The new 24H2 update for Windows 11 has finally arrived, and it's packed with even more exciting new features and improvements compared to its previous 23H2 update. In this article, we'll be taking a deep dive into the new 24H2 update and exploring all the changes and improvements that it brings.

Continue reading this blog to uncover the new features, changes and fixes to the brand 24H2 update available for the preview release of Windows 11.

What's new in Windows 11 24H2:

What's new

There have been many new features being included in this new version of Windows 11 24H2. These consist of brand new features and improvements such as:

1. HDR background support
2. Energy saver
3. Sudo for Windows
4. Rust in the Windows kernel
5. Support for Wi-Fi 7
6. Voice clarity
7. Copilot
8. Etc.

1. New Sudo Command:

What is a sudo command? Sudo for Windows is a new way for users to run elevated commands (as an administrator) directly from an unelevated console session on Windows.

The sudo command can be configured to run in three different modes: 

New window: A new window will open in which the elevated command will run.

Input disabled: The elevated command will run inline with its stdin closed in the window from which you’ve triggered elevation. You will not be able to interact with the elevated process.

Inline: The elevated command will run inline in the window from which you’ve triggered elevation. This mode is most similar to the sudo experience on other platforms.

(Note: It is recommended that you review the security considerations for each mode here before enabling the sudo command on your machine)

Here is how you can enable the sudo command: Just navigate to Settings > System > For developers and toggle on the sudo command. Configure how the sudo command behaves by selecting one of the modes in the drop-down menu.

2. New Bluetooth Accessibilities:

Windows took a step forward in accessibility, allowing direct pairing, audio streaming, and smooth call handling for customers with Bluetooth® Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) supported hearing aids on LE Audio-compatible PCs. They're introducing new capabilities to control audio presets, ambient sounds, and experience enhancements to the Settings > Bluetooth & devices page.

Users can now adjust the audio presets they or their audiologist configured in their hearing aids, right from the Settings or Quick Settings UI in Windows. These controls allow users to quickly adjust the behaviour of their hearing aids to their preference for their environment. Preset options and availability will vary based on the model and configuration of hearing aids.

Users can now adjust the volume of ambient sound captured by their hearing aids. These controls adjust the balance between streamed audio and sound picked up from the surrounding environment, helping users choose what they want to focus on. Ambient sound control availability will vary based on the model of hearing aids.

When discovering available Bluetooth devices to connect to, Windows will filter out uncommon device classes. Users who wish to override this filter and see all nearby devices available to pair can do so by choosing “Advanced” for the “Bluetooth devices discovery” setting. Microsoft is starting to remove that option and introduce some changes to the add device workflow to streamline the experience.

Now, discovery will always scan for all devices but only show common device types by default. Whenever an “uncommon” device is found during the discovery process, an option to “Show all devices” will be displayed to the user.

3. Updated Colour Management

Windows Insiders who use the Colour Management Control Panel to make changes to their colour profiles can now use the all-new Colour Management settings page located under Settings > System > Display > Colour Management. This new settings page will allow users to add or remove colour profiles, as well as set default colour profiles for the connected displays. In addition, auto colour management can now be found on the new Colour management settings page.

4. The evolution of Copilot:

As part of this brand-new update, the Copilot feature on Windows has evolved into a standalone app that will be pinned to the taskbar. If it's not there, you can just go to the Microsoft Store to install the app yourself. This enables users to get the benefits of a traditional app experience, including the ability to resize, move, and snap the window. This will allow Microsoft to develop and optimise the experience based on user feedback.

5. New Rust code inside your Windows 11 Kernel:

You might be thinking, what the hell is Rust and why is this code showing up in my Windows Kernel? Rust is a general-purpose programming language emphasizing performance, type safety, and concurrency. It enforces memory safety, meaning that all references point to valid memory, without a garbage collector. To simultaneously enforce memory safety and prevent data races, its "borrow checker" tracks the object lifetime of all references in a program during compiling.

