Windows 11 v22H2

v22H2's logo

### Beta(s)

Pre-Dev, Dev Preview, Dev Release, Beta Release, Release Preview, Moment 1, Moment 2, Moment 3 (Current)

Windows 11 v22H2 (Or known as Windows Nickel) is the first major update of Windows 11. It implemented an improved Mica Material, more new fluent icons (such as updated Windows Sandbox, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard and Quick Assist) icons. It implemented also more new apps that are now fluent neumorphic themed with the new dark theme, including Notepad. This is the first version of Windows to mirror the search icon, as mirror alignment of it was wrong, since older OSes (Windows 2000-11 initial release). As an add, tabs in File Explorer have been implemented from File Explorer, with improved cloud computing, return of Drag and Drop, a new Filters pane and returned the Folder Previews. Stickers have been implemented, too with the return of Windows Spotlight, after being removed from Windows 10 Iron and implemented from Windows 10 Iron.

## New features and changes

* Mica Material: The Mica Material has been updated, to use its previews in a few UWP applications, including Programs. This added a change of the image the windows have right now since Windows 10's initial release.
* Sound Recorder: The Sound Recorder has been implemented with a fluent neumorphic design with the Mica Material, intended to replace the Voice Recorder from Windows 10 and Windows 11's initial release.
* Photos: Photos have been updated to implement better multitasking with photos, new OneDrive compatibility, and a new toolbar which is less rounded.
* Microsoft Teams: The Chat icon has been updated to have different animations and sharing windows has been implemented, with a "Share with Microsoft Teams" button from the bottom. From the hybrid work video, spatial audio has been implemented, including new filter options and the ability to also mute sounds from the background.
* Journal: Microsoft Journal has been implemented, in order for quicker notes as journals from the Windows Pen.
* Task Manager: Task Manager has been updated with the new dark mode, sidebar or navigation pane, intended to replaced the ribbon bar from Windows 11 v21H2 and Windows 10. Eco Mode from Windows 10 Iron and Windows 11 v21H2 has been replaced with Efficiency mode and the ability to run a new task has been implemented. A new Settings page has been implemented, instead of an options page. Running spaces also use the user's main accent color, instead of the yellow and orange colors.
* Widgets: Widgets have slightly updated in this build to be from the left, instead from the center and now displays weather content. The new dynamic feed has been implemented, with a new Family Safety Widget and improved search.
* Microsoft Store: Microsoft Store has been updated to now be updated and on Insider Preview, instead in the final release, with introducing a glossy animation when going up from the most popular applications tool and new inbox apps have been implemented, too.
* File Explorer: File Explorer has been updated to include tabs, a feature that was a lot requested since the past, "Filters", which you can change into different filters, without needing to do many work-arounds to change the filter of the applet your running. Integration with OneDrive has been implemented, with a new OneDrive button from the toolbar. Folder previews have been returned, after being removed in Windows 11 v21H2, with a bigger improvement, compared from Windows 10 Cobalt. Drag and Drop has been also returned from the taskbar so that you can drag your thrid party extensions and applications and drop them into the taskbar without any problem. Some icons have changed, too for more compact of what these icons do, as in Windows 11 v21H2, they were more confusing, because of the first unveil of the design. Quick Access has been renamed to Home with a new icon and Recent Files have been renamed to Favorites. The Naviagation Pane has been updated, too, making Home don't display any content anymore, except for the desktop and the design is a bit more fluent if its spaced or in compact view, with splitted lines, to clear a lot more the files and applets your selecting or opening.
* Snap Layouts: Snap Layouts have been improved with a new experience, so now you can also swipe through your window and on the top and snap layouts will show up, like how it does, with normal functionality, just like the one from the maximize button. They also have been updated to display numbers into them, too, to switch to them easily.
* Tray icon hitbox: A feature that has been reverted since Windows 11 build 22616, is the brand new tray hitbox, to include normal functionality of the touchpad icon for laptop users, including having a fluent show all hidens icon with rounded visuals and more space. It has been reverted in Windows 11 build 22616, due to perofrmance issues and experience issues.
* Taskbar: The taskbar in this build has been updated, to show a mirrored search icon, updated Quick Settings, to include more options, including Sound input, Sound output and Vivid. Notifications now spawn full and have an acrylic background, too, with a new animation to Quick Settings, in order to be less similar to the one with Notification Center's. Focus Assist has been replaced with Do Not Disturb, with a new icon, due to the implementation of Focus in Settings and from the Clock App. The battery icon when charging has been changed, to include a thunder-like charger, then a normal one for desktop users and include more compact with the new tray icon. OneDrive has been updated to implemented rounded corners and fluent icons, to match with the new design. Its visualability in High Contrast themes has been improved, too.
