Windows 11 is set to receive a bunch of new features thanks to a peek at a recent Insider Preview build, including a reintroduced taskbar bypass, improved Nearby sharing to rival Apple AirDrop, and easy local file sharing to OneDrive.
Now available on the Dev Channel, Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25163 introduces a new taskbar experience that seasoned users will appreciate. If there are too many apps taking up space on the taskbar, Windows will automatically go into an “overflow” state that displays a three-point list of redundant apps. Clicking on it allows users to view all the apps that are currently active, making everything more organized.
The full menu will still contain the usual behaviors of the taskbar, such as support for pinned applications, a jump menu, and an extended user interface. Moreover, it can be easily rejected if users click outside of it or start using another app.
It’s a welcome update, but since it’s a feature in the Insider Preview Build, it’s not certain if it will be released to users in general. However, with the big Sun Valley 2 update expected this fall, there’s reason to believe it will arrive then.
This isn’t the only update, as Windows 11 has also made improvements to Nearby sharing. The built-in Windows Share window uses User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Bluetooth to discover nearby devices, allowing users to discover and share more devices with desktop computers.
Users can also choose OneDrive as a target to upload a file directly to OneDrive and share it further with access control options – all using the built-in Windows sharing window. This can also be done by sharing local files in File Explorer without any context switches or opening the OneDrive app.
There are also a bunch of fixes in the Preview Build, from explorer.exe crashing when dragging tabs to closed tabs reappearing in File Explorer.
Many of the updates that appear in the Preview Build may be tweaked before they are shown to the general public, and we’re sure to see more when Sun Valley 2 arrives. Apparently, it might not be long before we see Windows 12, which could arrive in 2024 thanks to Microsoft’s rolling update schedule.