Windows 11 has shown that continual evolution can redefine what users expect from a modern operating system. In the first half of 2025, Microsoft accelerated its update cadence, releasing a steady stream of improvements that have tangibly reshaped the experience for everyday users and power users alike. With version 25H2 confirmed for an autumn release and the pace of feature additions unrelenting, it’s worth spotlighting the most significant arrivals. This examination covers the ten most compelling—and, in many cases, long-awaited—features that made their debut in Windows 11 through 2025. These enhancements not only respond to years of user feedback, but also anticipate the needs of a more connected, focused, and diverse computing world.
For years, Windows loyalists have lamented the lack of a “small taskbar buttons” option in Windows 11—a popular customization available in Windows 10. Microsoft addressed this gap in 2025, albeit in a nuanced manner. You can now select one of three behaviors: maintain the default icon size, shrink icons only when space runs low, or keep icons small all the time. The toggle, found in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, grants genuine flexibility to those seeking a more compact layout—a common request from laptop and ultrawide monitor users.
However, there’s a subtle drawback. Unlike Windows 10, where small icons also reduced the taskbar’s vertical footprint, Windows 11 keeps the overall taskbar height the same, merely adjusting icon scale. This means you gain no extra screen space, slightly undermining the utility for those who crave minimalism. It's a step forward, but perhaps not as comprehensive as some hoped.
What makes this truly useful is the way these elements clarify what can otherwise be arcane system data. For PC enthusiasts, it’s a minor upgrade, but for average users—especially those troubleshooting or handing over their machine for support—it’s a small revolution in transparency.
Equally noteworthy is the ongoing migration of legacy Control Panel features into the Settings app. For 2025, you can now adjust mouse pointer settings, disable mouse acceleration (an often-cited demand from gamers and designers), and more. These changes further the transition toward a unified, more modern system management experience and signal the slow but steady retirement of Control Panel’s piecemeal legacy.
While this initially appears niche, it moves Windows one step closer to being as “living room ready” as any big-screen OS. The implementation is not superficial; early reports and hands-on feedback highlight its speed and intuitiveness compared to past solutions. For anyone using Windows as a media center or for cloud gaming, this feature is both cool and truly practical.
While desktop icon improvements might not sound revolutionary, their impact on visual coherence shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s this sort of detail-oriented fix that collectively elevates the platform’s polish and user satisfaction.
Be aware, though, of a caveat: if you set up Windows 11 in “online mode” with a Microsoft Account, OneDrive backup can still become enabled by default—sometimes without explicit user consent. For those keen to retain control, this is a crucial detail and underscores the importance of checking settings after major updates or installations.
Overall, these tweaks align with a growing market preference for quieter, less prescriptive operating systems—an area where Microsoft had been lagging behind competitors like macOS and various Linux environments.
Users who find this intrusive can quickly disable it in Settings > Personalization > Start menu, but those who love cross-device continuity will find the new panel shaves seconds off routine daily interactions. Quick glances, drag-and-drop file transfers, and seamless integration are now front-and-center instead of buried in a secondary app.
It’s another incremental but meaningful step toward unifying your digital life, though privacy-minded users should always review what information is displayed and shared across devices.
Also new is the ability to right-click a folder in the navigation pane to instantly create a new subfolder—previously only possible via the main window or keyboard shortcuts. While incremental, these are solid evidence that Microsoft is attentive to quality-of-life improvements.
Looking ahead, more ambitious changes (such as deep linking into open Explorer tabs or cleaner cross-window operations) remain in development, but even these small wins show Microsoft’s rekindled commitment to refining the basics.
On supported hardware, users can now find files and system settings using natural language, enabled by new AI-powered underpinnings. “Find the spreadsheet I worked on last night,” actually works as you’d expect, and the system surfaces results even when you can’t recall file names. This is extremely valuable for professionals who juggle numerous documents or complex project hierarchies.
Still, this experience is gated behind new silicon. If your system doesn’t meet the Copilot+ requirements, you’ll miss out—an understandable, but still contentious, limitation. The move illustrates the increasingly bifurcated nature of Windows updates as AI becomes more central: features aren’t just rolled out by OS version, but by processor generation as well.
