- Windows 11 to start labeling system components.
- The labels will be available in the Microsoft Store and Start menu.
- The Settings app will include a new “System Components” page to group and manage these components.
On Windows 11 23H2, in addition to a slew of improvements and new features, the operating system will start distinguishing system components from third-party applications.
What are System Components? System Components are apps and extensions that Microsoft considers essential to operate Windows 11. This category can include first-party apps (such as File Explorer, Phone Link, Microsoft Store, and others), extensions (such as video codecs), and more. The reason for categorization is unclear because the company hasn’t shared any details, but it’s likely that the implementation is to offer more clarity and transparency.
The company plans to accomplish this in at least three ways. For starters, in the Microsoft Store app, you will notice that certain apps are labeled as “System Components” when on the installation page or when updating the application through the “Library” section.
In the Start menu, in the “All apps” list, apps considered part of the operating system will include the “System” badge under the name. You will also see the badge in search results.
Finally, in the Settings app, Windows 11 is getting a new “System Components” page in the “System” section. The page is meant to separate those system components from third-party apps from the “Installed apps” page. However, the “System Components” page is identical to the “Installed apps” page.
In the experience, you can change the view, filter, and sort the components and manage each component or remove it as necessary. However, some components are essential to the operation of the operating system and can’t be removed.
The new label is expected to arrive with the rollout of Windows 11 23H2 since the Microsoft Store app already shows this label on specific apps, the Start menu shows this new label in the Beta and Dev Channels, and the new “System Components” page was spotted in the latest preview of Windows 11 through the Canary Channel.
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 14 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 20 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].