Windows 10 Sun Valley (21H2) Update: Release Date, New Features, Supported Devices, and More
May. 31, 2021If you want to learn the sequence in which the events will happen, here’s a complete timeline for the upcoming Windows update:
Given the diverse ecosystem of Windows 10 devices, compiling an exhaustive list of supported devices is almost impossible. However, if your Windows PC or laptop is getting recent Windows updates, it’s safe to assume that your computer is eligible for the 21H2 update. As always, it might take a few weeks for the update to reach your system to avoid compatibility issues.
Oh, and if you have been using an old Windows 10 build, you will first have to install key pending feature updates for the 21H2 update to show up on the Windows Updates page.
The most attractive aspect for Windows 10 users in Sun Valley update will be the visual overhaul. You couldexpect rounded corners across key elements in the operating system, ranging from the start menu and apps to the jump list menu. Microsoft is also going for a floated start menu design this time around. It could look somewhat like what Windows Central’s Zac Bowden tweeted below:
This joins the rounded/floating Start menu design that I posted about a few weeks backhttps://t.co/GeLidgd0Xhpic.twitter.com/ARcDjVMjTJ
One of my favoriteWindows 10X featureswas the redesigned Action Center that’s more functional and visually pleasing at the same time. Notably,you don’t have to open the Settings page to switch Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth deviceson Windows 10X. Instead, you can simply expand these menus without leaving the Action Center. That is a huge usability improvement, and now that Windows 10X will no longer see an official release, we could expect a similar implementation on Windows 10 21H2. If you want to see how it will work, follow our detailed guide to learnhow to install Windows 10Xon your PC right now.New Action Center on Windows 10X
Meanwhile, the notifications are stacked in a distinct panel above the quick settings panel. Moreover, there will be a‘Clear All’ button to quickly dismiss all pending notifications. Microsoft may even add a dashboard in the Task View to keep track of your Microsoft account and upcoming events.
As perWindows Central‘s report, the new Store will let developers submit unpacked Win32 apps, host apps & updates on their own content delivery network (CDN), and make it possible for developers to use third-party commerce platforms in apps. These are all exciting changes from a developer’s perspective and should hopefully make Microsoft Store the one-stop destination for all apps. Are we finally going to stop ignoring Microsoft Store? Well, it sure sounds like it.
According to reputable Windows tipster Albacore,Windows 10 will get battery usage graphs with Sun Valley update. Here, you can see the battery usage for the last 24 hours and the last 7 days. This page also shows you the overall screen on time, screen off time, and sleep time. Now, this is a common feature in Android and iOS smartphones, but with ARM-based Windows laptops coming into the picture, it makes total sense for Microsoft to add a battery usage tracking feature in the upcoming update.
Remember when Microsoftteased a new Windows 10 UIin its 1 billion users celebration video? While Microsoft has brought some changes showcased in the video, such as the new Start menu with the Windows 10 20H2 October update, we are still waiting for the new colorful icons for File Explorer. Here’s how the File explorer looks in a recent Insider build:Colorful File Explorer on Windows 10 Insider build
Apart from File Explorer,Windows will also get rid of Windows 95-era iconsand replace them with modern icons in Windows Shell. While this won’t make a huge difference, it will be a neat touch to uplift the overall aesthetic.
With the next update, Windows will stop showing multiple endpoints for Bluetooth headsets and will automatically switch profiles. If you are not sure what that means, check out the image below. As you can see, the volume dropdown on the right doesn’t have an additional ‘hands-free AG Audio’ option for the same headphone. While this isn’t a huge change, it’s a neat touch to reduce visual complexity and avoid any unnecessary confusion for users.
First introduced for Insiders in April this year,Eco modeis an upcoming feature to helpimprove battery life on Windows 10. It essentially does this by restricting resource-heavy apps and processes in the background. As of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21387, Microsoft has temporarily disabled Eco mode to refine the experience. However, we could expect the company to officially make it available to all users on Windows 10 21H2.
Have you always wanted to navigate Windows with touch gestures on tablet mode? It looks like Sun Valley will make that possible. Much like trackpad gestures,Windows Centralreports that you canuse touchscreen gestures for actions like minimizing app windowsand switching apps.
On a similar note, Microsoft is improving the personalization features of the touch keyboard. You will soon be able to set themes for the touch keyboard. Microsoft recently added eight wallpapers for the touch keyboard in an Insider build. But, we will see them in action on Sun Valley. Albacoreeven revealedthat Microsoft plans to add some touch keyboard customization features to the Settings app.
As revealed first with Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21382, Microsoft is bringing HDR support to apps that use International Color Consortium (ICC) display color profiles. This includes Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom Classic, and CorelDraw, among others. To enable it, right-click on the app’s icon and chooseProperties -> Compatibility -> Use legacy display ICC color management.
Another feature in the works is Auto HDR. According to Microsoft,Auto HDR for PC expands the color/ brightness range up to HDRfor thousands of DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 SDR-only games.
If you are someone who loves tospeed up Windowsbyuninstalling built-in apps, you are going to love this new feature. According to Windows Central, thelist of uninstallable apps on Windows 10 is “going to grow significantly”with Sun Valley. It’s nice to see Microsoft making an effort to give users the flexibility to choose the native apps they want on their PC. We will have to wait and see how vast the list of uninstallable apps is going to be.
To sum up the list of features, we have Rapid Hot Plug Detect. If you have ever used your Windows 10 PC or laptop with an external monitor over a DisplayPort connector, you might have noticed that apps automatically group to a single monitor after you wake your device from sleep state. Microsoft has finally addressed this issue, and the apps will stay where they are, and you can pick up right where you left off going forward.
Windows 10 21H2: Next Generation of Windows
So, that brings us to the end of everything we know about the forthcoming Windows 10 Sun Valley (21H2) update so far. With Panos Panay saying he wants users to love Windows and not just need Windows, the expectations for the next Windows update are high among Windows enthusiasts. Are you looking forward to the Sun Valley update? What new features do you want to see in the next update? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Subin writes about consumer tech, software, and security. He secretly misses the headphone jack while pretending he’s better off with the wireless freedom.
