Windows 11 2024 Update (version 24H2): New features, AI PCs, Windows on Arm, and everything we know so far
Microsoft is in the process of finalizing the next major version of Windows, which is expected to ship later this year as the Windows 11 2024 Update, also known as "version 24H2." Unlike version 23H2 from last year, version 24H2 is expected to be a much larger OS update based on a new version of the Windows platform that brings performance and security improvements along with notable new features and quality-of-life updates.
Additionally, version 24H2 is the first release to support new Copilot+ PCs, which enable extra features that existing Windows 11 PCs won't support. Those features include new next-gen AI experiences like Recall, an app that remembers everything you do on your computer, and turns anything you've seen into a searchable memory using natural language.
This update is also the first to support Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon X Series SoC, which rivals Apple Silicon in terms of performance and efficiency. Many of the first PCs powered by Qualcomm's new Arm PC chip will begin shipping in June with version 24H2 preloaded.
Microsoft is on the final stretch with Windows 11 version 24H2, which is now available in the Windows Insider Release Preview channel. The update is expected to be made generally available for all Windows 11 PCs this fall.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Release date
According to my sources, Microsoft is targeting a September release window for version 24H2, with the company expecting to finalize the update over the summer. Microsoft is marketing this release as an AI-centric one, timed with next-gen Copilot+ AI PCs that Microsoft has already announced are coming throughout 2024.
A new release of the Windows platform means the update will be installed using the "OS swap" method. An OS swap update is one that is applied by replacing the entire OS with a newer version. This is different from version 23H2, which was applied by servicing the existing OS install. This is only possible when the platform release doesn't change between versions.
All this is to say version 24H2 won't begin shipping until the second half of 2024. Some Qualcomm Snapdragon X-based PCs will begin shipping with version 24H2 preloaded as early as June. However, the version 24H2 update won't be made generally available to existing Windows 11 users until September at the earliest when the update is deemed fully ready.
This release will be the one that powers up next-gen Copilot+ AI PCs, some of which have already been announced and will start shipping as soon as next month. These PCs have powerful NPUs that will take advantage of new AI features that Microsoft announced on May 20.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Copilot+ PC Features
Windows 11 version 24H2 is an interesting release, as it's the first version of Windows to ship with new features that are exclusive to new PCs with a dedicated NPU. These PCs are called Copilot+ PCs, the first of which are shipping on June 18. Here are the new AI features that are only available on these new PCs.
Recall
Recall is most significant new feature. 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 a period of time. Recall is able to 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
Microsoft is updating Windows Studio Effects to be even more advanced, with new artificial lighting and artistic filters that can be applied to your webcam video feed in any app.
The new artificial lighting feature will help improve your video quality when in a dimly lit environment. It helps clear up any noise in the video feed and brighten your face as if you were turning on a ring or face light. The artistic filters are quite amazing too.
Live Captions
An impressive new accessibility feature is coming to Copilot+ PCs is a new Live Captions feature, which uses AI to translate 40+ different languages from live or pre-recorded audio and video in real-time, directly on the device.
Microsoft has also elevated the Live Captions button to the very top level of the Windows 11 Control Center, making it even easier to access and enable when you need it. Now, you can be on a call with people who don't speak your language, and still understand them thanks to AI in Live Captions.
Cocreator
Microsoft is introducing new on-device generative AI capabilities with Cocreator, which can generate images and text based on prompts provided by the user. In Paint, Cocreator can help bring your sketch to life. You can draw a basic outline and tell Cocreator what you want the image to be, and it will attempt to build upon your basic sketch. The Photos app is also getting updated with a built-in image generator.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft is planning to deliver even more updates to the Microsoft Copilot for Windows with version 24H2, starting with moving the Copilot button itself to the far right corner of the Taskbar. This should make it easier to access as users will be able to easily throw their cursor into the corner to open the Copilot interface.
Windows Copilot can now also understand the following commands:
Ask for available wireless networks.
Ask for system or device information.
Ask for battery information.
Ask to clean storage.
Ask to empty recycle bin.
Ask to toggle battery saver.
Ask to show startup apps.
Ask for your IP address.
Ask for system, device, or storage information.
Ask to turn on narrator.
Ask to open voice access.
Ask to turn on magnifier.
Ask to change text size.
Ask to start live captions.
Ask to turn on high-contrast.
Ask to start voice typing.
There's also a number of new animations that will play over the Copilot icon when a user copy's text or an image, indicating to the user that Copilot is available to help with the content that has just been copied. Hovering over the icon will reveal a small jump list with Summarize, Explain, and Edit options for the content that is currently copied.
Version 24H2 also adds a dedicated "Copilot in Windows" setting in the Settings app, which will let users enable or disable the Copilot UI from appearing on startup on PCs with large screens, as well as configure chat providers and third-party plugins.
Microsoft has also changed how Windows Copilot behaves on Windows with version 24H2. Starting with this release, the Copilot interface can be undocked and moved around in its own app window, with the ability to minimize and even full screen the Copilot interface, just like any other app.
