The latest update, the rather unimaginatively named Windows 11 2022 Update, is the most significant upgrade the software has received to date and adds changes to both its looks and functionalities. Everyone running Windows 11 should have the update by now, but if you’re unsure, check by opening Settings and choosing System and About. Look for “22H2” next to the Version entry in the list. If that’s not what you see, head to Windows Update in Settings to see if any downloads are available for your operating system. If you right-click on a folder, you’ll see there’s a new Open in new tab entry that does exactly what it says. Another handy trick is dragging files or folders between tabs to move them to different parts of the drive, just as you’ve always been able to do between windows—drag the item up to the tab header first to switch to it, continue dragging it to the folder space, and release it. Second, when you right-click on the taskbar there’s now an additional Task Manager option that takes you straight to that utility, which has also received a redesign with this update. You may find this a simpler route to the Task Manager beyond the options that are already available—you can also open the program via the Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut for example, or by searching for it in the Start menu. In the new update, the navigation pane moved from the top of the interface to the left side, and if you have iCloud for Windows installed, you’ll see it fully integrated here. This panel can feature whatever folders you want: Click the settings cog on the toolbar at the top, then select Add albums to pick more folders from your hard drive. Casual video editing enthusiasts will find everything they need in Clipchamp—in many ways it’s reminiscent of the old Windows Movie Maker—and you can follow a simple template-based approach to pull your video projects together. A premium subscription for $12 a month is available, which gives you access to more filters, effects, and stock material (from sound effects to photos). Suggested actions will kick in when you highlight information such as phone numbers, email addresses, and dates. For example, if you select a date on your screen, you might see a small pop-up window inviting you to add an event to your calendar, or if you select a phone number, the pop-up window will suggest a call through Microsoft Teams. To turn on live captions, go to Settings, open Accessibility, then Captions, and turn on the Live captions toggle switch. From the same screen, you can set the style and size of the captions (you’ll be able to see the changes in the preview at the top). All you need to do then is start playing a video or audio file in any application on Windows 11. Give the feature a try by watching something on YouTube or Netflix, for instance. Also, when moving windows around, you can drag them to the top to access a new snap layout menu for organizing applications on your screen. For tablet users, meanwhile, Microsoft added several new gestures, like swiping up from the bottom of the display to open the Start menu, for example.
