New Functionalities Arriving with the September 2025 Security Update for Windows 11
Microsoft has announced a series of updates for its operating system, Windows 11, set to roll out starting from September 2025. These updates promise to enhance the user experience across various aspects of the operating system.
Redesigned Windows Hello Components
The Windows Hello components on Windows 11 are set for a massive redesign, aiming to provide a more seamless and integrated user experience across the operating system.
New "Recent Activity" Option
A new "Recent activity" option will be added, logging recent requests to use text and image generation with AI from third-party applications. This feature can be found under Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation.
Accessible Features on Modern Devices
The new features, such as the redesigned Recall app, the interactive tutorial for Click to Do, the clock view in the notification bar, and the new features in the Settings app, will be accessible on Windows 11 devices running version 24H2, particularly on modern Microsoft Copilot+ PCs like the Surface Laptop (7th generation) and Surface Pro (11th generation).
AI-Powered Features
The new AI agent in the Settings app will help users quickly find and modify system settings using AI. Similarly, Click to Do on Windows 11 will receive a new interactive tutorial for Copilot+ PCs.
It's worth noting that these AI features, including "Click to Do" and the Settings AI agent, are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs with NPU capable of 40+ TOPS, found on Qualcomm Snapdragon (such as the X Plus and X Elite series), as well as specific Intel and AMD processors. To activate these features, you need to enable BitLocker (or Device Encryption) and Windows Hello.
Notification Center and Widgets Board Updates
The Notification Center on Windows 11 will now display a clock with seconds, while the Widgets board will undergo a new design with a left pane and the ability to add multiple dashboards through the Microsoft Store. The "Discover" feed in the Widgets board will include Copilot-curated stories that can be personalized.
Improvements in File Explorer and Search
The context menu in File Explorer shows dividers to separate top-level icons, and Windows Search will show photo results in a grid view.
Other Notable Changes
The Lock screen changes on Windows 11 will allow users to control Widgets. On the Home page, the file manager will display the people icon in the "Activity" column and the "Recommended" section. The Task Manager app now shows more consistent processor usage using industry-standard metrics.
Delayed Features
Microsoft was planning to roll out more changes, including a new "Your Device Info" card and the ability to port more legacy features from the Control Panel to the Settings app, but these were delayed.
Security Updates and New Features
The Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 scheduled for September 9, 2025, will introduce security fixes, improvements, and new features.
These updates and improvements for Windows 11 are expected to take some time to roll out and may require specific hardware or be available in certain markets. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