* Start Menu: The Start Menu has been updated for more customization, to implement More Recommended files, Normal and Less Recommended Files options in Settings, due to its hate. App Folders have been also returned back in Windows 11's start menu, since it was missing in the initial release (v21H2). New icons in the search box, also appear for Search and the search icon is now mirrored. Acrylic blur is now also better for the Start Menu, starting with this update and Fabricated text has been fixed to have more compact.
* Search: Taskbar Search has been improved to implement Search Highlights, a features organized for Live Content, Work and Official Events from the world, in even to explore research with just 1-2 clicks! Fabricated text has been also fixed to have more compact, just like the Start Menu. Recent in the taskbar search has been changed with a new design, which removed normal search for less confusion and more make more sense. Now when searching, pinned files will also be searched, too, instead of only recent files. The UI of the menus have been also updated to include matching gradients with live content and the user tile has been replaced with the user's profile picture. Some other functionality has been removed, due to many of these features being moved to Microsoft Edge. Many of its animations are now smoother, starting with this version.
* Miscellaneous: Some miscellaneous changes have been implemented, with lots of experience and bug fixes from the initial release.
* Live Captions: Live Captions have been implemented for deaf people if there are no captions in videos from Social Media.
* Voice Access: Voice Access has been implemented, to test different natural voices when speaking and accessibility of your voice is also now optimized with this new app.
* WinUI 3: WinUI 2 has been upgraded to WinUI 3, with a new boot loading animation, that is used in the boot screen, set-up, installation and from the working updates screen.
* New User PFP: The User PFP has been changed to have a new fluent themed aesthetic to match with the new neumorphic and bring transparency and more conistecy with the metro User PFP from the Windows 11 initial release.
* Wallpaper Stickers: Wallpaper Stickers have been implemented from Settings, with a lot of stickers to choose from and add them to your wallpapers. It doesn't if you enable Slideshow or Windows Spotlight, due to the wallpaper always changing when time passes without knowing the stickers getting removed.
* Family Safety: Family Safety has been implemented as a new functional and inbox app and its widget is now out from the widgets panel.
* New touch indicator: A reverted feature, though implemented in build 22563, the new touch indicator has been implemented, so when your in a tablet, the taskbar will look normal like the desktop and the other side will actually be a smaller charms taskbar, instead of everything being charm-taskbar themed even if the single screen device is using a dual screen device. It has been reverted in build 22621, due to performance and experience issues, including and usability issues.
* New Open With dialog box: The new redesigned Open With dialog box, a reverted feature, has been implemented, to resemble the new fluent neumorphic design eith the Mica Material, rather having a Metro design from Windows 10. It has been reverted in build 22579, due to performance and experience issues. Microsoft promised that it will come back soon later, when they will fix all of its issues, which will take a while for now.
* Log-in Screen: The Log-in Screen has been updated, so that the touch keyboard and accessibility options and pages have their fluent neumorphic design, within the new input being implemented for the Password. (Might not work for the PIN).
* Phone Link: Your Phone has been rebranded with a new icon to Phone Link, with a brand new 2022 UI, instead a 2021 UI. In build 22610, Your Phone in Settings has been renamed to Phone Link.
* Touch Keyboard: The Touch Keyboard has been updated for better customization, rebranded themes and the implementation of the new Korean IME. Some Emojis have been changed, too for more compact with the new design and Emoji 12.1 and Emoji 13 have been implemented, implementing new emojis again. Its icon for touch users is now almost in every place, rather than just in one place, to go to the touch keyboard with just 3-2 clicks, instead of doing work-arounds for it.
* Recycle Bin: Recycle Bin has been updated to use now the new context menu, rather than then the old context menu from the initial release.
* Help Application (F1): The Help Application from Windows 10 in this major update has been replaced with the help html of Windows 11 from Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, due to fix consistency to the branding.
* Brand new Media Player App: Groove Music in this major update has been replaced with Media Player. Due to Media Player having a name similar to Windows Media Player, Windows Media Player has been renamed respectively to Windows Media Player Legacy.

## References

1.Windows 11 22H2 (Sun Valley 2) RTM release on May 24, 2022 - Microsoft Community