While not yet in testing, word on the rumor mill suggests Microsoft is planning to introduce a more "advanced Copilot" with version 24H2 that will utilize next-generation AI PCs to improve productivity across apps, files, and search. One such feature Microsoft is working on is a new AI-powered user history/timeline UI called AI Explorer, which will let users find any word, file, image, or app that was previously open on their PC using AI and Windows Copilot.
Windows 11 2024 Update: File Explorer
As is the case with every new version of Windows, Microsoft is making more changes to the File Explorer app with version 24H2. This release delivers the ability to create 7zip and TAR compressed archive files in addition to ZIP files. The 23H2 release added the ability to extract these archive files but not create them. Microsoft also says it has improved the performance of File Explorer when opening large ZIP files.
Additionally, PNG files now support viewing and editing metadata. This means users can now set a star rating in the properties dialog, edit a PNG file description, and add keywords.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Quick Settings
Microsoft is making some changes to the Quick Settings panel on the Windows taskbar. Starting with this release, the Quick Settings interface is now paginated, meaning you can scroll through all of the quick settings available on your PC instead of having a selection of them manually placed there by the user. You can still customize the positioning of the settings by clicking and dragging them.
The Wi-Fi list in the Quick Settings panel has also been updated with a new refresh button, which will refresh the Wi-Fi list when pressed. Users who use a VPN on Windows will also notice an improved UI for managing your VPN in the Quick Settings panel, with a new split toggle that lets you turn it on and off with a single click.
Live Captions have also been promoted to the top-level of the quick settings interface, allowing you to easily enable the feature with a single click. Lastly, Microsoft says it has improved the performance of the Quick Settings panel, which means it shouldn't take as long to open when attempting to open it for the first time upon a reboot.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Phone Link
Microsoft is working on several improvements to the phone linking capabilities between Windows and Android devices with the version 24H2 update. There's a new "manage mobile devices" app that lets you link your phone to your PC outside of the Phone Link app for basic functionality like photo notifications, as well as the ability to setup your phone as a webcam for your PC. The Phone Link app still exists and will remain the best way to sync text messages and notifications between your phone and PC.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Voice Clarity
Microsoft is introducing Voice Clarity, an AI powered microphone enhancement feature that will remove background noise when on a call or recording. The feature was previously exclusive to Surface PCs with NPU hardware, but will now be rolling out to all supported Windows 11 PCs without the need for a dedicated NPU chip with version 24H2.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Energy Saver
Microsoft is reworking how battery saver and power options work with version 24H2, introducing a new "Energy Saver" mode that applies to both PCs with batteries and PCs without.
The new Energy Saver mode will reduce your PC's energy consumption by reducing system performance. This should help extend battery life on laptops and reduce the power pulled from the wall on desktop PCs.
When enabled, desktop PCs will even see an energy-saver icon in the system tray, similar to the battery life indicator on laptops, just without a battery percentage. The goal of Energy Saver is to make your PC more energy efficient, reducing your carbon footprint.
Microsoft has also added more power controls to the Power & battery area in the modern Settings app. You can now set lid and power button controls and even configure when your PC enters hibernate after a set amount of time. Previously, these controls were only configurable in the classic Control Panel app.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Sudo
Version 24H2 for Windows 11 introduces support for Sudo (superuser do,) a command line first popularized on Linux. Sudo for Windows lets users run elevated processes via command line, with a number of different configuration options:
In a new window: A new window will open in which the elevated command will run.
With input disabled: The elevated command will run inline with its stdin closed in the window from which you’ve triggered elevation. You will not be able to interact with the elevated process.
Inline: The elevated command will run inline in the window from which you’ve triggered elevation. This mode is most similar to the sudo experience on other platforms.
By default, the new Sudo for Windows feature will be off for security reasons, but users will be able to enable it easily in the Settings app if it's something they intend to use.
Windows 11 2024 Update: Microsoft Teams
This update introduces a unified Teams experience that merges both Teams for school and work, and the personal Teams client under one roof. This means starting with Version 24H2, users will be able to use the built-in Teams client to message friends and family, as well as join work meetings and conversate with colleagues.
Users can seamlessly switch between their work, school, and personal accounts within the app, and notifications will now be identified when they come in so you know which account they're coming from.
Windows 11 2024 Update: General
As always, there are general quality-of-life improvements on the way with version 24H2 as well. There's a new offline installation interface that looks a little more modern. Microsoft is also testing a new "Install drivers" button during the out-of-box experience on the Wi-Fi setup page, which will be handy for system builders to install Windows cleanly without drivers.
Microsoft is removing a number of built-in Windows apps from the OS image. Starting with this release, Cortana, Mail, Calendar, Maps, People, and Movies & TV will no longer be installed by default. WordPad will also be removed in a future update.
On the Taskbar, Microsoft has added a little Wi-Fi icon animation when connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and right-clicking the icon will now present a "Diagnose network problems" context menu shortcut for jumping right into fixing connectivity issues. The Task Manager icon has also been updated with a new design.
There's also a new "Windows protected print mode" feature that will let your PC exclusively print using the Windows modern print stack, which works with Mopria-certified printers only. These printers don't depend on third-party software installers and are supposed to "just work."
Version 24H2 will be the first to support USB80Gbps speeds, which is a major version update to the USB4 standard and will be found on new hardware launching this year. This release also brings RUST support to the Windows Kernel.
