Windows 11 2024 Update: Copilot+ PC Features

Windows 11 version 24H2 is the first Windows release to include new features exclusive to PCs equipped with a dedicated NPU capable of delivering at least 40 TOPS of power. These devices, known as Copilot+ PCs, are powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X chips and began shipping on June 18. Below are the new AI features available only on these advanced machines.

Windows Recall

Recall is the most significant new feature, which is expected to arrive later this year. It’s an app that runs in the background and captures snapshots of everything you see and do on your computer, enabling the ability to search for anything you’ve ever done on your PC with natural language. 

The app has a timeline interface that runs along the very top of the screen and lets the user scroll back through all the snapshots that have been captured over the period of time you’ve set. Recall can document everything it sees on screen, including apps, sentences, webpages, documents, photos, videos, and more. 

With Recall, you can search for pretty much anything that you’ve done or seen. For example, a user could type “find that picture of a dinosaur that Sarah sent me on WhatsApp” and the AI will be able to bring up the exact moment when that image was shared with you.

Microsoft says this feature is 100% privacy-focused. All the data Recall creates is handled by the on-device NPU, and is never sent to the cloud to be processed. Microsoft says it does not use any of the Recall data to train its AI models, and are assuring us that the data simply never leaves your computer. The user is free to turn off Recall if they don’t want to use it.

Windows Studio Effects

Copilot+ PCs also introduce a new suite of Windows Studio Effects that enhance your webcam and microphone using AI, regardless of the app you’re using—be it Teams, Skype, Zoom, Slack, Google Meet, or even the Camera app.

These Windows Studio Effects can be accessed through the Windows 11 Control Center, where you can enable various visual effects such as background blur, eye correction, portrait lighting, and illustrative filters that smooth your skin or give you an animated/cartoon appearance.

Live Captions

One of the coolest new accessibility features on Copilot+ PCs is the Live Captions feature. It uses AI to translate over 40 different languages from live or pre-recorded audio and video in real-time, right on your device.

Microsoft has made it super easy to use by placing the Live Captions button at the very top of the Windows 11 Control Center. So, whether you’re on a call with people who speak different languages or watching a video, you can understand everything thanks to AI-powered Live Captions.

Image generation

Microsoft is rolling out some exciting new AI features with Cocreator in Paint and Image Generator in Photos. These tools can create images and text based on your prompts, right on your device.

With Cocreator in Paint, you can start with a simple sketch and tell it what you want. Cocreator will then enhance your drawing, bringing your ideas to life.

The Image Generator in Photos lets you type in a description, and it will generate the image directly on your device, without needing to connect to the cloud

Windows 11 2024 Update: Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft is excited to bring even more updates to Microsoft Copilot for Windows with version 24H2, starting with the new Windows Copilot PWA. Unlike before, Windows Copilot in 24H2 is now a fully-fledged web app, so you can move it around your screen and snap it just like any other app.

The updated interface is super user-friendly, featuring a dedicated area for your chats with Copilot and a handy sidebar that keeps track of all your conversation topics. You can also easily access plugins and the Copilot notebook from this sidebar.

Now that Copilot is treated like an app, you can place its icon wherever you like on the Taskbar or Start menu. Plus, you can easily unpin it by right-clicking the icon, and even uninstall it if you decide you don’t need it.

Windows 11 2024 Update: File Explorer

With every new version of Windows, Microsoft brings exciting updates to the File Explorer app, and version 24H2 is no exception! This time, Microsoft has revamped the context menu across the OS. Now, common actions like copy, paste, and cut are right at the top with larger buttons and clear labels, making them super easy to access.

This update also introduces the ability to create 7Zip and TAR compressed archive files, in addition to ZIP files. While the 23H2 release allowed you to extract these files, version 24H2 lets you create them too. Plus, Microsoft has boosted File Explorer’s performance when opening large ZIP files, making it faster and smoother.

Another cool feature is the enhanced support for PNG files. You can now view and edit metadata, set star ratings in the properties dialog, add descriptions, and include keywords. This makes managing your PNG files easier and more efficient.

Windows 11 2024 Update: Arm and emulation

Windows 11 version 24H2 is a game-changer for Windows on Arm PCs! Microsoft has completely rearchitected the OS for Arm chips, meaning PCs with Snapdragon or Microsoft SQ chips will run smoother and have better battery life and performance.

One of the standout features is Microsoft’s new emulation layer called PRISM for x86 apps on Arm. It’s more energy-efficient and boosts performance. In fact, older Windows on Arm devices are seeing up to 10% better performance in emulated apps, which you’ll definitely notice in everyday use.

This update is the first to bring across-the-board improvements for Windows on Arm devices. Whether you’re using an older Surface Pro X or a ThinkPad X13s, you’ll experience better performance and efficiency with Windows 11 version 24H2.

This is part one of the article. Honestly, I made it two parts because I got tired 😄Don’t forget to check my other posts!

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