Microsoft highlights all the new features that have shipped on Windows 11 in 2025 — and promises more to come

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Microsoft recently shared a blog post outlining new and upcoming features for Windows 11 in 2025. These updates range from enhancements to Windows Recall to simpler, more consistent ways to use the operating system.

The Windows team is constantly improving Windows 11 with new features and updates, making it easier to use, more secure, and more dependable. They’re doing this through a process called ‘continuous innovation,’ which means they release improvements every month.

This blog post introduces updates to File Explorer, including a new AI Actions menu that appears when you right-click files on a Copilot+ PC. The updated File Explorer home page also now displays activity from people you’ve shared files with, letting you see what others are doing with your shared content.

The Widgets section has been completely redesigned with the help of Copilot Discover and now has its own dedicated dashboard. You’ll also see a new news feed featuring stories handpicked by Copilot, tailored to what you’re interested in and discussing.

You can now add widgets to your lock screen and personalize them more than ever. Easily add, remove, and rearrange widgets – even those from other apps – to create a lock screen that’s perfect for you.

Microsoft has been refining the overall look and feel of Windows 11, focusing on small improvements and making the interface more consistent. This year, they updated the design of Windows Hello – the login feature you see on the lock screen – to give it a more modern appearance.

We’ve also made several smaller improvements throughout Windows. These include clearer separators in context menus, the option to position brightness and volume controls at the top of your screen, updated settings dialogs to match the Windows 11 design, and enhancements for using the taskbar with multiple monitors.

Microsoft also showcased what’s new with Copilot+ PCs. Windows Recall recently got a big update, including a redesigned homepage that shows you your recent activity and suggests apps you might find useful based on what you’ve been working on.

Windows Settings now includes a new AI helper that lets you easily find and change settings using everyday language. You can even have the AI adjust settings for you simply by asking!

I’ve been following the updates to Windows 11, and Microsoft recently shared a rundown of what they’ve been adding this year. It sounds like there’s plenty more on the way too! One thing I’m particularly looking forward to is the new Start menu – they’ve redesigned it to be much more customizable, and from what I’ve seen, it’s a significant upgrade over the current version. We’re still waiting for Microsoft to release it to everyone, but it’s definitely something to watch for.

Looking back at 2025, it might seem like a relatively quiet year for Windows 11, but Microsoft has actually been heavily investing in it. We’ve seen a steady stream of updates, ranging from exciting new AI features to crucial improvements focused on stability and security. This puts Windows 11 in a really strong position, especially as Microsoft prepares to end support for Windows 10.

Starting in 2026, we anticipate a unified dark mode experience and the introduction of advanced AI features recently revealed by Microsoft. These improvements are either already available or will be rolled out on both the 24H2 and 25H2 versions of Windows 11.

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2025-10-20 16:09