What you need to know
- New Windows 11 features are rolling out today!
- Features include Android app support, new Taskbar improvements, and more.
- New features will be arriving on a regular basis going forward.
Last month, Microsoft announced that it would begin rolling out Android app support and Taskbar improvements to all Windows 11 users at some point in February. We're now at that point, meaning those features are now rolling out for everyone on Windows 11! The new features have been in testing with Insiders for a handful of months, and are now finally ready for general availability.
The new features are as follows:
- Android app support via Amazon Appstore (US only)
- Mute/unmute mic via the Taskbar when in a Teams call
- Weather info on the Taskbar
- Clock info on Taskbar on external monitors
- Updated Notepad and Media Player apps with new designs
The big new feature being made available today is support for Android apps, a coveted feature that was announced last year but unfortunately missed the initial launch build. It's here now (in preview) for those in the United States, and will allow users to download over 1,000 Android apps from the Amazon Appstore, or alternatively sideload Android APKs if that's something you want to do.
Additionally, we also have some new Taskbar features, including the ability to mute or unmute your mic directly from the system tray when in a Teams call. The Widgets panel button has also been updated to display Weather info, and is also getting a new home in the far left of the Taskbar.
Finally, Microsoft is also rolling out updated versions of the Notepad and Media Player apps, which bring with it new designs, dark mode, and more. Overall, this is a nice feature drop for Windows 11 users, and Microsoft promises that more are on the way as it commits to shipping new features on a more regular basis.
Microsoft's next major OS update is scheduled for the second half of this year, codenamed "Sun Valley 2" and set to ship as version 22H2. Last week, we revealed a bunch of new features that Microsoft is working on that we expect will ship as part of that major release. Be sure to check out that story if you'd like to know more.
