These Are Some of the Upcoming Features in Windows 11

With an increasing number of CoPilot+ compatible laptops in the market, Microsoft has also announced new features in Windows 11 which will directly benefit from the AI capabilities of the new machines. These features will be available on laptops running on Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD chips, leaving no users behind.

Microsoft will start rolling out these new features in the Windows Insider Community in October. The public rollout will begin in November in a phased manner across global markets.

Recall (Preview)

Microsoft’s Recall feature has been a hot topic of discussion among Windows users since its original announcement earlier this year. Similar to CoPilot Vision, it will be an opt-in feature which will require users to enrol and enable it manually.

Recall takes snapshots of your Windows screen capturing your regular activities. These are stored locally on your computer in a highly secure and encrypted format. Users can refer to these images and go back in time to revisit their previous task, and even resume certain activities. The Recall feature will serve as a time machine allowing users to go back in time to check their previous work.

Recall Settings
Safety settings in Microsoft Recall

Microsoft has clarified that the data collected in the Recall feature will not be used by the company for targeted advertising or training AI models.

It also smartly detects sensitive screens containing passwords or financial information and skips them from capturing, ensuring user privacy. The company also recently announced that users will have the option to opt out of the Recall feature altogether.

Recall will be available as a Preview only. Its full functionality will be enabled with future updates in Windows 11.

Click to Do (Preview)

The Click to Do feature creates an overlay of tools based on the content on your screen.

For example, if you are viewing a photo and use the Click to Do feature, it will show you options such as crop, remove background, adjust colours, and other similar functions related to photo editing. The tools shown in the overlay will change based on your task.

Click To Do

It can also offer options like conducting a quick Bing Search, summarising a long text, sending an email, rewriting a paragraph, etc. Click to Do can be activated on any CoPilot+ computer by simultaneously pressing the Windows key and a mouse click.

The library of functions and tools will expand further over upcoming updates, as per Microsoft.

Contextual Search in File Explorer

Microsoft is making it easier for users to search for their files on their Windows computers. When a user enters contextual search parameters such as Award Ceremony, Wedding, Party, etc. in the File Explorer search bar, they will get search results of files which match the meaning of the search term. It works irrespective of the file name, size, EXIF data, etc.

The feature analyses all the contents on your CoPilot+ computer using generative AI, to provide accurate search results. Context-based search will also be expanding to Windows Search and the Settings app in upcoming Windows 11 updates.

Super Resolution in Photos

The default Photos app in Windows 11 can now convert blurry and pixelated images into higher-resolution captures using CoPilot AI. It can upscale the resolution of an image by up to eight times. Users will also have the option to adjust the strength of the feature using a slider.

Super resolution in Photos

Users can access it on their CoPilot+ computer by updating the Photos app to the latest version from the Microsoft App Store. There is no need to wait for a new Windows OS update to use this feature.

Generative AI in Paint

Microsoft has revamped the beloved Paint app with the power of artificial intelligence. It gets two new major features: generative fill and generative erase. These can be used to fill in the blank spaces or remove certain parts of an image using AI. It uses a diffusion-based model to provide precise and accurate editing results.

The generative fill and erase features also have content moderation, preventing their abuse for irrational activities. This feature will be available for free on CoPilot+ computers in the latest update of the Paint app from the Microsoft App Store.

Windows 11 24H2 Update

The Windows 11 24H2 update will start rolling out to all users starting today. It comes with a new Energy Saver feature which will extend the battery life on all Windows 11 laptops. The update brings along HDR background support, an improved taskbar and system tray, and some refinements in the File Explorer and Settings app. WiFi 7 support has also been added in Windows 11 with this update, introducing faster and more reliable wireless connectivity on compatible systems.