Sun Valley is the codename for the development of the next major update of Windows 10 (version 21H2), expected to arrive during the second half of the calendar year with new features and visual changes.
Unlike recent releases of the operating system, version 21H2 will be a significant update that will layout the groundwork to further modernize the experience visually and internally.
Although Microsoft still has not shared details about its plans with Sun Valley, some of the previews available in the Dev Channel have revealed many of the changes coming with the second feature update of the year, including some tweaks for the Settings app that are currently hidden from testers.
This guide will highlight changes in the Settings app that may ship with the Sun Valley update during the second half of 2021.
Battery and power settings for Windows 10 21H2
Starting with version 21H2, the Settings app is expected to ship with an improved “Battery” settings page that will include a “Usage information” section. In this section, you will see more details about the battery usage, including “battery level” information over time (per hour) and the “battery usage” (per day) to help you understand how the battery life is being used on your laptop.
As part of the information usage, you will be able to see how long the screen was on or off and how long the device spent in sleep mode.
According to Twitter user @thisbookisclosed, manufacturers will be to define the initial battery capacity. If this is the case, you may also see an extra battery health section on the page.
Furthermore, early preview builds of Windows 10 reveal that the Settings app for the Sun Valley update may merge the “Power & sleep” with the “Battery” page, which will result in a single “Power & battery” settings page.
New Touch settings page
Microsoft also seems to be working on a new “Touch” settings page that will house all the touch screen-related settings, including settings to enable or disable tap and gestures.
The page will be available on Settings > Devices > Touch.
New Device usage settings page
According to hidden features in the latest preview build of Windows 10, Sun Valley may also include a new “Device usage” settings page on Settings > Personalization.
It is not clear the settings available on this page, but early screenshots revealed a text that suggests the page will include suggestions for tools and services based on how you plan to use the computer.
Multitasking settings page improvements
The “Multitasking” page has been around for a long time, but future releases (possible version 21H2) will include a few new settings.
For example, the page will include a new “Title bar window shake” option to enable or disable aero shake. The feature where you click the title bar and shake to minimize every other window but the one you are holding.
Also, under the “Work with multiple windows” section, there are several new options, including a new “Snap further away from screen edge” and two other features that have not been defined at this time.
Virtual desktops
Microsoft is also working on adding a new feature that will allow users to have separate virtual desktops on each display on a multi-monitor setup.
Currently, when using virtual desktops on a multi-monitor setup, all the running applications across all the displays belong to one virtual desktop, which means that switching to another desktop anything running on all the other displays will move with the desktop.
However, it appears that this is going to change in future releases (via WindowsLatest), as the Settings app now includes a “Displays have separate virtual desktops” option to allow separate desktops to be available on each monitor on Settings > System > Multitasking.
Since improvements in the Windows Insider Program’s Dev Channel are not tied to any specific version of Windows 10, Microsoft may change what will ship with version 21H2.
Also, we are only outlining some of the recent changes that are already part of the latest preview builds, but they are not available to testers. Thus far, Microsoft has published over fifty previews with many new features and changes, and it is planning to integrate even more enhancements, including a refresh UI with rounded corners for various elements and more.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].