Windows 11 Moment 3 update new features

UPDATED 6/28/23: Microsoft is rolling out another set of new features and visual improvements as the “Moment 3” update for Windows 11 22H2 in June 2023, with full availability during the July Patch Tuesday. However, this is a minor update that doesn’t include significant changes. Instead, this is a release meant to improve and bring new functionalities to existing features. For instance, the next feature drop for Windows 11 22H2 will include an updated version of the Taskbar experience with the ability to show seconds in the System Tray clock. Users will also see a new VPN shield status in the network icon for an active connection.

The notification toasts interface has been updated to provide an option to copy two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. Also, the Windows 11 Moment 3 update expands Live Captions to more regions and rolls out various improvements for Voice Access. Furthermore, there’s a new kiosk multi-app mode feature. Task Manager now offers the ability to create live kernel memory dumps, and the Settings app and File Explorer roll out with various improvements.

In a nutshell, “Moments” are new updates that enable the Windows team to roll out new features and improvements as soon as they are ready outside major releases. You can think of it as “feature drop” updates for mobile devices. However, the operating system will continue to have yearly feature updates, and the company plans to release new versions every three years.

The update doesn’t have an official name, but it’s described as update KB5027303 and bumps the version number to 22621.1928. This release doesn’t require reinstallation. Once available, it’ll download and install automatically through Windows Update as a typical monthly update.

This guide highlights the best new features and changes expected to arrive with the “Moment 3” update for Windows 11 22H2.

TL;DR

These are the new features for Windows 11 Moment 3 update:

• New clock with seconds in the Taskbar.
• New kiosk multi-app mode feature.
• New Voice Access improvements and commands.
• New Win32 apps isolation for security.
• Updated network icon in the System Tray with VPN status shield badge.
• Updated toast notification with an option to copy 2FA codes
• New Bluetooth Low Energy Audio support.
• New File Explorer context menu with access keys shortcuts.
• Live Captions feature expands to ten new languages.
• Updated Task Manager with live kernel memory dump file support.
• CABC feature expands laptops and 2-in-1 devices.
• New USB4 hubs and devices settings page.
• New Presence sensing security settings.
• Print screen key behavior now opens Snipping Tool by default.
• Updated multitasking settings for “ALT + TAB” and Snap Assist.
• Updates search experience with better cloud suggestions.

Windows 11 Moment 3 update new features

These are the new features and changes for the next feature drop:

Taskbar System Tray and notifications

In this update, Windows 11 brings an updated version of the Taskbar that allows users to show seconds in the System Tray clock. Also, Users will also see a new VPN shield status in the network icon to inform users that a VPN connection is active using a recognized profile.

In addition, the system will detect that you have received an email with the authentication code, and the code will now appear in the notification toast with the option to copy it to the clipboard. This small change will make it easier to complete the verification process of the account you are trying to sign in to.

Start menu badge

After installing this release, the Start menu will now show notification badging for Microsoft accounts-related information.

If you use a local account, you’ll also notice a new badge notification in the profile picture icon. Inside the menu, you may see up to four different notifications, including “Sign in to your Microsoft account,” “Use Microsoft 365 for free,” “Keep your account safer,” and “Access your files from anywhere.”

Furthermore, there will be a “Remind me later” option that will remove these notifications from the profile menu, but it’s not a permanent option. However, in the “Start” settings page, the company is adding a new “Show account-related notifications” option that may be related to the notifications for local accounts that could disable these alerts permanently.

New Widgets layout

The Widgets feature is another way that people can use to stay on top of information in daily life. In this new update, Windows 11 will include a redesigned interface of the board with three columns that will make it easier for users to differentiate between the widgets and the news feed.

File Explorer

While this release doesn’t include many of the new changes for the next overhaul of File Explorer, the Moment 3 update is implementing access key shortcuts into the XAML context menu to execute a command quickly. You can access the shortcuts view by selecting the file and pressing the physical “Menu” key on the keyboard.

Kiosk multi-app mode

In this update, the Windows team added the ability to set up multiple applications in kiosk mode. This means that you can now specify the apps that can run on a computer while blocking any other application.

You can also block certain functionalities. You can configure distinct types of access and apps to run for different users on one computer. Microsoft is targeting this feature for scenarios in which multiple people use the same device.

