Windows 11: The most important changes to the user interface

Author

Gullu

Date

Jun, 30.2021

Microsoft has modernized the user interface of Windows 11 compared to Windows 10. We summarize the biggest changes. 

 

Windows 11 has now been officially presented by Microsoft. The new features include a modified start menu, which comes along without live tiles, but contains an area with recently opened programs. Windows 11 is to be released as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users in November and will be provided with updates until at least 2030. In addition to the start menu, there are other new features on the Windows 11 user interface.
Table of Contents
1 New start menu and Windows widgets
2 Snap-Assist allows several window variants
3 These functions are no longer available in Windows 11
New start menu and Windows widgets      
As already seen in the leaked build, there is a new start menu in Windows 11 based on the design of the now-discontinued Windows 10X, which is either left-aligned or centred on the taskbar and, in addition to pinned programs, recommended and recently used apps indicate. In addition, the new start menu contains a search bar so that you can search on the local PC as well as the cloud storage Onedrive and the Internet.
There is a new icon in the system tray that opens the widget area. If you have a touchscreen, you can open the widget area with a swipe from the left edge of the screen inwards. By default, Windows widgets such as the weather report and messages from MSN are displayed here, which can be arranged as desired. In the future, however, third-party providers can also design their own widgets and offer them for download. The developers can add a donation button so that users can make a monetary donation if, for example, they like the widget and want to support the creators. In addition, Microsoft Teams is optionally integrated by means of an icon on the taskbar, so that you can, for example, reply to messages directly without having to open the Teams app.


Snap-Assist allows several window variants      
For more individual management of the open program windows, Windows 11 includes new presets to be able to display windows side by side or one above the other on one screen. In doing so, Microsoft is apparently orienting itself towards the possibilities of the free Microsoft Powertoys. In order to be able to use the new Snap-Assist and thus be able to display three or more windows in parallel on the monitor, you need a screen with at least 1,920 pixels in width, as for example with full HD resolution. The window orientation automatically adapts to the orientation of the screen. If you use the display horizontally, for example, the programs are automatically displayed one below the other. In addition, Windows 11 automatically remembers the set window sizes when you close a monitor in a multi-monitor setup and adjusts the scaling.
In addition to the new window management, the context menus are also given a visual revision and should, for example, scale better. To make it easier for people with disabilities to use the PC, Windows 11 has advanced accessibility settings. For example, there is a colour filter that helps with red-green weakness, for example. In addition, the reaction area for touch controls has been enlarged so that you can easily tap next to an open program window to change the size with your finger.


These functions are no longer available in Windows 11      
In Windows 11, you will have to say goodbye to some of the previously included functions. The "helpful" Cortana voice is no longer a nuisance during installation, instead, it is just an app. Instead of Skype with the "Meet Now" function and the contacts icon in the system tray, there will be an icon for Microsoft Teams in the future. If you don't need Microsoft Teams, you can uninstall it and reinstall Skype. The UWP app for Microsoft Onenote will also no longer be included with a new installation of Windows 11. There are no more live tiles in Windows 11. Although there is no longer a timeline in the upcoming Windows, the Microsoft Edge web browser and the new start menu offer a similar function to see