Right now we’re releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we’re all still working on Windows 10.
Jerry Nixon – Microsoft Ignite 2015
A successor to the ‘last version’ of Windows
It seems this statement isn’t going to hold true. After details first leaked over on Baidu, a Chinese forum, an entire ISO image of Windows 11 has been doing the rounds.
IMPORTANT: Before I begin, I would like to make it clear that this is an early preview build so information about Windows 11 is subject to change, and official announcements are expected to be made on June 24, where the “next generation of Windows” is set to be revealed. I will not provide downloads of, or links to, the leaked ISO – although if you must try it for yourself it is widely available online, but please do so in a Virtual Machine or on secondary hardware and avoid storing personal information on this build.
Talk of Windows 11 heated up after Microsoft posted the following image, with the shadow depicting an 11:
Then, on June 10, Microsoft posted an 11 minute video of slowed Windows start-up sounds, further adding substance to the rumoured Windows 11 – which some believe will be announced at the upcoming event that starts on the day at 11AM Eastern, another potential tease.
And thanks to the newly leaked build of Windows 11, we have a closer look at what the next generation of Windows may have to offer. With Windows 10 set to reach end of mainstream support in a few years, we may need to adjust to new UI changes.
Microsoft will continue to support at least one Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel until October 14, 2025.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro – Windows Lifecycle page
Said UI changes are likely to be what Microsoft was referring to when they planned for a ‘sweeping visual rejuvenation’ of Windows. And a lot of these will of come from the company’s visions for the now-canned Windows 10X, as we will see below.
The leaked build in action
I decided to try out the leaked build in a Virtual Machine. Read on for more about my experience.
The most striking change has got to be the start menu. You can see how it takes design queues from Windows 10X – as well as ChromeOS for that matter.
Many will be pleased to see an option to revert it back to the left-hand side:
As for the News and Interests addition to the taskbar that was only recently introduced to Windows 10…
…it has already been replaced. Windows 11 sees the introduction of the ‘dashboard’, although the Taskbar entry is labelled as ‘Widgets’. It now takes up the full height of the screen. As I did not sign-in with a Microsoft account, I was not seeing any content.
The Search flyout remains largely the same with minor visual adjustments.
At this point you may have noticed the new iconography. Many – but not all – of the legacy system icons that have survived since Windows XP have been replaced. You can see this in the Control Panel (yes, it lives on – including the Windows 7 backup function).
A long-standing problem of UI inconsistency lives on in this build. Legacy tools still do not have dark mode applied, and navigating to Hardware and Sound allows for some icon nostalgia:
Changes have been made to File Explorer that extend past the icons – file and directory listings are more spaced out now:
Some may dislike this – particularly if you deal with many folders you may find yourself scrolling slightly more. A side note on UI elements taking more room: the option for small taskbar buttons, and to resize the taskbar is gone. Personally I hope it makes a return.
Multi-tasking has been given some attention too. I appreciate how it is now easier to snap Windows in a variety of ways – facilitated by hovering over the maximise button:
And the final change I’d like to point out is the modifications to Virtual Desktops. The UI for that has been changed, and you can select a unique background for each desktop you create.
Other than what I’ve already covered, there isn’t much left to cover regarding changes. There are of course the new system sounds, which you can hear in the video, but so far Windows 11 is just Windows 10 with the UI refresh we were expecting from Windows 10 Sun Valley. Those hoping for major underlying changes such as ditching legacy code, exciting new features and more may be left disappointed. But once again, this is just a leaked preview – Microsoft may still have something to surprise us all with soon.