**Microsoft Unveils Windows 11 24H2 Update: Significant Upgrades and Fresh Features**
Microsoft has officially commenced the gradual deployment of its yearly Windows 11 update, termed **Windows 11 24H2**, beginning today. This update, presented at an event centered around Windows and Copilot, offers a plethora of new features, performance enhancements, and updates to the operating system. This release marks the most substantial update to Windows 11 since its 2021 introduction, bringing several innovative functions aimed at boosting user experience, performance, and compatibility.
### Main Features of the Windows 11 24H2 Update
The **Windows 11 24H2** update introduces an array of new features and enhancements, with some aimed at modernizing the operating system and others designed to improve performance and compatibility. Below are some of the key highlights:
#### 1. **Energy Saver Feature**
Replacing the previous Battery Saver settings, the innovative **Energy Saver** feature helps users maximize their device’s energy efficiency. This feature seeks to prolong battery life by modifying system settings and decreasing power consumption when the device is unplugged.
#### 2. **Wi-Fi 7 and USB4 Version 2.0 Support**
Among the forward-thinking aspects of the update is the inclusion of support for **Wi-Fi 7** and **80Gbps USB4 Version 2.0 ports**. These advancements promise quicker data transfer rates and enhanced connectivity, particularly advantageous for users equipped with the latest technology.
#### 3. **Context Menu Enhancements**
The Windows 11 24H2 update brings **text labels** for commonly used actions such as copy and paste within the right-click/context menu. This minor yet meaningful modification enhances usability by simplifying the identification and execution of frequent tasks.
#### 4. **Quick Settings Tweaks**
The **Quick Settings** panel has also been adjusted, providing a more user-friendly and streamlined interface for accessing frequently utilized settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display brightness.
### Copilot+ Program: AI-Driven Features for Premium PCs
For users operating high-performance PCs that meet the stipulations for Microsoft’s **Copilot+ program**—which requires at least 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS)—the Windows 11 24H2 update offers even more sophisticated features. These encompass:
– **Recall Feature Overhaul**: An updated **Recall** feature that strengthens security and privacy.
– **Enhanced Windows Search**: A more capable and precise search functionality.
– **Super Resolution for Photos**: A new capability in the Photos application that enables users to upscale older images, thus enhancing their quality.
– **Generative Fill and Erase in Paint**: Newly integrated AI-driven tools in the Paint application that allow users to easily fill and erase sections of images.
These features are crafted to harness the capabilities of AI and machine learning, providing users with enhanced tools for productivity and creativity.
### Performance and Compatibility Enhancements
Beyond new features, the Windows 11 24H2 update incorporates notable improvements beneath the surface. Microsoft has made updates to the **compiler, kernel, and scheduler**, promising better overall performance. Furthermore, the update introduces enhancements to the **Arm-to-x86 app translation layer**, now referred to as **Prism**, enhancing compatibility for running x86 applications on ARM-based devices.
### Phased Rollout and Availability
The rollout of Windows 11 24H2 will be phased, starting with PCs operating on **Windows 11 versions 22H2 or 23H2** that have chosen to receive new feature updates more swiftly. For certain newer PCs, including those with **Snapdragon X processors** or **AI-optimized processors from AMD and Intel**, the update has already been pre-installed and shipped for several months.
For individuals participating in the **Windows Insider Release Preview channel**, the 24H2 update has been accessible since May, although there was a brief pause due to a controversy surrounding the Recall feature. The build is deemed stable for everyday usage, though users might still experience occasional edge cases.
### System Requirements and Compatibility
The **Windows 11 24H2** update does not alter the official system requirements for Windows 11, which remain a PC manufactured around 2018 or later. However, the update imposes stricter criteria for unsupported installations due to modifications to the compiler and kernel. Specifically, Windows 11 will now only operate on **64-bit PCs** that support the **SSE 4.2 instruction set** and the **POPCNT instruction**.
– **Intel CPUs**: SSE 4.2 support was introduced starting with Intel’s first-generation Core CPUs in 2008.
– **AMD CPUs**: SSE
