Microsoft is working on a lot of major and minor improvements to Windows 11 as part of Sun Valley 2 (version 22H2). The company does not necessarily publish everything, but as we get closer to launching the update, Microsoft is starting to drop hints on what can be sent to consumers this fall.
Microsoft is apparently working on a new Task Manager built on top of the existing Win32 framework, but it has WinUI 3.0 design components. This includes Windows 11’s Mica effects, Fluent Designs acrylic and other design enhancements. In addition, it also supports dark mode.
Task Manager update drops the classic tab in favor of a sidebar that houses options such as processes, performance, app history, startup, users, details, services, and a new option called ‘Settings’ that lets you switch between dark and light mode Windows 11.
In the Windows Insider podcast, Microsoft teased a new colorful design for Task Manager, as the app has now been updated to support system accent colors.
Windows currently allows you to customize the appearance of the operating system with accent colors for many surfaces such as the Start menu, taskbar, title bars, etc. However, if you choose an accent color for the system, you will probably notice that it does not apply to older areas as Task Manager.
It’s not a mistake. This is an expected design behavior on Windows.
Microsoft is now adding the system accent color support to Windows 11’s Task Manager as the company continues to work on more aesthetic improvements.
In other words, the accent color, which can be seen in the Start menu or taskbar, is now on its way to Task Manager. The company plans to launch the beta tester design in the coming days, and it is likely that the company will continue working on Task Manager prior to the launch of Windows 11 version 22H2.
As you can see in the screenshot above, the system’s accent color support works in both light and dark.
More features are coming to Task Manager on Windows 11
Microsoft is also working on a useful battery and app health feature for Task Manager, and the feature is apparently tucked away in preview builds.
The health function is still broken and it does not work in the current preview builds
But based on the references in preview builds, Task Manager can offer a useful way to look at the device’s battery usage and how it’s optimized, or how apps run.
It is worth noting that Microsoft has not announced these features to the Task Manager, and we do not know if these improvements will be delivered in the production buildings later this year.