5 smaller features I like in Windows 11 – Neowin

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Windows 11 has been a bit of a mixed bag since launch. While very few deny its design aesthetics and the forward strides that Microsoft has made in certain areas, there have also been certain places where the company has massively regressed in terms of functionality.

That said, Windows 11 does have its charms, some of which I have talked about before. However, today, I’m revisiting this space because the last piece I wrote on this topic was back in November 2021, which not only means that the OS has evolved since then, but also that my thoughts on certain aspects of Windows 11 have changed.

Before you dive into the list of five smaller things that I like about Windows 11, please note that my thoughts are based on my usage of various versions of Windows up until the latest Dev Channel build 25174. As such, some of the things I talk about may be generally available while others may only be in the Insider Preview for the time being. With that clarity, let’s begin!

1 – Volume flyout

This is something that Microsoft unveiled back in January and while I lamented the fact that the firm took so, so long to change the volume flyout in Windows, I should also emphasize that it is very welcome change.

Windows 10 had a very archaic volume flyout that was very noticeable, especially when you were playing media content. It showed up at the top-left side of the screen and even showed a bigger window about the media content that was being played. This meant that it took up a large portion of the screen, took some time to go away, and was very distracting.

On the other hand, Windows 11’s volume slider has none of these problems. It sits innocently at the bottom of the screen and does not take up large amounts of space, even when you’re playing media content. It’s sleek and minimalistic, and makes my experience of using Windows 11 so much better.

2 – The design of the Settings app

The Settings app in Windows 11 is not perfect, but it’s just so much better at categorizing options and making it accessible. The always-visible category pane at the left of the Settings app makes it easier to navigate and find content at a glance.

The category icons are arranged vertically which means that they “flow” well. Windows 10 had rows of icons on the main page so you had to search for icons both horizontally and vertically. Windows 11 solves this problem with aplomb.

Then there is the breadcrumbs navigation too. You can go deep into nested menus and still be able to trace your steps back, something which was completely absent in Windows 10. And if you want to go to a different category of options altogether, you can use the previously mentioned navigation pane on the left at any time since it’s always visible. It’s just so much convenient compared to what we had in Windows 10.

3 – Recommended section in Start menu

I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan of the “Recommended” section in the Start menu because I thought that it took up a lot of space and I would barely ever use it. However, over time, my opinion on this has taken a u-turn.

Windows 11 has changed the way I interact with my files. The Recommended section shows me …….

Source: https://www.neowin.net/news/5-smaller-features-i-like-in-windows-11/

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