Rust was influenced by ideas from functional programming, including immutability, higher-order functions, and algebraic data types. It is popular for systems programming. Rust does not enforce a programming paradigm, but supports object-oriented programming via structs, enums, traits, and methods, and supports functional programming via immutability, pure functions, higher-order functions, and pattern matching.

Microsoft has decided to rewrite some parts of the Windows Kernel using Rust as a memory-safe programming language. This will provide your Kernel with the security needed to protect its memory from exploits that will disrupt your Windows experience.

6. New support for Wi-Fi 7:

The new generation of Wi-Fi is here, Wi-Fi 7 is much faster than previous models, can support more connections, and is highly reliable for low-latency performance. As for this new Windows 11 24H2 update, Wi-Fi 7 will be included in your OS for much faster and better connectivity improvements for your personnel/commercial type experience.

Now you no longer need to worry about ping issues when playing online games and you get to enjoy watching high-quality videos thanks to Wi-Fi 7.

7. New HDR support addition:

Microsoft has introduced a new option in the HDR settings, seemingly allowing HDR video streaming even when the OS-wide HDR mode is turned off. Microsoft recommends playing HDR video in full screen for the best results, while the entire HDR section of the Display settings has been renamed to "HDR video streaming, games, apps, and more."

To test it out yourself, go to Settings > System > Display > HDR and you can do whatever you want with it.

Major IMPROVEMENTS

1. Taskbar and File Explorer changes:

Microsoft has introduced a scrollable view of the quick settings flyout from the taskbar. Along with that, the user can create a 7-zip and TAR archives in File Explorer (in addition to ZIP), and improvements for connecting Bluetooth® Low Energy Audio devices.

2. Deprecated apps:

As for those who think that most apps or programs Windows 11 has is considered bloated or useless, well I have some good news for you. Some apps that we the user usually would never use will be deprecated and will not be included in the 24H2 version of Windows (if you reinstall your OS).

The apps in question that will be deprecated are Mixed Reality Portal and Microsoft Defender Application Gaurd (MDAG). But let me explain...

Both versions of the Mixed Reality Portal app and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta will continue to work with Steam through November 2026. However, it's only for users who wish to stay on 23H2 and doesn/t upgrade to 24H2.

For Microsoft Defender Application Guard, however, it will no longer be available as a feature on-demand starting with the current build on 24H2. Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office and Edge has also been deprecated.

3. Enhanced Bluetooth functionality:

Enhanced Bluetooth & devices settings page to provide additional functionality. Users will now be able to monitor essential Bluetooth device details when available, such as battery life and connection status, through an expandable menu for each connected device. For audio devices, effortlessly access the System > Sound > Properties page to control audio settings for that device.

These new enhancements are available for hearing aids and all other devices on this page. To try out this feature, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.

QUALITY of LIFE IMPROVEMENTS

Windows now offers a convenient way to test the difference between Default and Communication mode audio. This new utility can be found under the microphone properties via Settings > System > Sound. You can select the mode and record/listen to audio in both modes, allowing you to easily compare audio processing modes for applications built for the Windows ecosystem.

Some audio drivers come with special audio effects for communications, and the toggle lets users hear how audio captured in your microphone sounds when recorded by a communications application versus a non-communications application.

The energy-saver icon for desktop PCs (PCs without batteries)  is shown on the system tray when the energy saver is enabled, under quick settings, and under Settings > System power & battery.

Overall, huge improvements compared to 23H2. At least Microsoft hasn't pushed AI that much to such an extent that the only major changes there will be is Copilot itself with nothing of interest to us users. These new additions will surely provide us with a new sense of satisfaction with our OS and rest assured no critical issues like CVE exploits or BSOD/GSOD will arise within the coming months. If Microsoft could not only provide users with more useful and efficient features and better security and privacy controls, I am personally certain Windows 11 will be the greatest OS of all time. Let's hope Windows 12 is as better as 11 or 10.

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