After 24H2 (i.e. Windows 2024) update, File Explorer enhancements not included

Question

Hello everyone,

Several days ago, I successfully updated my Windows 11 PC to 24H2. However, one of the promised upgrades was not included. The "Inside this update" page indicates enhancement to File Explorer including an improved context menu as well as a new "compression wizard". However, my File Explorer remains unchanged and seems to be the same as before the update. I'm trying to determine why this happened. Two things come to mind. First, it's possible that this change will be rolled out in the future. Second, it's possible that this happened because I'm using Windows 11 for Education, and they disabled these changes for that version of Windows. Did this happen to anyone else? To anyone using the Home or Pro versions? Thanks in advance!

*** Moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Windows update ***

Answer 1

Hello  Minnesota Frank，

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

It's always a bit frustrating when promised updates don't seem to materialize after a big OS upgrade. Here are a few potential reasons and steps you might consider:

1. Staggered Rollout:
   • Sometimes, Microsoft rolls out updates in stages. This means that not all features are available immediately to everyone. If this is the case, you might receive the new File Explorer enhancements in a subsequent minor update or patch. Keep your system updated and check for any new updates that might include these features.
2. Windows 11 for Education Specifics:
   • As you mentioned, it's possible that certain features could be disabled or not included in the Education edition of Windows 11. This version often has different policies and feature sets tailored for educational environments which might exclude some enhancements found in Home or Pro versions.
3. Feature Activation:
   • Sometimes, new features are added but not activated by default. You can check the settings to see if there's an option to enable the new enhancements manually.
4. Check for Updates:
   • Ensure that your system is fully updated. Sometimes additional updates or patches are required to activate all new features.
     • Go to Settings > Windows Update and click on Check for updates.
5. Feedback Hub:
   • If you believe this is an oversight or a bug, consider using the Feedback Hub to report the issue. Microsoft actively monitors feedback to address such issues.
     • Open Feedback Hub from the Start menu, navigate to the appropriate category, and describe the issue.
6. Compare Editions:
   • It might be helpful to compare the feature list of Windows 11 for Education with Home and Pro versions. Microsoft’s official documentation or support pages should provide a detailed comparison.

If you find out that it is a feature limited to Home and Pro versions, and having this feature is crucial, you might consider whether it makes sense for you to upgrade from the Education edition to a different variant of Windows 11, provided it’s an option for you.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Haijian Shan