Microsoft Build 2021: Everything we’ve learned so far

Another year, another Build conference. Microsoft Build 2021 is officially underway and will be going strong from May 25 to May 27. It’s open to all and registration is free, meaning you can witness over 300 sessions’ worth of information firsthand.

Though the conference is mainly focused on technology topics targeting developers, the occasional announcement crops up that interests consumers and everyday Windows users. From Teams news to teases about the future of Windows, here’s everything of note that’s been announced so far.

The future of Windows is discussed

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hinted at big Windows news coming in the near future. He called the teased project “one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade.” It’s being referred to as the “next generation” of Windows (note the lack of a Windows 10-specific mention).

Edge improvements incoming

Microsoft outlined a few ways that Edge will be improved in the near future. Features such as Startup Boost and Sleeping Tabs will help keep the browser running well on low-end hardware.

Project Reunion 0.8 preview is announced

A new preview version of the Project Reunion app framework was announced at Build 2021. The preview provides support for WinUI 3 and WebView2, as well as .NET 5 applications.

Windows Terminal 1.9 preview arrives

A new preview build for the Windows Terminal app has arrived. Terminal can now be set as the default terminal emulator, among other updates. There’s a new feature called Quake mode and more nifty upgrades to the app packed inside the latest preview.

Teams gets a smattering of goodies

Microsoft Teams updates are coming to make life easier for users and developers. New features for Teams’ Toolkit for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, fluid components, shared stage integration, and more were detailed. Be sure to check out our full roundup of Microsoft Teams Build 2021 announcements for the full scoop.

Linux GUI app support is shipping

Microsoft announced that Linux GUI application support is now generally available in the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2. It’s been in preview for a while, but it’s officially out in the wild as of today. This means devs won’t have to worry about dual-booting a Linux and Windows system since everything can be done on top of Windows.

In case all of those announcements weren’t enough, you can also check out our list of recommended Microsoft Build 2021 sessions, which will provide you with even more Build news for both general enthusiasts and developers.

See all the big announcements from Build 2021