Microsoft recently released Windows 11 preview update with a new taskbar feature that lets you quickly mute and unmute the mic. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a new experimental feature that lets you share content from other apps to Microsoft Teams on Windows 11 while in a meeting.
Windows 11’s most recent build also includes a new keyboard functionality that will allow you to mute or unmute your device’s microphone with just one click. At the moment, the keyboard shortcut Win + Alt + K only works in Microsoft Teams and it can also be toggled by clicking on a microphone icon showing up in the system tray.
Initially, this universal Windows 11 mute feature required users to manually click on the microphone icon on the taskbar. The icon appears next to the WiFi or ethernet, volume, and battery icons, and you can simply click on it to mute and unmute the mic in just a second.
“You can see your call audio status, what app is accessing your microphone, and quickly mute and unmute your call at any time,” Microsoft said.
Windows 11 keyboard shortcut
Microsoft has updated the taskbar’s mute toggle with support for a new keyboard shortcut WIN + Alt + K. To use Windows 11’s new mute feature, simply press WIN + Alt + K to make it happen.
As mentioned at the outset, you will need to be in an app that supports the mute button for it to work. At the moment, only Microsoft Teams is supported, but Microsoft says third-party apps will also gain support for Windows 11’s new taskbar mute toggle.
Other improvements coming to the taskbar
Microsoft is also working on a new taskbar feature that will allow users to share contents in Microsoft Teams meeting directly from the taskbar. This will eliminate the need to manually switch between windows in the Teams meeting and users will be able to focus on their meetings in Teams.
Additionally, Microsoft is internally testing support for taskbar drag-and-drop, but this feature is expected in the next big Windows update only.
