7 upcoming Windows 11 features worth looking forward to

Microsoft recently announced how Windows ‘hot patching‘ will allow users to update their Windows 11 laptop without rebooting it. That’s not all though as the company has listed out a host of new Windows 11 features that are scheduled to roll out starting this month.

From better smartphone integration to AI-powered tools and intelligent snap suggestions, there’s plenty in store for those looking forward to an upgrade. Here are seven Windows 11 features in the pipeline to look forward to in March.

7 Windows 11 features coming to your PCs

While some of these updates may have already reached your Windows 11 laptops, Microsoft mentions how others will gradually roll out over the next couple of weeks. Check out the seven features worth looking forward to.

1. Using your smartphone as a webcam
2. Focused Widgets
3. New skills for Copilot
4. Better third-party app share
5. Neater Snap Layouts
6. Voice enhancements
7. Modifications to Narrator

1. Using your smartphone as a webcam

Microsoft stated in the blog post how it is looking to eventually transform and use an Android smartphone’s camera as a webcam on Windows 11 devices. While the feature is currently limited to the upcoming Windows Insider Platform, users will still soon be able to stream their video feed across applications on their laptops wirelessly. If that’s not all, you will also be able to switch between front and back cameras while streaming.

2. Focused Widgets

The next Windows 11 update will allow users to create a more focused widget board for themselves. In fact, you will also be able to organise them according to work, play and others. The motive behind this change, according to Microsoft, is to promote better productivity.

ALSO READ: 5 new Microsoft Copilot features you can look look forward to

3. New skills for Copilot

Copilot for Windows will also be getting a major feature overhaul, and Microsoft mentions how this will be seen gradually over the next few weeks. Once done, users will be able to as Copilot on their laptops to carry out changes to computer settings. For instance, Copilot will be able to take appropriate actions for prompts like “turn on battery saver”. Some of these will include:

– Turn on/off battery saver
– Show device/battery/system information
– Open storage page
– Show available Wi-Fi networks
– Display IP address
– Show available storage space
– Empty recycle bin

Apart from this, Copilot will now also be able to launch certain accessibility features, including live captions, narrator, magnifier, voice access and more.

4. Better third-party app share

Windows 11 will now offer enhanced file-sharing options to apps like WhatsApp, Instagram or Snapchat. The feature will also be extended to other apps, like Facebook Messenger, and Microsoft plans to add more options to this list within due time.

5. Neater Snap Layouts

If you loved the Snap Layout feature, the next Windows 11 update will take things up a notch for you. Snap Layout essentially lets users stack several windows together in the layout of their choice. However, Microsoft states that this feature will now allow users to personalise to a layout of their choice. This, in turn, will facilitate faster and neater organisation.

6. Voice enhancements

Windows 11 offers a voice feature which lets you vocally control your system. However, this feature will get support in more languages, including German, French and Spanish. Apart from this, you will also be able to create customised shortcuts for frequently used voice commands.

7. Modifications to Narrator

Windows 11 has a built-in screen reader, but it will now allow users to preview natural voice profiles before actually committing to any of them. If that’s not all, the Narrator will also have improved text detection and will (finally) be able to announce MS Word comments and bookmarks highlighted on a document.

While most of these experiences are widely available to Windows 11 PCs, the upcoming weeks will likely acquaint us with further developments on this front.