Transforming Windows 11: The Redesigned About Page for Easier System Specs

Microsoft is shaking up functionality and aesthetics in Windows 11 once again, and this time, it’s targeting the often overlooked About page in the Settings app. Gone are the days of rummaging through multiple menus or opening clunky tools like Task Manager and System Information (msinfo32) just to find out the specs of your PC. Let’s dive into this evolution, which blends style with substance, modernizing how you connect with your machine's hardware.

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What’s New: The Card-Like Interface​

The redesigned About page, currently available for Windows Insider Beta channel users, offers a sleek and easy-to-navigate card-based layout that highlights vital system specifications at a glance. Think of it as a clean dashboard that says, "Here’s what powers your setup,” letting you soak up the details without overwhelming you.

Key Features at a Glance:​

• Visually Dynamic Cards: Hardware specs are compartmentalized into neat, visually distinct sections. No more text overload.
• Easy Access to the Essentials:
  • Processor: Listing the name and boost clock speed upfront.
  • Memory: Shows the installed RAM size.
  • Storage: Tracks available capacity versus the total. Perfect for keeping that “low boot drive storage” anxiety in check.
  • Graphics Card (GPU): Model and performance specs are laid out cleanly.

The card-like design reflects Microsoft's ongoing commitment to user-centric interfaces, marrying a functional aesthetic with accessibility.

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Why This Matters: A Practical Upgrade​

The traditional tools like Task Manager or msinfo32 are classics for tech pros, but let’s be real—they’re overly intricate for casual users, almost like operating inside an airplane cockpit when all you want is a weather report. Here’s why this redesign changes the game:

1. Improved Accessibility: Let’s throw hypotheticals here—imagine a parent buying their kid a game like Starfield, only to wonder if the home PC meets requirements. The new interface provides the answers bam—straight away.
2. Time-Saving: There's no more drilling through menus or Googling how to find specs; everything's one click away.
3. Unified Design Language: This isn’t just pretty packaging. It aligns with Microsoft's overarching efforts to make every aspect of Windows 11—like the taskbar, search bar, and system settings—not only look modern but also play nice together.

This redesign comes off the back of a broader trend to refine Windows 11’s Settings app, following updates like the Settings Home Page introduced in Windows 11 23H2. That let users see their device’s color modes, connected Bluetooth devices, wallpapers, and even those persistent ads for Microsoft 365 and OneDrive. While the Home page pulled mixed reviews (thanks, ads), the About page redesign feels universally practical.

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How to Enable the Redesigned About Page​

Don’t start refreshing your system just yet—it’s a feature still exclusive to Beta testers in the Windows Insider program, so non-Beta users will have to wait for a full rollout. If you’re adventurous (or just can’t wait), here’s how to get it:

1. Join the Beta Channel:
   Enroll your system in the Windows Insider Beta Channel and install the latest build (22635.4660 or above).
2. Download ViveTool:
   ViveTool is your key to activating experimental features in Windows. Download and install it from GitHub.
3. Run Activation Commands:
   • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges and input these commands:
     
     Code:

          vivetool /enable /id:51784082,54618938

   • If you don't see the changes, try this identifier:
     
     Code:

          vivetool /enable /id:48433719

4. Restart:
   Finalize the changes by rebooting your PC. Post-reboot, enjoy the new About page layout!

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Is Windows 10 Getting Love, Too?​

Here’s the twist—not only is Microsoft designing this for Windows 11 enthusiasts, but they’re also plotting to bring the same feature to Windows 10. For those who skipped Windows 11 or have legacy machines, welcome news indeed. This cross-generation integration signals a stronger effort to harmonize features across Microsoft’s operating systems.

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The Bigger Picture in Windows Refinement​

While the About page redesign may seem like a relatively tiny tweak compared to groundbreaking things like DirectStorage or AI injections into system utilities, it represents something bigger: the gradual simplification of Windows for everyday users.
Microsoft’s overarching goal is to bridge the gap between "power users" and "everyday users," cutting through the sometimes intimidating layers of tools, pop-ups, and dialogs. Over the last few years, this has included features like:

• The Windows 11 Widgets Panel: A dedicated space for personalized news, calendars, and weather at a glance.
• OneDrive and Cloud Integration: Making it easier for folks to transition their workflows into hybrid environments.

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Community’s Early Observations​

Beta testers have already had a chance to play around with the redesigned About page. Let’s break down the reception:

• Well-Liked for Practicality: Twitter user @phantomofearth referred to the interface as "Windows 11's new top cards...highlighting key specs like RAM and storage," underlining the appeal for users who value quick access.
• Criticism vs. Ads: Mention of “advertising in Settings” remains baggage from other recent UI updates. However, none of the redesigned About page screenshots show ad space—good news if you’re paying monthly for a distraction-free workflow.

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What’s Next? Speculating Microsoft’s Moves​

As Windows 11 continues maturing, these incremental updates suggest a larger game plan: creating a unified, intuitive operating system that appeals to everyone. Imagine:

• Further Visual Overhauls: Think card-like layouts extending to even File Explorer.
• Deeper AI-powered system management: Will we see AI actively monitoring specs and helping casual gamers set up presets based on their GPU/CPU's capacity?
• Less Tech Jargon: Even more refined UI shields users from delving into the "frightening depths" of system diagnostics.

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Final Word​

The redesigned About Page is hardly just a quality-of-life improvement—it's a significant leap forward in user experience design. By making hardware insights more approachable, Microsoft empowers users to get the answers they need without feeling like they need a CompSci degree.
For now, Insider builds hold the keys to previewing this redesign. Still, its potential rollout across Windows 11 (and perhaps Windows 10) solidifies two things: accessibility is paramount, and you don’t need to speak fluent “Device Manager” to understand what ticks under your machine’s hood.
Got thoughts on the redesigned About page? Are you Team Settings or Team System Information? Let us know in the forum below!
Stay tuned as WindowsForum.com continues to follow Microsoft’s latest updates!

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Source: pune.news Windows 11 Redesigns About Page for Easy Access to Hardware Spec