These 10 Windows 11 features and changes will ship in February
— let’s hope it’s not another Patch Tuesday disaster
Windows 11 experienced a challenging start to the year, with January’s Patch Tuesday update introducing several bugs and issues. This necessitated Microsoft’s release of out-of-band security updates to address the problems.
February offers an opportunity for more stable updates. While security fixes will arrive on Patch Tuesday, new features and changes for Windows 11 are available in preview now.
The KB5074105 preview update for Windows 11 (versions 25H2 and 24H2) introduces several new and updated features.
Android users with HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, or Xiaomi devices can now seamlessly continue working on online files opened in the Microsoft Copilot app directly on their PC. This cross-device resume functionality enhances workflow between mobile and desktop environments.
This preview update for Windows 11 will introduce features through both gradual and general rollouts. Consequently, two PCs updated to the same version might not immediately display identical feature sets.
Key highlights from Microsoft’s support document are outlined below.
Windows 11 Preview: Gradual Rollout
Agent in Settings
- New! The Settings Agent now supports additional languages, including German, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Italian, and Simplified Chinese.
Cross Device Resume
New! The Cross-Device Resume feature, initially launched in the May 2025 Windows non-security update (KB5058499), has been enhanced. Users can now seamlessly continue activities from their Android phone on their PC, such as resuming Spotify playback, working in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or continuing a web browsing session.
- Vivo Android phone users can continue browsing from Vivo Browser on their PC.
- For Android phones from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, or Xiaomi, online files opened in the Microsoft Copilot app can be resumed on a PC. These files will open in the corresponding Microsoft 365 app if installed, or in the default web browser otherwise. Offline files stored only on the phone are not supported.
Windows MIDI Services
- New! MIDI functionality on Windows is enhanced with improved support for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0. This includes full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support with built-in translation, shared MIDI ports across applications, custom port naming, loopback, and app-to-app MIDI. Performance improvements and bug fixes are also included, aiming to provide a better experience for musicians.
- A separate App SDK and Tools package is available for download, enabling inbox MIDI 2.0 features and providing tools such as MIDI Console and the MIDI Settings app. These releases are found on the Windows MIDI Services landing page and GitHub. Users should note that these releases are currently unsigned and may trigger a security warning during download or installation.
Narrator
- New! Narrator now offers greater control over how on-screen controls are announced. Users can select which details are spoken and customize their order to align with their app navigation preferences. These settings are applied universally within the app to minimize unnecessary speech and enhance Narrator’s usability.
Settings
- New! A Device card is now visible on the Settings home page, displaying key specifications and usage details for the PC. This card provides a direct link to Settings > System > About for more comprehensive device information. It appears when a Microsoft account is used for sign-in, and its rollout has resumed after a pause during the August 2025 release.
Smart App Control
- New! Smart App Control (SAC) can now be toggled on or off without requiring a clean installation. Users can adjust this setting by navigating to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control. When active, SAC helps prevent untrusted or potentially malicious applications from running. Further details are available in the App & Browser Control in the Windows Security App – Microsoft Support documentation.
Voice Access
- New! Voice Access now features a simplified setup process, making it easier for users to get started. The updated experience guides users through downloading a speech model for their selected language, choosing an input microphone, and understanding the capabilities of Voice Access on their Windows PC.
Voice Typing
- New! Voice Typing includes a new Wait time before acting setting, allowing users to adjust the delay before a voice command is executed. This feature offers flexibility for various speech patterns, enhancing recognition accuracy for both slow and fast speakers.
Windows Hello
- New! Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now includes support for peripheral fingerprint sensors. This expands the secure sign-in option to desktops and other Windows 11 PCs, including Copilot+ PCs, beyond devices with integrated fingerprint sensors. To enable this, users can connect a supported ESS fingerprint reader and enroll by navigating to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
Start Menu
- Fixed: An issue where the shutdown warning message, when other users are signed in, might be cut off at the Start menu’s edge has been resolved.
- Fixed: The problem of the Start menu opening on the incorrect side of the screen when Arabic or Hebrew is set as the display language and taskbar icons are not centered has been addressed.
Kiosk mode
- Changed: An error message, “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer,” which could appear after signing into multi-app kiosk mode, has been removed.
Windows Update
- Fixed: An issue preventing users from joining the Windows Insider Program via Settings > Windows Update has been resolved.
Lock screen
- Improved: Underlying changes have been implemented to address instances where the lock screen might become unresponsive.
File Explorer
- Improved: This update includes underlying changes aimed at enhancing File Explorer’s responsiveness when navigating network locations.
Logging into your PC
- Fixed: An issue causing Explorer.exe to become unresponsive (hang) during the initial PC sign-in, particularly when certain apps were configured as startup applications, has been resolved. This issue could also prevent the taskbar from appearing.
Activation
- Fixed: An issue where valid Windows license migration could fail during an upgrade, due to the device being unable to register its digital license with the Windows Activation server, has been resolved. Previously, this required using the troubleshooter for a fix.
Desktop icons
- Fixed: An issue causing desktop icons to unexpectedly move when interacting with files (e.g., opening or renaming them) has been addressed.
Input
- Fixed: The issue where keyboard character repeat delay labels in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Keyboard were displayed in reverse order has been corrected.
User Account Control (UAC)
- Fixed: An issue that could cause a PC to stop responding when attempting to run Windows Terminal with elevated privileges from a non-admin account has been resolved.
Windows Sandbox
- Fixed: An issue that could lead to Windows Sandbox becoming unresponsive during startup and displaying error 0x800705b4 has been resolved.
Windows 11 Preview: Normal Rollout
Agent in Settings
- New! The Settings Agent now supports additional languages, including German, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Italian, and Simplified Chinese.
Windows Sandbox
- Fixed: An issue that could lead to Windows Sandbox becoming unresponsive during startup and displaying error 0x800705b4 has been resolved.
The Future of Windows 11 Updates
Responding to user feedback, Microsoft has committed to improving Windows 11 and resolving identified “pain points” throughout the operating system.
Microsoft stated to The Verge, “The feedback received from the community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. Windows needs improvement in ways that are meaningful for people.”
“This year, the focus will be on addressing consistently reported customer pain points: enhancing system performance, reliability, and the overall Windows experience.”
Given this commitment was made recently, significant changes are not expected before February’s Patch Tuesday updates. However, Microsoft has acknowledged user concerns and pledged to enhance Windows 11.
