Home windows 11 has simply been graced with a giant replace, albeit not a full function replace, however considered one of Microsoft’s so-called ‘Second’ upgrades.

Second 2 to be exact, and if that sounds acquainted, that’s as a result of Microsoft launched it in testing (as an optionally available replace) on the finish of February. Now, nevertheless, it has arrived as a full launch, which implies it’s coming to all Home windows 11 PCs as we sort this.

Should you haven’t already been provided what’s formally referred to as patch KB5023706 (opens in new tab), then you may head to Home windows Replace and verify for brand spanking new updates, whereupon you must see Second 2 able to roll.

The replace introduces a raft of recent options, together with enhancements for these utilizing Home windows 11 with a touchscreen (a touch-optimized taskbar). One other huge transfer is Cellphone Hyperlink for iOS, giving iPhone homeowners the power to hook up their handset to the desktop (giving entry to iMessage correspondence from their PC).

Home windows 11 will now present vitality effectivity suggestions and extra assist when troubleshooting points together with your PC (by way of ‘Fast Help’). On prime of that, the system tray has been given a recent lick of paint within the type of a rounded focus (relatively than sq., when mousing over icons bottom-right, to be extra in line with the remainder of Home windows 11’s trendy look).

Accessibility options have additionally been improved, most notably with enhanced assist for braille units, and Voice Entry getting new instructions.

In addition to all of the function additions, KB5023706 comes boasting the standard slew of safety fixes offered by Microsoft with these month-to-month cumulative updates.

Evaluation: Loads of options and hopefully no bugs

So, all of the testing of the preview model of the Second 2 replace is now accomplished and dusted, and with no main bugbears sighted, every part ought to go easily with the improve now it has turn into obtainable – in idea. In fact, when a a lot wider rollout occurs, with much more PCs concerned, recent bugs can nonetheless make their unwelcome presence felt.

Nothing’s assured even with completed updates for Home windows, as we’ve seen previously. Home windows 10 specifically has seen the discharge of patches with some critical issues lurking inside (we’re speaking file deletion, when you recall that memorable and really unlucky episode).

One other factor you may additionally recall is when Microsoft revealed the preview model of Second 2, the corporate talked in regards to the ChatGPT-powered Bing being placed on the taskbar, giving us the impression that this was a full integration of the AI chatbot with the Home windows 11 interface.

As we’ve mentioned previously, although, this wasn’t the case – the implementation of this ‘function’ (ahem) was merely a hyperlink within the search field that introduced up Bing within the Edge browser.

Customers have been fairly upset about that, and the Bing icon swiftly vanished, with Microsoft subsequently assuring us that the chatbot hadn’t been ditched from the taskbar, however was in a rotation with different search highlights. And wouldn’t you realize, simply as Second 2 is rolling out, we are able to now see the Bing icon in our search field as soon as once more (likely simply briefly, although). Fascinating timing…