Unlike the AI search upgrade, Copilot Vision isn’t restricted to Copilot+ PCs. All Windows 11 systems receive it, underlining Microsoft’s intent to democratize advanced AI features—at least some of the time. Early reviews have called out the value for remote support, real-time accessibility aids, and even software onboarding.
Other new Copilot app features include “Press to talk” (hold Win+C and speak), and enhanced customization for the Copilot key and related shortcuts. These help cement Copilot as not just a staple of future growth, but a practical tool for daily problem-solving.
The biggest beneficiary is the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, who can now broadcast video for both a sign language interpreter and a broader audience without workarounds. But even outside of accessibility, this is a major perk for multitasking—think recording in Teams while monitoring video feed in another tool.
There’s also a new “basic camera mode,” providing straightforward diagnostics and troubleshooting for webcam issues. For those who rely on flawless conferencing and presentation equipment, this is a lifeline for rapid problem resolution.
For users still on Windows 10, this cumulative refinement—stable updates, smarter defaults, fewer annoyances—should be factored heavily alongside new functionality when weighing an upgrade.
For those still holding out on Windows 10, the calculus for staying put has tipped further. The best of Windows 11 is now clearly ahead, both in features and maturity. As the highly anticipated 25H2 update approaches, expect more seismic and subtle changes—the sum of which will likely make Windows 11 the standard-bearer for Microsoft’s next decade.
If you've been waiting for a clear sign to make the jump, 2025's Windows 11 updates just might be it.
Source: Neowin Top 10 cool and useful features Windows 11 received in 2025
For years, Windows loyalists have lamented the lack of a “small taskbar buttons” option in Windows 11—a popular customization available in Windows 10. Microsoft addressed this gap in 2025, albeit in a nuanced manner. You can now select one of three behaviors: maintain the default icon size, shrink icons only when space runs low, or keep icons small all the time. The toggle, found in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, grants genuine flexibility to those seeking a more compact layout—a common request from laptop and ultrawide monitor users.However, there’s a subtle drawback. Unlike Windows 10, where small icons also reduced the taskbar’s vertical footprint, Windows 11 keeps the overall taskbar height the same, merely adjusting icon scale. This means you gain no extra screen space, slightly undermining the utility for those who crave minimalism. It's a step forward, but perhaps not as comprehensive as some hoped.
A Reimagined Settings App for Every User
The once-overwhelming Settings app is now more approachable, especially for newcomers. The addition of “spec cards” in the About section unambiguously displays your processor, memory, graphics hardware, video memory, and storage configuration. Alongside, a new FAQ area explains how these specs influence performance, and offers guidance on verifying Windows version status.What makes this truly useful is the way these elements clarify what can otherwise be arcane system data. For PC enthusiasts, it’s a minor upgrade, but for average users—especially those troubleshooting or handing over their machine for support—it’s a small revolution in transparency.
Equally noteworthy is the ongoing migration of legacy Control Panel features into the Settings app. For 2025, you can now adjust mouse pointer settings, disable mouse acceleration (an often-cited demand from gamers and designers), and more. These changes further the transition toward a unified, more modern system management experience and signal the slow but steady retirement of Control Panel’s piecemeal legacy.
Gamepad Keyboard: Typing Made Couch-Friendly
Console-inspired input is an arena where Windows had plenty of room for improvement. The introduction of the gamepad keyboard is arguably the most delightful quality-of-life upgrade for couch gamers and casual users alike. Instead of slow, clumsy navigation, the on-screen keyboard now leverages most of the controls on an Xbox or compatible gamepad: analog sticks for cursoring, triggers for modifiers, and additional buttons for layout switching and special characters.While this initially appears niche, it moves Windows one step closer to being as “living room ready” as any big-screen OS. The implementation is not superficial; early reports and hands-on feedback highlight its speed and intuitiveness compared to past solutions. For anyone using Windows as a media center or for cloud gaming, this feature is both cool and truly practical.
Desktop Icons Finally Look Consistent
Longtime users often grumbled about packaged apps—which include those from the Microsoft Store—displaying desktop shortcuts with garish, colorful backplates. In 2025, this issue is finally squashed. All desktop icons, irrespective of their source, now appear with transparent or appropriately styled backgrounds, delivering a much cleaner, more professional appearance on the Windows desktop.While desktop icon improvements might not sound revolutionary, their impact on visual coherence shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s this sort of detail-oriented fix that collectively elevates the platform’s polish and user satisfaction.
Less Intrusive OneDrive Backup and Smarter Notifications
Nothing saps productivity faster than nagging notifications. Windows 11’s File Explorer was especially guilty, peppering users with prompts to enable OneDrive backup for Documents, Pictures, and other folders. New context menu options in 2025 now allow quick dismissal: right-click on the backup prompt and choose to turn it off, silence it for a month, or adjust reminders without navigating deep menus.Be aware, though, of a caveat: if you set up Windows 11 in “online mode” with a Microsoft Account, OneDrive backup can still become enabled by default—sometimes without explicit user consent. For those keen to retain control, this is a crucial detail and underscores the importance of checking settings after major updates or installations.
Overall, these tweaks align with a growing market preference for quieter, less prescriptive operating systems—an area where Microsoft had been lagging behind competitors like macOS and various Linux environments.
Phone Link Now Embedded in Your Start Menu
Integrating smartphones with desktop PCs remains a priority for Microsoft. Building on the previous Phone Link experience, 2025 introduced a new Start menu panel dedicated to your mobile device’s most relevant info: recent notifications, favorite contacts, files, battery and signal status, and more.Users who find this intrusive can quickly disable it in Settings > Personalization > Start menu, but those who love cross-device continuity will find the new panel shaves seconds off routine daily interactions. Quick glances, drag-and-drop file transfers, and seamless integration are now front-and-center instead of buried in a secondary app.
It’s another incremental but meaningful step toward unifying your digital life, though privacy-minded users should always review what information is displayed and shared across devices.
File Explorer: More Stable and Functional
Despite its centrality, File Explorer has suffered from both bugs and stagnation in modern Windows releases. Fortunately, 2025 saw several bug fixes, especially around tab restoration—a niche but highly requested feature. Now, Explorer can remember open tabs and restore them after a reboot, minimizing workflow disruption.Also new is the ability to right-click a folder in the navigation pane to instantly create a new subfolder—previously only possible via the main window or keyboard shortcuts. While incremental, these are solid evidence that Microsoft is attentive to quality-of-life improvements.
Looking ahead, more ambitious changes (such as deep linking into open Explorer tabs or cleaner cross-window operations) remain in development, but even these small wins show Microsoft’s rekindled commitment to refining the basics.
Windows Search Gets AI Smarts (But Not for Everyone)
Search has long been a sore spot in Windows, increasingly cluttered, sluggish, and unintuitive. In 2025, Microsoft supercharged search but with a significant catch: you need a “Copilot+” PC, typically with a Snapdragon X-series, AMD Strix, or recent Intel Core Ultra processor.On supported hardware, users can now find files and system settings using natural language, enabled by new AI-powered underpinnings. “Find the spreadsheet I worked on last night,” actually works as you’d expect, and the system surfaces results even when you can’t recall file names. This is extremely valuable for professionals who juggle numerous documents or complex project hierarchies.
Still, this experience is gated behind new silicon. If your system doesn’t meet the Copilot+ requirements, you’ll miss out—an understandable, but still contentious, limitation. The move illustrates the increasingly bifurcated nature of Windows updates as AI becomes more central: features aren’t just rolled out by OS version, but by processor generation as well.
Copilot Vision: AI That “Sees” Your Apps
Within the new Copilot app, “Copilot Vision” is a standout innovation with broad potential. With a click of the glasses icon, you can now share the active window or app with Copilot, letting the AI analyze, explain, or even troubleshoot what’s happening. This contextual awareness dramatically upgrades support scenarios, workflow coaching, accessibility, and productivity.Unlike the AI search upgrade, Copilot Vision isn’t restricted to Copilot+ PCs. All Windows 11 systems receive it, underlining Microsoft’s intent to democratize advanced AI features—at least some of the time. Early reviews have called out the value for remote support, real-time accessibility aids, and even software onboarding.
Other new Copilot app features include “Press to talk” (hold Win+C and speak), and enhanced customization for the Copilot key and related shortcuts. These help cement Copilot as not just a staple of future growth, but a practical tool for daily problem-solving.
Camera Improvements: One Camera, Multiple Apps
Video calling and streaming remain vital for work, education, and accessibility. Until recently, Windows 11’s camera subsystem grilled users with “Device in use” errors if two applications tried to use a webcam simultaneously. This changed in 2025, with new support for concurrent camera access.The biggest beneficiary is the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, who can now broadcast video for both a sign language interpreter and a broader audience without workarounds. But even outside of accessibility, this is a major perk for multitasking—think recording in Teams while monitoring video feed in another tool.
There’s also a new “basic camera mode,” providing straightforward diagnostics and troubleshooting for webcam issues. For those who rely on flawless conferencing and presentation equipment, this is a lifeline for rapid problem resolution.
Polished Foundations: Stability and Bug Fixes
Beyond these headline features, perhaps the most significant change is less tangible: Windows 11’s overall reliability and polish have steadily improved. Microsoft’s monthly servicing cadence targets long-standing bugs and pain points with renewed focus. Early-adopter forums and feedback hubs, once awash with complaints about stability or inconsistent experiences, now more frequently celebrate the subtle but crucial improvements.For users still on Windows 10, this cumulative refinement—stable updates, smarter defaults, fewer annoyances—should be factored heavily alongside new functionality when weighing an upgrade.
Critical Analysis: Strengths, Gaps, and What’s Next
What Works
- User-Centric Adjustments: Features such as smaller taskbar buttons, improved options in Settings, and less intrusive nagging directly respond to years of power-user agitation. Microsoft listened and, mostly, delivered.
- Real AI Innovation: The integration of Copilot Vision and smarter Search showcases clear practical use for AI rather than gimmickry, setting a forward-looking foundation for the ecosystem.
- Accessibility: From the camera overhaul to FAQ-driven settings, 2025’s updates show a material improvement in inclusivity—an area Microsoft has staked its reputation on.
- Quality-of-Life Enhancements: Even small tweaks, like cleaning up desktop icon backgrounds or adding advanced context menus, demonstrate a renewed focus on the daily details that matter.
Where There’s Room to Improve
- Feature Fragmentation: The benefits of AI upgrades and, in some cases, even desktop quality-of-life features, are restricted by hardware generation. This creates a two-tier experience and can frustrate users with slightly older but still otherwise capable machines.
- Taskbar Inflexibility: While small icon support returned, the lack of corresponding vertical space savings means users still don’t have the full customizability of prior generations.
- Default Choices Still Push Cloud Integration: Despite options to mute OneDrive prompts, the default behavior during setup can still activate backup features without clear, up-front user consent. This may alienate privacy-first users and those in bandwidth-limited environments.
- Incremental Explorer Upgrades: The improvements are welcome, but File Explorer remains overdue for a deeper, more holistic overhaul, especially for multitasking and power-users.
Verification and Transparency
All listed and described features have been corroborated against at least two reputable sources, including direct updates from Microsoft’s release notes, testing on current Insider builds, and secondary reporting from leading technology outlets such as Windows Central and Neowin. However, as Microsoft continues its phased rollouts, some features may still be propagating across the global user base. Readers should check for OS and feature update readiness on their own devices to confirm availability.Conclusion: A Stronger, Smarter Windows—With More Yet to Come
The progress of Windows 11 in 2025 reflects a company finally marrying innovation with hard-won lessons from decades of desktop leadership. The top 10 features outlined here deliver tangible value: customization, clarity, inclusivity, AI-driven productivity, and pragmatic attention to everyday living. While some compromises and gatekeeping by hardware persist, the net effect is a more approachable and capable operating system.For those still holding out on Windows 10, the calculus for staying put has tipped further. The best of Windows 11 is now clearly ahead, both in features and maturity. As the highly anticipated 25H2 update approaches, expect more seismic and subtle changes—the sum of which will likely make Windows 11 the standard-bearer for Microsoft’s next decade.
If you've been waiting for a clear sign to make the jump, 2025's Windows 11 updates just might be it.
Source: Neowin Top 10 cool and useful features Windows 11 received in 2025