For the month of October, Microsoft has released an optional KB5031455 Preview Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2.
Microsoft Windows users are undoubtedly familiar with file compression formats like RAR and 7-Zip, which help reduce the size of files. Most Windows users typically rely on third-party tools such as WinRAR to work with RAR files. However, there’s good news: Microsoft has incorporated native RAR support into Windows 11, as part of its recent update.
Microsoft has released an optional KB5031455 Preview Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for the month of October. According to a report from Beeping Computer, this update introduces support for 11 new file archive formats, including .rar, .7z, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .tar.zst, .tar.xz, .tgz, .tbz2, .tzst, and .txz.
Thanks to this native support for archive file formats like RAR and 7-Zip, Windows users no longer require third-party applications like WinRAR to manage compressed files. To install this optional update, users can navigate to Windows 11 Settings and click on the ‘Windows Update’ option in the Home or System menu. If your system hasn’t received the update yet, you should see a message stating: “2023-10 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5031455) is now available.” Simply click “Download & install” to obtain the update, which includes support for archive file formats, including RAR. Once Windows is updated, users will have the ability to open, extract, and modify archive files without the need for third-party tools.
Back in May, Microsoft initially revealed its plans for native RAR support in Windows 11, along with a host of other features. The company announced that Windows 11 would also support TAR (Tape Archive), 7-zip, RAR (Roshal Archive), GZ (Gzip), and various other archive formats.
Furthermore, Microsoft disclosed that Windows 11 would feature the capability to access app instances directly from the taskbar with a single click, hide the date and time, and close apps from the taskbar without needing the Windows Task Manager.
In September, the company updated Windows to incorporate its AI-powered Copilot assistant. Copilot introduced an enhanced Bing Chat for Windows 11, capable of generating web page summaries, adjusting system controls, and offering text and image-based responses to user inquiries.
Additionally, a transcript from a fireside chat at the Citi 2023 Global Technology Conference hinted that Microsoft might be preparing for the release of Windows 12 next year. Intel CFO David Zinsner mentioned, “We actually think ’24 is going to be a pretty good year for client, in particular, because of the Windows refresh,” pointing to a 2024 launch for Windows 12.
Since its release in 2021, Windows 11 has gained substantial popularity, running on over 400 million monthly active devices. It is expected to reach 500 million active devices by 2024.