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- Microsoft has announced a fresh wave of Windows 11 features that put Android phone apps in desktop windows, rebuild the Photos app around a unified gallery and turn taskbar search into a tool that can change settings without opening them.
The changes were detailed on the Windows Experience Blog on 15 October 2026 by corporate vice president Navjot Virk. They build on the Windows 11 2026 Update, known as version 26H2, which Microsoft released on 29 September as a small enablement package for PCs already running version 24H2 or 25H2.
The release comes at a practical moment for users. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of support on 13 October 2026, when they received their final security update. Microsoft now recommends that eligible devices move to a newer version.
Performance is a central theme of the update. Microsoft said everyday use of Windows is up to 20% more responsive, based on measurements of Search, Start, right-click menus, Settings, Snipping Tool and File Explorer in build 26300.9550 against build 26200.7628. On PCs with 8GB of memory, improved memory management can keep up to 2GB more active data in memory instead of writing it to slower storage. On machines with 8GB or less, Widgets now load only when opened, freeing more than 200MB of memory. AirPods pairing is also up to 15 seconds faster.
Phone integration is among the most significant changes for everyday users. Messages and notifications from Android phones and iPhones can now be previewed directly in Start, with replies opening in a dedicated chat window. With a supported Android phone, users can run mobile apps in separate resizable windows on the desktop and browse phone files in File Explorer as if they were local drives. A new photo taken on the phone sends a notification to the PC that opens the image with one click. The Resume feature lets users continue supported activities between devices.
Windows Search has been expanded with a feature called Actions, which lets users complete tasks straight from search results. Searching for dark mode or night light, for example, allows the change to be made without opening the Settings app. Actions can also minimise or arrange open windows, and Microsoft says the ability to interact with a connected phone is coming soon. The new search interface is currently limited to Windows Insiders and will roll out more widely later this year.
The Photos app has been rebuilt with a new Gallery, Editor and Viewer. The Gallery combines images from the PC with connected libraries, and photos can be found by describing them in plain language. The Editor adds precise cropping, colour adjustment, object removal and a Relight tool for correcting lighting. Microsoft said the app launches up to 20% faster. The redesign began reaching Windows Insiders on 15 October, with general availability planned later in 2026.
For gamers, Advanced Shader Delivery will deliver precompiled shaders for supported titles including Forza Horizon 6 and Gears of War: E-Day, reducing initial load times from minutes to seconds. To mark 25 years of Xbox, Microsoft will offer buyers of eligible Windows 11 PCs in the United States a bundle of 25 games at no extra cost between 2 November and 31 December 2026. The offer is limited to purchases from participating US retailers and must be claimed through the Microsoft Store app, with the bundle linked to a Microsoft account by 12 February 2027. It does not extend to other markets.
Other additions include Microsoft Ink Canvas, a pen and touch sketching app pre-installed on the Surface Pro 12-inch (2nd Edition) and downloadable from the Microsoft Store for other supported touch devices, with its Copilot features requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription. Advanced haptics add tactile feedback when snapping windows or aligning objects, supported on the Surface Mouse (2nd Edition) and Logitech MX Master 4. Accessibility updates include Screen Tint colour overlays, per-display zoom levels in Magnifier, structured reading of maths in Narrator and support for HID braille displays during Windows setup.
Microsoft said the features will reach users gradually through Windows Update, with availability varying by device, region and rollout stage. Users wanting the new features first can turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option under Settings, then Windows Update.
Related: Windows October 2026 update fixes record 1,413 flaws
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