The main update for Windows 11 in 2022 was the Windows 11 2022 Update which brought a few new features and polish to the operating system since its launch in 2021. Now as we approach the close of 2022, let’s look ahead and see what Microsoft has in store for Windows 11 in 2023. Over at Windows Central, Zac Bowden has gleaned some information as to what might be coming next year. Here’s what he is expecting:
Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 Microsoft started a term called “Moments” which allows continuous updates to the operating system throughout its lifecycle instead of waiting for the normal yearly update in the fall. The first Moment shipped in October which included the addition of tabs in File Explorer.
The next Windows 11 moment update is scheduled for early 2023 to include more features and updates. Most of these features are focused on the taskbar area and System Tray. If you’re running Windows 11 in tablet mode this update will be important to you. Some of the top features to look for are Tablet- mode Taskbar, System Tray updates, Task Manager, search, and a full-screen widget panel. The new tablet-mode Taskbar was first introduced in Windows 10X.
Microsoft is looking ahead for a third Moment update that would occur in late spring or early summer. Though it’s too early to know exactly what Microsoft would include improvements to Windows Search UI, the replacement of Windows Mail and Calendar with the new Outlook web client, and updating of older interfaces to better match the Windows 11 2022 UI.
Microsoft still remains committed to the annual feature updates, the next one being Windows 11 version 23H32 which would be expected to arrive sometime in the fall of 2023 to include new features and updates to the support lifecycle. Here’s a quick recap of the Windows 11 milestones you can expect in 2023:
- Windows 11 22H2 Moment 2: February/March
- Windows 11 22H2 Moment 3: May/June
- Windows 11 23H2 Moment 4: September/October
While some of these timelines may shift throughout the year it’s clear Microsoft is committed to keeping the features and enhancements rolling out in 2023 every few months, which is different from previous versions which only saw new features a couple of times a year.
