Microsoft is testing Windows Feature Experience Packs for Windows 10

Microsoft is testing Windows Feature Experience Packs for Windows 10. With these updates, the company wants to update features of the operating system, independent of the OS. Microsoft wants to be able to provide Windows 10 with new functions more often.

Microsoft has released Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.1070.0 to Windows 10 test users in the beta channel. It contains two new functions. First, users of Windows 10’s snipping tool can now save screenshots directly to a Windows folder. In addition, Microsoft has made it possible to use a split mode for the virtual keyboard in portrait orientation of a touchscreen.

Microsoft initially reports that it will distribute a limited number of functions as part of the Windows Feature Experience Packs, but over time the company wants to expand this method of updating and new functions must also be brought to users via the packages more often. Ultimately, the Experience Packs need to be distributed to Windows 10 users via Windows Update, and this can be done as part of the monthly updates that are optional, not the security updates.

Until now, Microsoft has been bringing new functions for Windows 10 to users mainly through the extensive feature updates that the company releases twice a year. The company was already updating parts of Windows 10 as separate apps and the Windows 10 updates from November last year and this year were mainly aimed at improving stability and performance, and less on adding new functions. . It is still unclear what the situation is with a Windows 10 21H1 update. Traditionally, it should appear in the spring of 2021, but Microsoft has not yet announced anything about it.

Update, 12.35: Initially, the article stated that Microsoft wanted to add new features to Windows 10 on a monthly basis. This has been adjusted. The Feature Experience Packs are distributed via Windows Update, but Microsoft does not report that this will be monthly.