Windows 11 KB5039307: New features and clutter-free UI for the taskbar in testing

Microsoft released Windows Insider Preview Build 22635.3790 (KB5039307) to the Beta Channel on June 21, 2024.

This update introduced the Start menu companion feature for Phone Link and evolved the Copilot experience, as mentioned in the release notes. However, the company is testing new features on Windows 11 KB5039307, let’s know more

What are the new features?

The Redmond tech giant quietly added new settings related to Taskbar with KB5039307 on Windows 11. Microsoft researcher and leaker  PhantomOcean3 spotted these settings and reported on X:

Here are the list of features that could come with the newer Windows update:

Shortened date/time format

With the newer version of Windows, you will have the option to shorten the date/time format on your taskbar. The new format will be MM/DD instead of MM/DD/YYYY for date.

Also, if you have selected the 12-hour format for time, you will not see AM/PM with the time. So, if it is 9:30 AM, your taskbar will show 9:30 instead of 9:30 AM.

The shortened time and date format gives the taskbar a cleaner look. To set it, right-click the Taskbar and choose Taskbar settings, then choose Taskbar behaviors. Click the toggle next to Show shortened date and time to enable it.

Show notification bell icon

The notification bell icon near Copilot at the bottom right corner will no longer be mandatory for the Taskbar. You can remove it from the system tray if you like.

To do that, right-click the Taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, and then choose Taskbar behaviors. Now toggle off the Show notification bell icon.

App picker now has improved suggestions

When you right-click a document, picture, or PDF, select Open with, then Choose another app option in the File Explorer context menu, you get the list of suggested apps that can open your document.

You get a long list of suggested apps, which can confuse users. However, with the newer build, the App Picker will show you the most used or suitable apps (2-3) in the dialog box with the More apps dropdown.

If you don’t want to use the apps shown under Select an app to open, click the More Apps option to get the extended list of apps.

Hiding the suggested apps in a drop-down list is a great way to declutter the dialog box, giving the App picker a cleaner look.

With this, Taskbar thumbnails have also improved, as they now display more information about the open tabs and windows.

In conclusion, to use these features, you need to be part of the Windows Insider Program and install the latest build, KB5039307, on your device.

Have you tested these new features of Windows 11 KB5039307? If so, share your thoughts with our readers in the comments section below.