Popular Windows 11 apps to get a new look; here’s how Microsoft Office, Photos, Calculator, Paint may look like soon

Windows 11 release date is looming and Microsoft is making big changes to many of its old features and this includes Office, Photos, Calculator and even Paint. These changes will arrive when the update is released to everyone later this year, perhaps in the middle of October. The Windows 11 update is expected to bring several new features and performance improvements to the operating system, some of which are being touted as the biggest changes since Windows 10 was released, which was over half-a-decade ago. Along with all the new features like Android app support, Windows 11 has received a fresh coat of paint for the overall system interface as well as core Windows applications.

Microsoft is reportedly working on revamping its system applications for the Windows 11 release, which includes widely used apps like Microsoft Office, Photos, Notepad, Calculator, Paint, Voice Recorder, and Clock, among others. The company is now ditching its older, ribbon interface that was so popular on most of these apps, according to a report by Windows Latest.

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One of the most widely used apps on Windows is the Photos app, which will reportedly receive improvements to the built-in editor tool. Importantly, these tools will work in similar fashion to editing tools found on iOS and Android with controls that float above the image itself, according to the report. Similarly, the Paint app is also receiving a fresh new look and is ditching the ribbon header for a new minimal, but useful new header that is inspired by Microsoft’s Fluent design.

In fact, the report claims that the Fluent design is likely to arrive on many other Windows apps as well, ditching the ribbon interface in favour of the new one that has debuted on the Files app for Windows 11. Other improvements include rounded corners for these apps, which is also part of the recently reported Calculator redesign.

Signficantly, while Windows 11 is expected to arrive in October, the Windows Latest report states that Microsoft will first roll out updated applications to Windows 11 users after a few weeks in order to gain feedback. The company could decide to implement tweaks or changes in the design before it is released to the public once Windows 11 is officially launched later this year.