Microsoft has announced one of the biggest everyday upgrades to Windows 11 in a long time. According to Microsoft, Windows 11 is now up to 20% more responsive, uses memory more smartly on 8GB PCs, and adds new phone-to-PC features, a new Photos app and faster game loading. On top of that, you can finally move the taskbar to the top, left or right of the screen again, and Microsoft has released free wallpapers for the Windows Insider Program’s 12th anniversary.
Here’s everything new in Windows 11, explained in simple words, and what it means for your PC.
Watch: Windows 11 Is Now 20% Faster (Adi 4 U Video)
Short on time? Watch our quick video first, then read the full details below.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quick tech videos.
Windows 11 Is Now Up to 20% More Responsive
The headline change is speed. In its official announcement on October 15, 2026, Microsoft says the new Windows 11 experience is “up to 20% more responsive” in everyday places like:
- Start menu
- File Explorer
- Windows Search
- Snipping Tool
- Microsoft 365 apps
- Microsoft Edge
Microsoft measured this by comparing response times on Windows build 26300.9550 with the older build 26200.7628. As always, the actual improvement depends on your PC’s hardware.
Better Memory Use on 8GB PCs
This is great news for budget laptop owners in India, where many machines still ship with 8GB of RAM. Windows can now keep up to 2GB more active data in memory instead of pushing it to slower storage. That means apps you switch between often should open back up faster.
On PCs with 8GB of RAM or less, Widgets now load only when you open them, which frees up more than 200MB of memory in the background.
Faster Bluetooth, Windows Hello and Updates
- Bluetooth: Pairing, reconnecting, audio and calls have been improved. Microsoft says AirPods now pair up to 15 seconds faster.
- Windows Hello: Face and fingerprint sign-in are faster and more reliable.
- Windows Update: You get more control over when updates install, with fewer surprise restarts and shorter install times.
- Drivers: Through a new Driver Quality Initiative, Microsoft is working with hardware makers on more stable and reliable drivers.
Windows 11 Taskbar Shift: Move It to the Top, Left or Right
Windows 10 users loved being able to move the taskbar, and Windows 11 took that option away at launch. The good news: it’s coming back. In the October announcement, Microsoft confirmed that you can choose where Start and the taskbar appear on your screen.
The feature first showed up for testers in Windows Insider Preview Build 26300.8493 (released May 15, 2026). Based on Microsoft’s release notes, this is how it works:
- Open Settings (press Win + I).
- Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors.
- Pick the side of the screen you want: bottom, top, left or right.
Tooltips, flyouts and animations come out of the taskbar wherever you put it, and most settings, such as small taskbar buttons and never combining icons, work in every position.
Current limits: In the test builds, Microsoft said auto-hide and the touch-optimised taskbar don’t work in the new positions yet, and support for touch gestures, the full Search box and Ask Copilot is still in progress.
New Smaller Taskbar Option
There’s also a new smaller taskbar for people who want more screen space, which is especially useful on 13–14 inch laptops. Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Show smaller taskbar buttons and set it to Always. Both the icons and the taskbar height get smaller.
Free Windows Insider 12th Anniversary Wallpapers
To celebrate 12 years of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft released a pack of free wallpapers in October 2026 as a thank-you to Insiders. Here’s what’s in the pack:
- 10 wallpapers: 5 designs, each in a light and a dark version
- 4000 x 4000 PNG files, sharp enough for 4K monitors
- Smooth ribbon-style designs in blue, green, orange, purple and monochrome, in the same style as Windows 11’s famous “Bloom” wallpaper
Download: The ZIP file is on Microsoft’s design site: wip12-wallpaper.zip (microsoft.design). You don’t need a Windows Insider account to download it.
How to set it: Extract the ZIP, right-click any image and choose Set as desktop background. Because the images are square, go to Settings > Personalization > Background and choose Fill so they cover your whole screen.
Fun fact: As Windows Latest reported, the files’ hidden details showed they were finished in Adobe Photoshop on a Mac. ViVeTool co-developer Rafael Rivera noticed this, and the details were later removed from the files.
New Windows Search That Can Do Things
The new Windows Search lets you act directly from the results. For example, you can turn on dark mode or night light, or minimise and arrange windows, without opening Settings. Microsoft says phone actions from Search are coming soon. The new Search is available to Windows Insiders now, with a wider rollout planned for later this year.
