Microsoft launched Windows 11 last year for new PCs, but the new operating system is still slowly spreading to existing devices. Anyone who’s dived into Microsoft’s latest version of Windows will be happy to hear that a big update is coming. The taskbar is getting some much-needed improvements, and Android app support is rolling out in earnest. If you’ve been putting off upgrading, now might be the time.
Windows already has access to a huge amount of software, but it’s just desktop software. Chrome OS and macOS added support for running mobile apps, and now Microsoft is doing the same. The promised Android app support debuted in beta for Insiders last month, but it will be the focus of the new update as public Overview. So yes, it’s still in beta, but you can try it out.
Microsoft does not support the Google Play Store, but it has partnered with Amazon to get its Appstore for Android on Windows. Amazon launched the Appstore in 2011, but it never caught on Android phone users despite lots of promotions and strategies. As a result, it doesn’t have as much content as the Play Store, and much of what’s on offer is for Fire tablets. There is a workaround to install the Play Store on Windows 11, but Microsoft does not officially support it.
The next release will also include the return of Microsoft’s taskbar weather widget. There will also be a new mute and unmute feature, and you’ll have the option to display the clock on secondary monitors. Alleluia. If you were hoping for the return of drag and drop to the taskbar, hope not. Microsoft is still working on it.
There’s another notable improvement to the taskbar, and it’s extremely prescient. According to Microsoft, the use of apps like Teams, Slack and Zoom has increased more than sixfold during the pandemic, and that’s no surprise with more people than ever working from home. Next month’s update will add a handy feature to the taskbar that lets you share your screen to select meeting clients. Microsoft calls it Teams in particular, but it should work with other programs pending developer support.
There is no specific date for the update yet. It will most likely come in waves like other Windows updates, but the first step is to upgrade from Windows 10 if you haven’t already.
Now read:
