August 2, 2026, 11:09 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Microsoft continues to work on modernizing Windows 11. Although the operating system has been on the market for nearly five years, there are still areas that visually stem from older Windows versions. There are now indications that the next update will focus on redesigning the file properties window. A new leak from the Windows Insider Program offers a first preview of the potential redesign.
Leak Shows Redesigned File Menu
The new view was discovered by the well-known insider observer “PhantomOfEarth.” He shared a screenshot from a test version of Windows, showing the properties window of a file in the recycle bin. According to his information, the new interface could only be accessed in this specific area so far. However, there is much to suggest that Microsoft plans to roll out the changes for all file properties in Windows 11 in the long term.
The properties window is one of the areas that has hardly been adapted to the modern design language of the operating system. This could now change.
Design More Aligned with Windows 11
The current leak does not provide a complete preview but already shows the direction Microsoft apparently wants to take. Some familiar tabs and detailed information are still missing. This is likely because the feature is still in an early development stage.
Visually, the new window appears much more modern. The interface is more aligned with WinUI 3, fitting better with the current look of Windows 11. The dark mode also seems to be consistently implemented. Overall, the design integrates much more harmoniously into the already modernized file explorer.
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Many Questions Remain
Which features will ultimately be integrated is still unclear. Advanced users, in particular, may hope that Microsoft not only updates the appearance but also integrates additional information and settings. Possible improvements could include better display of file details or a more modern management of security and permission options.
Since this is an early test version, much could change before the release. Microsoft has repeatedly adjusted interfaces or discarded features in the past.
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Will the Update Come with Windows 11 26H2?
There is currently no official date. However, if Microsoft plans the redesign as part of a larger update, the new properties window could appear alongside Windows 11 26H2. A release in fall 2026 would fit well with the current strategy to make the operating system more modern and unified in many areas.
Whether the new interface will actually make it into the final version of Windows 11 remains open for now. The leak only shows what Microsoft is currently working on internally.