Your Phone and PC Work Better Together
- The Start menu can show messages and notifications from your Android phone or iPhone. You can reply in a chat window and silence or ring your phone from Quick Settings.
- On supported Android phones, phone apps open in resizable windows on your PC, and you can browse phone files in File Explorer.
- When you take a photo on your phone, a notification lets you open it on your PC in one click.
- Resume lets you continue supported activities across devices.
Features depend on your phone model and platform.
New Microsoft Photos App
The Photos app has been redesigned and launches up to 20% faster, according to Microsoft. The Gallery combines photos from your PC and connected libraries, and you can search by describing a photo (“sunset at the beach”) and make albums. The new editor includes cropping, colour adjustments, object removal and Relight.
Gaming: Games Load in Seconds, Not Minutes
Gamers get Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD), which downloads ready-made shaders for supported games. Microsoft says this lets titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Gears of War: E-Day load “in seconds instead of minutes”. To use it, install the Xbox PC app and keep your graphics drivers updated.
The Game Bar (Win + G) also gets Microsoft Edge built in, so you can open game guides and videos on top of your game.
Note for Indian readers: Microsoft’s Xbox 25th anniversary offer of 25 free games (including Skyrim Special Edition and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary) applies to eligible Windows 11 PCs bought in the US between November 2 and December 31, 2026.
Other New Features
- Microsoft Ink Canvas: A new canvas for sketching and notes with pen or touch, with Copilot AI features for Microsoft 365 subscribers.
- Advanced haptics: Supported mice, such as the Logitech MX Master 4 and Surface Mouse (2nd Edition), give a small tactile “click” when you snap windows or align objects in apps.
- Accessibility: A new Screen Tint colour overlay, a better Magnifier with separate zoom per monitor, Narrator that reads maths equations properly, and braille display support from the very first setup screen.
When Will You Get These Features?
Some of these features are already rolling out, and others, like the new Search, are with Windows Insiders first and will reach everyone later this year. To get them as soon as possible:
- Go to Settings > Windows Update.
- Turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”.
- Click Check for updates and install everything available.
Does your PC run Windows 11 properly? Read our earlier post on Windows 11 system requirement changes. If you have an older PC, see our article on the Windows 11 Lite version for old PCs. You can also catch up on Windows 11’s AI-powered image editing and captions update.
Our Opinion
This is the kind of Windows update people have been asking for. Instead of only adding AI features, Microsoft has focused on making the PC feel faster, especially on 8GB machines, which are still the most common laptops in India. Getting a movable taskbar back is a small change, but a lot of users will appreciate it. And if you want a fresh desktop look, the free 12th anniversary wallpapers are worth downloading.
Which feature are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows 11 really 20% faster now?
Microsoft says the new experience is up to 20% more responsive in Start, File Explorer, Search, Snipping Tool, Microsoft 365 and Edge, based on its own tests. Real results vary by PC.
Can I move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top or side?
Yes. Microsoft has confirmed that you can choose where the taskbar appears. In Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, you can pick bottom, top, left or right once the feature reaches your PC.
Where can I download the Windows Insider 12th anniversary wallpapers?
Microsoft hosts the ZIP file on its design website (microsoft.design). It has 10 wallpapers at 4000 x 4000 resolution, and you don’t need an Insider account.
Is this Windows 12?
No. These are updates to Windows 11. The wallpapers mark the 12th anniversary of the Windows Insider Program, not a new “Windows 12” release.
Will these features work on 8GB RAM laptops?
Yes. In fact, 8GB PCs benefit the most, thanks to smarter memory use and Widgets loading only when you open them.
Sources and Credits
This article is based on official information from Microsoft and reporting from these publications. All credit goes to the original sources:
- Microsoft, Windows Experience Blog: “What’s new in Windows 11: Everyday experiences, reimagined” by Navjot Virk (October 15, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Experimental Preview Build 26300.8493 release notes (taskbar position and smaller taskbar)
- Windows Latest: report on the 12th anniversary wallpapers by Abhijith M B
- PCMaster Insider: Windows Insider 12-year anniversary wallpapers by Kai Strix
- Wallpaper artwork © Microsoft, available from microsoft.design
