Microsoft is working to add support for the latest USB standard to its operating system. Windows 11 version 23615 (released earlier this week) introduces USB4Gen4 support, running at speeds up to 80Gbps on compatible hardware.
USB-IF released the USB4 specification in August 2019. Two years later, Microsoft introduced USB4 support in the initial release of Windows 11 (version 21H2). With the launch of USB 42.0 in September 2022, offering 80Gbps and 120Gbps modes via the now-standard Type-C connector, Microsoft is now ensuring that its operating system will work with the latest generation of USB systems that are about to appear in the first consumer products.
The company said in the release notes for version 23615 that the USB 42.0 performance improvements "enable the next generation of high-performance displays, storage and connectivity." At the same time, USB42.0 is fully compatible with older generation USB and Thunderbolt accessories using Type-C connectors.
Although the latest Windows 11 preview version supports USB42.0, users need to be equipped with the latest and greatest hardware to try it out. According to Microsoft, USB 42.080Gpbs will initially launch on select devices equipped with Intel's recently launched 14th generation mobile processors. The new Razer Blade 18 will be the first Windows laptops to support USB42.0.
Other features of Windows 11 build 23615 include the ability to turn on Copilot when Windows starts. Microsoft is piloting this feature on multi-monitor devices with a primary monitor of 27 inches or larger and a minimum width of 1920 pixels. The good news is that users can turn off the Copilot auto-start feature in the Settings app.
For more information about Windows 11 build 23615, visit DevChannel. Microsoft has also released an ISO file for clean installation, which you can download from the official WindowsInsider website.