Microsoft has already added many new features to Windows 11 since its initial release in late 2021, but it looks like more will follow soon.
A lot of new functionality was added in the September 22H2 update, before the File Explorer tabs finally arrived in a subsequent October 2022 update. Another set of new features was released in February 2023.
These “Moment” updates are seemingly the way forward for Microsoft, but it doesn’t make major feature updates disappear altogether. Version 23H2 is scheduled for late 2023 and we already know some of the big new features. Here’s everything you need to know.
When will the Windows 11 23H2 update be released?
With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft announced that it was moving to annual feature updates instead of Windows 10’s biannual approach. That was called into question after July 2022 rumors from Windows Central, which suggested it would be replaced by more frequent “Moment” updates throughout the year.
However, it seems that both are true. New features are added every few months, but as Microsoft confirmed in a Blog post from February 2023“Windows 11 will continue to have an annual cadence of feature updates”.
As Windows Latest reports, it appears that Microsoft has subtly confirmed the existence of the 23H2 update in May 2023 preview builds. This so-called ‘Evaluation instance’ apparently expires on September 15, 2023, so is that when the 23H2 could be released?
It is certainly possible, although that specific date may not be accurate. Windows Central suggested September or October 2023 late last year, but a lot can change between now and then.
Due to the expected gradual rollout, it might take a while to get to all Windows 11 devices, although you can test it ahead of time through the Windows Insider program. But you don’t have to sign up for the recently introduced Canary Channel, which is very experimental and may contain potential Windows 12 features.
Will all existing Windows 11 devices be compatible with version 23H2?
Almost certainly, yes. Microsoft introduced sweeping new hardware requirements for Windows 11 in the name of security, preventing many older devices from upgrading.
There is no indication that this will happen again before Windows 11’s end of life.
Things may be different on Windows 12, which is rumored to arrive in 2024, but it would be a big surprise to see Microsoft prevent Windows 11 devices from getting minor updates like 23H2.
What new features are available in the Windows 23H2 update?
Confirmed upcoming features
The 23H2 update isn’t expected for another few months, but that hasn’t stopped Microsoft from revealing a lot of upcoming features. It’s not confirmed that these will arrive in 23H2, but Windows Central thinks they will:
- Windows AI Copilot – powerful virtual AI assistant based on ChatGPT and Bing Chat. Can be used to analyze images and text, answer specific contextual questions and manage settings on the device
- Dynamic Lighting – Built-in tools for controlling RGB lighting on devices and accessories
- One-click ungroup taskbar app and display labels
- Ability to hide the date and time on the taskbar
- New support for formats such as 7-zip, RAR, gz and others
- New AI features in the Microsoft Store – AI generated app keywords and review summaries, hub for selected AI apps
- Backup and restore apps: This will reinstall any apps you installed from the Microsoft Store when restoring from a backup. Unclear if apps downloaded from elsewhere are included
As our sister site Computer world also reports that these features are also coming to Windows 11. Some may arrive in the 23H2 update, although they have not been confirmed:
- Ability to pin specific apps to a dedicated space in the Widgets panel
- Support for Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) for lower power consumption during connection
- Notifications in the Start menu when account-related action is required
- Ability to disable the presence sensor (on supported devices), which turns the screen on when you’re in front of it and off when you leave
- Isolation of legacy Win32 apps, allowing them to run independently from the rest of Windows 11 and preventing unauthorized access to processes
In April 2023, Microsoft also began publicly testing a new Gallery feature in File Explorer. This makes it easier to view photos and videos from within the app, making it similar to the separate Photos app:
Microsoft
A few other features have already been confirmed, albeit not specific to the 23H2 update:
The big one is a revamped file explorer. Microsoft already added tabs in an October 2023 update, but this seems to take things to the next level.
The updated design includes a redesigned header consistent with many web browsers, with an address and search bar next to major navigation buttons. There’s also a new ‘Gallery’ feature designed specifically for viewing photos, with timeline functionality that lets you quickly find content from years ago.
Microsoft
The classic Paint app is finally getting a dark mode, too, with the feature currently being tested with members of the Windows Insider program. And the Widgets board also allows you to disable the MSN news feed, with a “widgets only” option.
Potential upcoming features
In a previous Windows Central video, Zac Bowden and Daniel Rubino discuss what the 23H2 update might entail. Despite the big caveat that this could all change, there are some useful insights worth knowing – both are reliable journalists with a strong track record on Windows news.
Despite dropping Windows 10’s dedicated tablet mode for Windows 11, Microsoft continues to make the operating system more responsive to touch input. Bowden expects more to come, with the possibility of a separate user interface (UI) for tablets being reintroduced in version 23H2. Mayank Parmar of Windows Latest agrees, suggesting a tablet-friendly taskbar could arrive in 2023.
Bowden also believes that in version 23H2 we will finally see a system-wide dark mode. This was originally intended for the first release of Windows 11 in 2021, but there’s no suggestion it will be released this year either.
A May 2023 Windows Central article suggests that a future update will allow you to pin widgets to the desktop. The Widgets panel was introduced alongside Windows 11 in 2021, before opening up to third-party apps a year later. This seems like the logical next step, although it’s actually similar to the Windows Desktop Gadgets feature in Windows 7. It’s not clear exactly when the feature will appear, but the 23H2 update is a possibility.
An earlier Windows Latest article discusses another possible 23H2 feature. As Microsoft subtly revealed at its April 2022 event, the app folder option on the Windows 11 desktop seems to be coming. With no appearance in the 22H2 update, it could arrive sometime in 2023 instead.
AI looks set to be a big part of Windows in the coming years, with a potential Windows 12 in 2024 expected to play a big part in it. There are plenty of ways for artificial intelligence to upgrade Windows, and we might also see some new features in the 23H2 update.
