Windows 11's 2023 Update is here, bringing with it a number of new features to explore. But which ones are worth trying? We've listed our favorites, below. Windows 11's 2023 Update is (eventually) being pushed to your PC as a free, cumulative update, which means that it encompasses features and applications that may have already arrived on your PC. Windows 11 users will receive most of the 2023 Update features by Nov. 14, though it may take longer for some systems.

Some people may care that the "Apps" section now separates some Windows apps, now labeled as "System components," into a separate page. Settings now leans a bit too much toward subscriptions -- most people probably don't need a constant reminder of their OneDrive quota and Game Pass subscription, but it's understandable. Microsoft has also provided an updated audio mixer for Windows 11, which is a step forward. You'll need the click the volume controls in the Taskbar, than navigate through to the small "wires" icon to the right of the volume bar to make any adjustments.

Today Microsoft has begun rolling out its Windows 11 2023 update (also know as version 23H2), which adds some minor features on top of Copilot and its other AI-powered apps announced in September. Now, you may be asking yourself, "Didn't Microsoft just release a major Windows 11 update?" And you would be correct. But it turns out that release, which launched on September 26th, was basically just an AI preview meant for last year's Windows 11 22H2 update. Consequently, Copilot didn't actually reach most Windows users over the past few weeks (I eventually got it in a test laptop, but my home desktop is still Copilot-less).

Microsoft has begun formally rolling out the Windows 11 2023 Update (aka Windows 11 23H2) on Halloween with an unexpected treat: a redo of the "Chat" function within Windows 11. Microsoft began rolling out "Moment 4" of Windows 11 this week, aka the Windows 11 2023 Update, with a comprehensive list of features that includes Copilot's AI chatbot. Microsoft formally announced the rollout on Tuesday morning. Microsoft is describing this as a "cumulative" rollup update, so you'll get all of the features Microsoft has announced previously. Now, Windows has revamped the "Chat" function on the Windows desktop with what Microsoft is calling "Microsoft Teams (free)," pulling a bland mask over the top of the same terrible concept as before.

Microsoft Paint is gaining generative AI powers with Paint Cocreator, a new feature debuting in conjunction that will eventually arrive in Windows 11 23H2, now known as the Windows 11 2023 Update. It's a big win for Paint, which was on its deathbed as late as 2017. Now, Paint will essentially become a launcher and editor for Microsoft's Bing Image Creator, a lovely AI art tool that creates AI-generated images from text prompts. This doesn't appear to be an overly complex update: A new "Cocreator" button appears on the toolbar. Click it, and a sidebar opens to the right.