- Microsoft to announce new Windows 11 features during April 5 event.
- The event will be focused on commercial customers.
- The company may announce Windows 11 22H2 and show new features.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Windows and Surface chief Panos Panay will host a special event titled “Windows Powers the Future of Hybrid Work.” The event will happen on April 5 at 8 AM PT (11 AM ET), and the company is expected to talk about the future of Windows 11 for hybrid work and show off some new features for productivity, management, and security.
Since Microsoft hasn’t officially announced the next major update of Windows 11 (version 22H2), it’s likely that the company will also use this opportunity to announce and demonstrate many of the features coming later in the year. However, the event is also focused on commercial customers, which means that there will be a lot of talks on how Windows 11 can help enterprises.
Clipboard suggested actions
The new features we are hoping to see during the event include a redesigned clipboard experience. Although the clipboard has recently received an update that introduces the ability to access the history to copy and paste multiple items, the company has been working on suggested actions. The new feature is expected to recommend tasks based on the content you copied. For instance, if you copy date information, you could see a suggestion to create a calendar event. Or if you copy a phone number, you may see a recommendation to call someone on Microsoft Teams or Skype.
Tabs for File Explorer
The company hasn’t officially announced it, but recent preview builds of Windows 11 hide a feature that brings tabs to File Explorer. The tabs functionality adds the ability to open folders and other locations in tabs like in the web browser, and Microsoft may promote it as a productivity feature.
One Outlook app
The event for hybrid work may also reveal the new mail client app for Windows 11 that the company has been working on to replace the current built-in Mail app. The app is expected to carry the “One Outlook” name, and it’s an app based on web technologies that will include a similar experience as the Outlook app for Office.
Microsoft 365
Since this is also an event for commercial customers, the software giant may also make some announcements for its Microsoft 365 service. According to Windows Central, we hear features like “Play My Emails” in the web version of Outlook. Also, Microsoft has been working on a new version of Office online, and the April 5 event maybe when the company chooses to announce it.
Microsoft Teams
The next big thing on Teams is 3D avatars, and this might be another feature we’re likely to see among the announcements. The 3D avatars are a new way to help people be in a meeting without turning on the camera.
According to The Verge, these avatars are part of a broader push for Microsoft to get into the metaverse. The feature uses AI to listen and animate the avatars accordingly.
In addition, the event may also be the place to reveal other Teams related features like further integration with Windows 11.
Security
Finally, Microsoft is expected to announce new security and management features for Windows 11 and Windows 365 from Intune, Autopilot, and Configuration Manager parts of Endpoint Manager.
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].