Windows 11 will streamline battery monitoring by incorporating mobile-style icons.
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Microsoft is planning updates to its laptop battery charge indicators, which are expected to be introduced in upcoming versions of Windows 11 in the next few months. These updates aim to clearly differentiate between various battery states, such as an unplugged battery, a charging battery, or one with an unknown status. While all Windows 11 users will eventually see the new battery-level icons, Windows 11 Insiders will be the first to access them. As reported by Windows Latest, Microsoft showcased the battery icons to pre-release users during a video conference in early March, revealing the icon designs but lacking further details regarding the rollout timeline.
Many experts have commented that the new icons resemble the battery charge indicators found on mobile devices, with some suggesting they seem more akin to iOS products, while others argue they resemble Android devices. Each battery design indicates a specific battery state. In contrast to the earlier mono-color icons, some of the new icons will be color-coded according to the battery's status, such as disconnected, charging, or low battery. Additionally, the new icon is longer and more slender, and the style will match the Windows theme—appearing black in a dark theme or white in a light theme.
Here’s an overview of the different battery states set to be included in the update:
- Battery (when the PC is not connected to a power supply)
- Energy saver (colored yellow when activated)
- Charging (depicted as a lightning bolt icon with a green fill)
- Smart charging (indicating battery charging protection)
- Slow charging (marked with an error symbol in a solid color fill)
- Low battery level (represented as a narrow red bar between 1% and 5%)
- Battery unknown (shown with a cross symbol indicating no battery)
Windows Latest mentioned that the update was expected to be rolled out to the public last month but was delayed due to an unexpected bug. News about this update has been circulating since at least January when leakers discovered the feature hidden in a Windows 11 developer build. Enthusiasts are likely to be eager for its eventual release.
Fionna Agomuoh is a Computing Writer at Digital Trends, covering various topics within the computing sector, including...
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Windows 11 will streamline battery monitoring by incorporating mobile-style icons.
Microsoft intends to modify its battery icons in an upcoming Windows 11 update, and new images of the revised designs have emerged.