Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Windows 11 may launch tabbed File Explorer, smarter Clipboard

Microsoft is holding an event featuring Surface and Windows Chief Panos Panay on April 5, and even though it seems to be catered to enterprises, some high expectations are being set. Rumors indicate that Microsoft could announce some big Windows 11 features come event day.

The leading belief is that Windows 11’s clipboard could get a lot smarter, according to The Verge. Microsoft might announce the addition of suggested actions to the Windows clipboard, including being able to call a copied phone number or send an email to a copied email address.

A screen shot shows Windows 11's tabs in the File Explorer.
Rafael Rivera/ Twitter

Microsoft might also announce a tabbed experience for File Explorer so you can open more of your favorite folders at once, without going to a new window. Both of these features were spotted hidden away in recent Windows Insider builds, adding to the speculation.

Recommended Videos

Outside of those two key features, the announcement of a new emailing app for Windows 11 is another possibility for this event. Currently known as “One Outlook” internally at Microsoft, the app functions like the Outlook on the web experience. It might be announced as a modern alternative to the Mail & Calendar app in Windows 11. This app has been in the works for nearly a year, and a preview was recently spotted online.

Since the event is catered toward hybrid workforces, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Teams, and other Microsoft 365 apps may end up being big topics that Panay touches on. Microsoft could talk about 3D avatars in Microsoft Teams, and a new feature for Edge that lets you organize, color code, and save your open windows into “workspaces.” As for the other Microsoft services, new features for Windows 365 Cloud PC, Microsoft Endpoint Manager, and even Microsoft Defender, are all expected.

Microsoft’s Windows Event kicks off at 8 a.m. PT on April 5. Along with Panay, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has also been confirmed to speak at the event. There are three breakout sessions planned after the main show is finished, with demos centered around productivity, collaboration, management, and security. Digital Trends will be covering the event live, so stay tuned for updates and the latest news.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Copilot+ PC exclusive settings teased in Windows 11 preview
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Microsoft is testing out an interesting new aspect within the Settings of the latest Windows 11 preview build that allows users to expand the functions of various applications.

The app settings called "Actions," was hidden in the 26120.3576 build for the Dev Channel. However, enthusiasts uncovered the menu and shared details of its function on various Windows forums, noting the associated apps currently include Photos and Paint. When toggled on, it enables useful tasks that deepen the functions within apps.

Read more
The latest Windows 11 build has a surprising bug — it gets rid of Copilot
Copilot key on the Asus ROG Falchion HFX.

Microsoft has updated the support page for the Windows 11 build it released last week to reveal a rather amusing bug -- it seems to have caused some devices to automatically uninstall the Copilot app and unpin it from the taskbar.

At the time of writing, Microsoft is still working on a resolution to the issue spotted by Windows Latest, recommending affected users reinstall the app and pin it back to the taskbar manually. It looks like the bug can occur on any device if it updates to build KB5053598 from Windows 11 24H2, 23H2, or 22H2, along with Windows 10 22H2 or 21H2.

Read more
Windows 10 security risks are now more of a reality for users
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

It appears more and more Windows 10 users may be finally ready to let go of the legacy operating system ahead of the end of its life status on October 14. Microsoft has been urging system users to update to the latest Windows 11 software before that date and after months of ignoring the call, tens of millions of users are now opting in to the update.

Figures from StatCounter indicate that the percentage of Windows 10 usage has now dipped below 60% for the first time with 58.7% of global users running the system as of February 2025. Meanwhile, stats for Windows 11 are slowly creeping up toward 40% with 38.2% of global users running this version of Microsoft’s OS.

Read more