Windows got better voice typing, here’s what else is new

The latest update for Windows 11, marked as patch KB5089549 for versions 24H2 and 25H2, more is available for download. Although changes are welcome, it is always recommended to wait a day or two before installation to make sure that there are no unforeseen problems or bugs lurking in the system. It is worth noting that some users may already received these features if they installed the optional preview update at the end of April, which served as a test version of this May patch.

Xbox Mode is a big news for gamers

One of the biggest and most anticipated changes brought by the May update is the introduction of the so-called Xbox Mode. This feature represents a significant step forward for all gamers on the Windows 11 platform, and it will be especially appreciated by owners of portable gaming devices such as the Asus ROG Ally X. Xbox Mode replaces the previous “Game mode” and offers a full full-screen gaming experience with a simplified interface that is fully adapted to use with a controller.

The main goal of this way of working is to reduce background processes and distractions to a minimum, thereby freeing up system resources and enabling games to run more fluidly and with better performance. When planning a gaming session, simply switch to Xbox Mode, whether you’re playing on a portable device, laptop or desktop, and enjoy a console-like experience. It should be kept in mind that this feature is being introduced gradually, which means that you may not see it immediately after the update, but could arrive a little late.

Improvements to the interface and useful experience

In addition to the focus on games, Microsoft has also prepared a series of improvements that affect the daily use of the operating system, from haptic feedback to the improvement of key applications such as File Explorer.

The May update introduces support for haptic feedback on compatible input devices. This means that you will feel subtle vibrations or “clicks” during certain actions, such as dragging and resizing windows or aligning objects in PowerPoint. This feature will significantly improve the experience of working on laptops with haptic touchpads, because you will get a satisfying physical feeling when, for example, elements fall into place. Support also applies to compatible digital pens such as the Surface Slim Pen 2, Asus Pen 3.0 and MSI Pen 2. Microsoft has announced that in the future, after a hardware update, some mice, such as the Logitech MX Master 4, should also receive support.

Voice typing gets smarter

Voice typing is one of those Windows 11 features that often goes under the radar, but it’s extremely useful, especially for users who want to protect themselves from repetitive strain injuries. With the new update, this function has become even better. You can now use your voice to rename files, and the persistence of “Fluid Dictation” settings has been improved. This feature automatically removes typos like “this” or “you know” and corrects grammar and punctuation errors, and now the system will remember your settings instead of randomly overriding them. In addition, the use of voice typing with the virtual touch keyboard has been improved – no more full-screen overlays, and animations are displayed directly on the dictation key, which makes the whole process neater and more intuitive.

Tweaked File Explorer and other changes

A lot of effort has gone into polishing the Windows 11 interface and fixing long-standing issues, which makes this update well worth the download. The biggest improvements are visible in File Explorer. The problem of inconsistencies in the display of folders has been solved, so now the system will remember your display and sorting settings much more reliably, instead of resetting them when opening certain folders. A very annoying bug with a white screen “flash” that appeared in dark mode when opening a window like “This PC” was also fixed. In addition to visual fixes, File Explorer also received performance improvements. It loads faster, and processes are properly shut down after closing the application, preventing unnecessary consumption of system resources.

In addition to File Explorer, Microsoft has also improved the reliability of Windows Hello facial recognition, which will benefit anyone who uses it to log in to their laptops. The stability of loading the system tray (system tray) on the right side of the program bar has also been improved, and some “unexpected” errors that occurred when installing applications from the Microsoft Store have been solved.