At the time of this writing, you can enable multi-app kiosk mode using PowerShell and WMI Bridge.

Live Captions in more regions

Starting with the June 2023 feature drop update, the Live Captions experience expands to Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French (France, Canada), German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Spanish, Danish, English (Ireland, other English dialects), and Korean.

You can download speech recognition support from Settings > Time & Language > Language & region.

Voice Access improvements

As part of the Voice Access improvements, the company is redesigning the in-app voice access command help page to include a description for every command and examples of its variations. The search bar allows you to find commands quickly. Also, the new categories provide further guidance.

You can access the command help page on the voice access bar from Help > View all commands or use the voice access command “What can I say?”

In addition, this update adds voice access command support for other English dialects, including English (United Kingdom), English (India), English (New Zealand), English (Canada), and English (Australia).

Furthermore, Voice Access is also getting new text selection and editing voice access commands. For example, To do this: “Select a range of text in the text box,” say: “Select from [text 1] to [text 2]” example: “Select from have to voice access.” To do this: “Apply bold, underline, or italic formatting for the selected text or the last dictated text,” say: “Delete all.” To do this: “Delete all the text in a text box,” say: “Bold that,” “Underline that,” “Italicize that.”

Task Manager with live kernel dumps

The Task Manager app has been updated with the option to create live kernel memory dumps from the “Details” tab, right-clicking the process and selecting the “Create live kernel memory dump file” option. This is in addition to the existing “Memory dump” for user mode processes. This feature is aimed at developers, and the goal of kernel live dump is to gather data to troubleshoot an abnormal situation but allow the system to continue operation.

You will also find a new setting for live kernel dumps in the Task Manager settings.

Input improvements

On Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard, the system is replacing the setting “Show the touch keyboard when there’s no keyboard attached” with a new drop-down menu that gives you three options to control whether tapping an edit control should open the touch keyboard, including “Never,” “When no keyboard attached,” and “Always.”

Furthermore, in the latest moment update, Windows 11 improves the cloud suggestion and the integrated search suggestion. This should help to easily type popular words in Simplified Chinese using the Input Method Editor (IME).

Graphics improvements

Starting with this update, Windows 11 will allow the Content Adaptive Brightness Control feature to run on devices such as laptops and convertibles that are plugged into a charger. This is in addition to desktops.

You can update the feature from Settings > System > Display > Brightness & Color and choose one of the available options, including “Off,” “Always,” or “On Battery Only.”

For battery-powered devices, the default is “On Battery Only.” Because the device manufacturer must enable CABC, the feature might not be on all laptops or 2-in-1 devices.

USB4 hubs and devices settings

The Settings app includes a new “USB4 Hubs and devices” settings page on Settings > Bluetooth & devices > USB. The page provides information about the system’s USB4 capabilities and the attached peripherals on a system that supports USB4.

This information helps with troubleshooting when you need manufacturer or system administrator support. For example, on this page, you can view the tree of the connected USB4 hubs and devices, and you can copy details to the clipboard to share them.

If your computer does not support USB4 with the Microsoft USB4 Connection Manager, this page won’t be available. On computers with support for USB4, you will see USB4 Host Router in Device Manager.

Presence sensing settings

The Settings app includes a new “Presence sensing” settings page on Settings > Privacy & security. The settings are only available for devices that have compatible presence sensors that can help determine whether you are near the computer. The page helps you to control whether apps can access the sensors to detect your presence.

Print Screen key new default action

Starting with the Moment 3 update, Windows 11 changes the default print screen key behavior to open the Snipping Tool by default. You can turn off this setting from Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.

Multitasking settings new limitations

On Settings > Multitasking, the page has been updated to limit the recent tabs count to 20 for the “Show tabs from when snapping or pressing Alt + Tab” setting. This affects the number of tabs that appear when you use “Alt + Tab” and Snap Assist.

Finally, this update improves the performance of search within Settings.

New Bluetooth audio

Microsoft is also introducing Bluetooth Low Energy Audio support on Windows 11 for high-quality audio at low power, delivering better experiences for your calls, videos, and music on compatible devices.

