Last month, Microsoft quietly released a subtle new feature that most people won’t even know about unless they have compatible hardware, and that’s one Completely new haptic feedback system. that is now woven throughout the operating system interface. There are now subtle vibrations when interacting with certain UI elements, and it’s really cool.
Microsoft calls this new system “Haptic Cues” and it can be turned on or off in the Windows Settings app if you are using a device that supports it. Right now, your options are quite limited, and the only configurable parameter is the intensity of the tactile sensation. You can choose between four intensity levels, with 2 being the default.
But if you have a compatible device, prepare to be impressed with the implementation of this new system. It feels great and makes using Windows 11 super satisfying. There are haptic bumps throughout the OS; when dragging files in File Explorer, aligning objects in apps, and snapping app windows to the edges of the screen.
It’s not everywhere and that’s by design. It would be overwhelming if every visual element of the shell included haptic feedback, so Microsoft has opted to add it only to “high-value interactions” where “the haptics clearly reinforce intent.” according Marcus Ash, design and research leader at Microsoft.
That said, I wouldn’t mind if it applied to a few more places in the OS, including things like the dismiss button for notifications and the “clear all” button for Notification Center, or when enabling or disabling toggles in apps like Settings or the Quick Actions flyout.
Microsoft has also added haptic cues to PowerPoint, which are presented when you align objects within a presentation. It’s an example of how apps can also take advantage of haptic technology, and the API is open to all developers to implement it in their own apps if they wish.
This is the kind of quality of life improvement I love to see. Windows has been sorely lacking in subtleties like this in its UI and UX design in recent years, so it’s great to see Microsoft back on the horse and taking pride in the overall Windows experience like this. It’s not a necessary addition, but it’s an addition I’m really glad they added anyway.
Microsoft is still tweaking its implementation of Haptic Signals, so be prepared to see them appear (or in some cases, disappear) in certain parts of the UI as the company figures things out. For example, during my testing, Microsoft removed the haptic swipe of the close button in app windows, citing concerns that such implementation was “too noisy” and not subtle enough. I agree with this decision.
The only comment I have is that I would love to see more granular controls over the Haptic Cues feature. Being able to control the intensity is nice, but I’d love to be able to enable or disable individual categories of haptic responses. It would be useful, for example, to be able to enable haptic feedback for window snapping, but disable it for object alignment. That way, people can determine how haptically their operating system responds.
The new Haptic Signals feature for Windows 11 is rolling out now, but for now it’s only available on a very limited number of devices.
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