(Microsoft)
If you thought the flyout volume bar looked a little old-fashioned on Microsoft Windows, then you’ll be happy to know it’s receiving a new look.
Microsoft is now rolling out revamped hardware indicator icons on the latest beta release of Windows 11. The company previewed the design for one of the icons through the volume bar.
As you can see, Microsoft is dropping the original vertical black bar for a horizontal one that nixes the numerical sound indicator for more minimalism. The result produces a look closer to a volume bar you’ll encounter on a smartphone or macOS.
The current volume bar on Windows 10 and 11 originated with Windows 8, which launched in 2012, according to OnMSFT.com. So perhaps, it’s about time Microsoft updated the design.
The new volume bar is arriving through the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22533 to the Dev Channel. In the release notes, Microsoft explains: “We have updated the flyout design for the hardware indicators for brightness, volume, camera privacy, camera on/off and airplane mode, to align with Windows 11 design principles.”
Indeed, the new flyout volume bar looks similar to the volume indicator you can pull up via the Windows 11 taskbar.
"These new flyouts will appear when you press the volume or brightness keys on your laptop and will honor light/dark mode to give you a more coherent Windows experience,” the company adds. “Brightness and volume indicators continue to be interactive with the update.”
The other user interface change coming to Windows 11 is with the Your Phone app, which can connect an Android phone to the OS.
“This update includes a new in-progress call window with updated icons, fonts, and other UI changes that align with the improved design of Windows 11,” Microsoft says. “Placing calls with the Your Phone app should still work as before with this new UI.”
Interested users can download the preview build by joining the Windows Insider program.
Microsoft Windows 11 Preview
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