Win32 apps isolation 

On Windows 11, you will now have the ability to isolate Win32 applications. This new capability allows developers to reduce the risk of security breaches by using new isolation technologies. Running Win32 apps in isolation helps prevent apps from having unexpected or unauthorized access to critical internal subsystems.

Windows 11 22H2 feature drop update fixes

In addition, the Windows 11 build 22621.1776 introduces these fixes:

• This update provides the full amount of storage capacity of all your OneDrive subscriptions. It also displays the total storage on the Accounts page in the Settings app.
• Addresses an issue that affects Narrator. It now announces text attributes correctly for words, such as “misspelled”, “deletion change,” and “comment”.
• Addresses an issue that affects exe. It stops working after you sign out. This issue occurs after you upgrade your machine to Windows 11 Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and sign in to that machine.
• Addresses an issue that affects Server Message Block (SMB). You cannot access the SMB shared folder. The errors are, “Not enough memory resources” or “Insufficient system resources”.
• The update addresses an issue that sends unexpected password expiration notices to users. This occurs when you set up an account to use “Smart Card is Required for Interactive Logon” and set “Enable rolling of expiring NTLM secrets”.
• Addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). It stops working. This occurs when you use Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
• Addresses an issue that affects the Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) cluster. It might not come online.
• This occurs after a periodic password rollover. The error code is 1326.
• Addresses an issue that affects access to Tab settings for IE mode sites.
• Addresses an issue that affects dot sourcing. It fails files that contain class definition in Windows PowerShell.
• Addresses an issue that affects the use of Event Viewer. The issue limits the number of event sources that users who are not administrators can access.
• Addresses an Event Viewer issue. It affects the rendering of a forwarded event log.
• Addresses a memory leak. It occurs every time you print a rich text document.
• Addresses an issue that affects a computer when it renders a halftone bitmap. The computer stops working.
• Addresses an issue that affects devices that have multiple, discreet GPUs. You cannot choose the high-performance GPUs from the default graphics settings page.
• Addresses an issue that stops your device from working when it resumes from Modern Standby. The error is 0x13A KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION.
• Addresses an issue that affects applications that perform certain actions in a callback. The applications might stop working. These actions include closing a Window (WM_CLOSE).
• This update changes the support phone number for Microsoft India for Windows activation.
• This update changes the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) ranges for certain mobile providers.
• Addresses an issue that affects the Windows Firewall. The firewall drops all connections to the IP address of a captive portal. This occurs when you choose the Captive Portal Addresses option.
• Addresses a multi-function label printer issue. It affects the installation of some of them.
• Addresses an issue that affects devices that are joined to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). The Windows Firewall cannot apply the correct domain and profile for them.
• Addresses an issue that affects audio playback. It fails on devices that have certain processors.
• Addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. It shows the wrong layout for the French-Canadian language.
• Addresses an issue that affects Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). It might create audit events that you do not need. This occurs when you choose the Disabled: Script Enforcement option.
• Addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. Sometimes, it does not show the correct layout based on the current input scope.
• Addresses an issue that affects the Chinese and Japanese Input Method Editor (IME). When you search the Emoji Panel (Windows key + period ( . ), search might fail for some of you.
• Addresses an issue that affects the Chinese and Japanese Handwriting Panel. It does not show text prediction candidates or stops responding. This occurs when you select a word from the candidate list of the Handwriting Panel.
• Addresses an issue that affects the runas It stops working. The device behaves as if you did not sign in to your account.
• Addresses an issue that might affect a large reparse point. You might get a stop error when you use NTFS to access it. This issue occurs after a canceled FSCTL Set operation changes the reparse tag.
  Addresses a known issue that might affect some speech recognition apps. They might have sporadic speech recognition, expressive input, and handwriting issues. This occurs when the display language is Chinese or Japanese. The apps might not recognize certain words. They might not receive any input from speech recognition or affected input types. This issue is more likely to occur when the apps use offline speech recognition. For app developers, this issue only affects speech recognition that uses Speech Recognition Grammar Specification (SRGS) in Media.SpeechRecognition. This issue does not affect other types of speech recognition.

The new features are now available for devices running Windows 11 22H2, and you can use these instructions to get it early. However, the update is expected to roll out to everyone sometime in June.