Prepare for lightning-fast Wi-Fi speeds, as Microsoft gears up to bring Wi-Fi 7 support to Windows 11 in the upcoming major update slated for later this year.

Scheduled for release as version 24H2, Microsoft’s forthcoming OS update promises to revolutionize connectivity with the integration of Wi-Fi 7 hardware support. While Wi-Fi 7-enabled hardware has been hitting the market in recent months, the current iteration of Windows lacks compatibility with this cutting-edge technology.

Wi-Fi 7, also referred to as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput, heralds a significant leap in wireless performance compared to its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6E. Boasting superior speed, efficiency, latency, reliability, and power management, Wi-Fi 7 delivers multi-gigabit speeds, offering up to four times faster performance than Wi-Fi 6E. This translates to smoother gaming experiences, accelerated video conferencing, and enhanced overall responsiveness.

It’s important to note that Wi-Fi 7 support is contingent upon the availability of compatible hardware. Both Wi-Fi 7 access points and Wi-Fi 7-enabled hardware must be present in PCs and laptops to harness the benefits of this advanced technology. While devices like the Dell XPS 14 are among the first Windows PCs to feature Wi-Fi 7 support, users will have to wait for the version 24H2 update to fully leverage the heightened speeds.

In addition to Wi-Fi 7 integration, Windows 11 version 24H2 is poised to introduce a slew of quality-of-life enhancements, platform refinements, and cutting-edge AI features tailored to leverage the next-generation NPU hardware found in Intel Ultra and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips.