Windows 11 Preview Builds: Exciting Updates for Usability and Accessibility

Windows 11 continues to evolve, and the latest preview builds introduce some exciting refinements that enhance everyday usability. Microsoft is experimenting with several changes—from improving the organization of pinned apps in the Start menu to integrating powerful image editing tools directly into the Share UI, and migrating legacy mouse settings from the Control Panel into the modern Settings interface. These updates, available in preview for Windows 11 Build 26120.357 (24H2) and Build 22635.5090 (23H2), signal a broader strategy to streamline workflows and declutter interfaces for a more intuitive user experience.

Revamped Start Menu Pinned App Context Menu​

One of the most noticeable updates in these Windows 11 previews is the redesigned right-click context menu for Start menu pinned apps. For years, users have relied on drag-and-drop operations to rearrange their frequently used apps. While functional, this method isn’t always the most precise. Microsoft’s new approach adds dedicated options in the right-click menu, allowing you to move apps left or right with a simple click.
Key enhancements include:

• Directional Controls: Easily nudge apps into new positions without the need to drag items around. This can be especially useful on devices where precision dragging is challenging.
• App Folder Management: The updated menu now lets you create an “app folder” directly, as well as move apps between folders. This added layer of flexibility simplifies desktop organization for power users who maintain a dense collection of pinned applications.
• Improved Usability: By reducing the reliance on drag-and-drop, Microsoft is addressing common user frustrations. The contextual options make it simpler and cleaner to maintain your personalized Start menu layout.

For users who prefer a more orderly arrangement of their apps, this change is smartly designed. It provides the same functionality but with an interface that’s both accessible and efficient. Instead of laboriously aligning icons through drag gestures, you can now click on a dedicated command and reposition your apps with surgical precision.
Have you ever struggled with positioning icons on a crowded Start menu? This update could offer a quicker path to the desired layout—a subtle tweak with potentially major workflow improvements.

Enhanced Share UI with Built-in Image Editing​

Another notable update comes from within the Share UI itself. Previously, editing an image before sharing required you to launch a separate application like Photos or Paint. Now, Microsoft has integrated a compact image editing environment directly into the share dialog, dramatically streamlining the task of tweaking images on the fly.
Highlights of the new Share UI include:

• Unified Editing Experience: The “Edit” option mirrors the familiar interface of the Photos app. Users will find tabs for Crop, Adjustment, Filter, and Markup, all using a web-based framework reminiscent of OneDrive’s technology.
• Precision Cropping and Rotation: The Crop pane isn’t just an afterthought. It offers a 90-degree rotation button for quick fixes along with a slider that lets you dial in precise angles. Options to flip images horizontally or vertically mean that even challenging compositions can be quickly corrected.
• Detailed Adjustment Controls: The Adjustment tab provides sliders for brightness, contrast, highlights, and shadows. This empowers users to fine-tune their images without having to jump between tools.
• Preset Filters and Markup Functionality: The Filter tab includes a series of preset filters to refine image tone instantly, while the Markup tab offers a streamlined interface for annotations and highlights.
• Image Compression Alongside File Size Comparison: Perhaps most surprisingly, users can now compress images directly from the Share UI. A compression level slider offers a balance between quality and file size—complete with a side-by-side display of the original and compressed file sizes.

This update not only speeds up workflow but reduces the mental overhead of switching contexts. Imagine capturing a screenshot, realizing it needs a slight tweak before sharing, and then editing it right there in the Share interface. The result is a more integrated, versatile experience that frees you from dependency on external apps.

Migration of Legacy Mouse Features into Settings​

In a long-overdue change, Microsoft is also revamping how mouse features are accessed in Windows 11. Traditionally nestled in the Control Panel, several mouse settings are now making their way into the modern Settings interface, specifically under the Accessibility section. This move reflects the company’s ongoing drive to consolidate system configurations and present them in a more logical, user-friendly environment.
The new Mouse Accessibility settings offer several enhancements:

• Pointer Customization: Users can now personalize pointer images in a dedicated “Customize Pointer Image” section. It’s a small but meaningful upgrade that caters to users who like to tweak every visual element.
• Pointer Trails and Shadows: There are new toggles to enable pointer trails and pointer shadow—features that not only improve visual clarity but can be helpful for users with accessibility needs.
• Enhanced Mouse Behavior Controls: Additional toggle switches provide controls for:
  • Snap to Default
  • Hide Pointer While Typing
  • Double-Click Speed
  • Click Lock
• Innovative “Activate on Hover” Feature: One of the most intriguing additions is the “Activate on hover” toggle. This feature allows a window to become active simply by hovering the mouse over it, after a configurable delay. For users who prefer a more fluid interaction with open applications, this could become a game changer.
• Mouse Keys for Numeric Keypad Navigation: The inclusion of a Mouse Keys toggle further highlights Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility. It allows users to move the pointer using the numeric keypad—a boon for people with mobility challenges.

Consolidating these controls into the Settings app not only modernizes the interface but also centralizes functionality, reducing the cognitive load on users who previously had to navigate through disparate control panels.

What This Means for Windows 11 Users​

These updates may seem incremental at a glance, but they collectively signal a broader shift in how Windows 11 is being shaped to fit modern productivity needs:

• Streamlined Workflows: By integrating tools directly where you need them—such as editing images during the share process—Microsoft is reducing the number of steps and apps required to accomplish everyday tasks. This ease-of-use is particularly significant in today's fast-paced work environments.
• Increased Customization: The updated Start menu context options and new mouse settings allow for greater personalization. Whether you’re a power user who meticulously curates your desktop experience or a casual user looking to optimize basic functionality, these changes let you tailor your system more effectively.
• User-Centric Design: Bringing legacy Control Panel features into the modern Settings app offers a more cohesive and accessible experience. The effort to centralize configurations helps eliminate the confusion caused by juggling multiple system interfaces.
• Enhanced Accessibility: Features like “Activate on hover” and Mouse Keys underline Microsoft’s dedication to creating an inclusive environment. Such settings help ensure that Windows 11 can cater to a diverse range of user needs—from gamers and professionals to those requiring accessibility accommodations.

Rhetorically speaking, isn’t it about time that these long-standing frustrations were finally addressed? These updates are not just about aesthetics; they improve the overall user interaction and can have a tangible impact on productivity, especially for those who work extensively on Windows.

The Broader Context​

If we zoom out, these changes are consistent with Microsoft’s long-term vision for Windows. In previous years, Microsoft has slowly migrated various Control Panel functions to the more coherent Settings app—a journey that has sometimes felt bogged down by legacy features. With Windows 11, a more modern design language and a focus on touch-friendly, adaptive interfaces have become standard.
Consider these historical parallels:

• Early versions of Windows offered limited customizability, with many features hidden deep within control panels.
• The transition through Windows 8 and 10 showed Microsoft experimenting with more streamlined interfaces, though not always without friction.
• Windows 11 now seems poised to combine classic power-user features with modern design and usability tweaks, ultimately aiming for a harmonious balance between legacy functionality and current user demands.

Integrating context menu improvements, Share UI enhancements, and updated mouse settings directly into Windows 11 reflects a premium shift from the old “one-size-fits-all” approach toward a more context-aware operating system. It’s a move that, if consolidated in subsequent builds, could set new standards for operating system usability.

Final Thoughts​

In summary, the recent preview builds of Windows 11 serve as a reminder that even a mature operating system can evolve in meaningful ways. By addressing longstanding issues like app arrangement in the Start menu, providing integrated image editing within the Share UI, and relocating mouse settings to a more intuitive Settings interface, Microsoft is actively refining the user experience. These changes, while available in preview versions now, hint at a more polished and productive Windows 11 in the near future.
For users eager to see these transformations firsthand, trying out the preview builds could offer a glimpse of a future where everyday tasks are smoother, customization is easier, and accessibility is front and center. As Windows 11 continues to mature, these incremental but impactful enhancements promise to deliver an operating system that is ready not only for today’s demands but also for tomorrow’s innovations.

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Source: WindowsLatest Windows 11 Start menu's right-click menu now lets you rearrange apps, and more