Microsoft is working on adding support for the latest USB standard to its operating system. Windows 11 build 23615 (released earlier this week) adds support for USB4 Gen 4, which is capable of speeds up to 80 Gbps on compatible hardware.
The USB Implementers Forum released the USB4 specification in August 2019. Two years later, Microsoft introduced USB4 support in the initial release of Windows 11 (version 21H2). September 2022 saw the introduction of USB4 2.0 with 80 and 120 Gbit/s modes via the standard Type-C connector. Now, Microsoft guarantees that its operating system can work with the latest generation of USB, which is about to appear in the first consumer products.
In the release notes for build 23615, the company noted that the increased performance of USB4 2.0 “enables a new generation of high-performance displays, storage devices and connectivity.” At the same time, USB4 2.0 is fully compatible with accessories designed for previous generations of USB and Thunderbolt with a Type-C connector.
While USB4 2.0 support is present in the latest Windows 11 build, you’ll need the latest and greatest hardware to experience it. According to Microsoft, USB4 2.0 80Gb/s will first appear on some devices with recently introduced 14th-generation Intel mobile processors. The new Razer Blade 18 will be one of the first Windows laptops with USB4 2.0 support.
Windows 11 build 23615 features include the ability to open Copilot when Windows starts. Microsoft is experimenting with this feature on multi-monitor devices with 27-inch or larger primary monitors with a minimum width of 1920 pixels. The good news is that Copilot auto-launch can be turned off in the Settings app.
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