Microsoft is developing new features for Windows 11 that will be released as a feature drop update in spring 2024. This package, also known as the Moments 5 update for Windows 11 23H2, is expected to be released on Patchday in April 2024.
Feature Drop update (Moments 5)
Microsoft plans to deliver a feature update for Windows 10 and Windows 11 once a year. However, the developers have provided the option of rolling out innovations to the user interface or applications out of sequence as so-called feature drops or moment packages with regular updates.
In December 2023, there were reports of a feature drop update in early 2024. A Moments update for Windows 11 is listed in the Windows Platform Roadmap for 2024, which could come in February/March 2024.
Windows Central reported that this update is running internally at Microsoft as a "February 2024 Moment" and should reach RTM status in February. It could then be delivered a few weeks later – perhaps in March 2024 via Windows Update.
- For Europe, Microsoft primarily wants to implement the changes to Windows 11 that are required for compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA). e.g. the Edge browser should be uninstallable.
- Microsoft seems to be working on upgrades to some of the accessibility features built into Windows 11, improvements to Windows 365 cloud PC integration, and the ability to remove messages from the Widgets Board and Bing from the Windows Search pane.
- Microsoft could replace Windows 11's default wallpapers with dynamic Spotlight wallpapers, is planning an option to add friendly device names for the operating system's Nearby Share feature and, of course, will introduce or improve AI features across the board. Notepad could also get a character counting option.
Initial reports suggest that the Moments 5 feature drop would be delivered on the second Tuesday (patch day) in April 2024. The reports draw this information from the announcement of new Dell XPS notebooks on January 4, 2023.
Dell says: Moments 5 is coming in April
The term "Moments 5" update is also mentioned in the Dell marketing material. Microsoft will reserve "Windows 11 24H2" for the second half of 2024 as a feature update also, a footnote in the Dell marketing material mentions that Wi-Fi 7 will be supported.
The "Moment 5" update is expected to be completed in February 2024. At the end of March 2024, it could be offered as a preview update via the Windows Update search (for Seekers). It would then be distributed to all Windows 11 users with Windows 11 23H2 on April 2024 Patchday, Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
The term "Moments 5" update is also mentioned there – although it seems that this feature drop update will be released to users as "Windows 11 24H1". Microsoft will reserve "Windows 11 24H2" for the second half of 2024 as a feature update. This Windows 11 "version 24H1" for Dell XPS notebooks is not scheduled to be available for download until April 2024. The factory installation of this version on the machines is planned for August 2024.
But it's all still very much a speculation and we should not attach anything to the name "Windows 11 24H1". What is emerging from the reports is that the "Moment 5" update is to be completed in February 2024. At the end of March 2024, it could be offered as a preview update via the Windows Update search (for Seekers). It would then be distributed to all Windows 11 users with Windows 11 23H2 on April 2024 Patchday, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Let's see if this is the case.
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