Windows 11 is reportedly working on new features in advanced settings that should give developers more control.
Microsoft is currently testing new features for Windows 11 in the existing ‘For Developers’ settings, which it will also rename to ‘Advanced Settings’, as noted by Phantom. This is the development environment where the various functions and components of Dev Home are housed. Two changes were noticed, such as the ‘long path’ switch and virtual workspaces.
Long paths
A first new feature is the ability to enable “long paths” on the Advanced Settings page. This is the path that reflects the exact location of your file. You could compare it to breadcrumbs. With the new switch, users will be able to remove the length limit for file or folder names in Explorer.
Currently, Windows imposes a 260-character limit on file paths. This can be annoying when you have a long path with a whole series of subfolders, which you consequently have to shorten. Once the new switch is enabled, Windows 11 removes “MAX_PATH restrictions from commonly used Win32 file and folder functions”.
Virtual workspace
Furthermore, another new switch appears, namely ‘Virtual workspace’. Windows Latest suspects that this feature creates an isolated, virtual environment within your PC. This is not a new addition in itself, but it seems that Microsoft wants to make it easier to manage virtualization features such as Hyper-V and the Windows hypervisor through the settings menu.
This new page is limited to Windows Server, but Windows Latest expects this new feature to be rolled out to Windows 11 24H2 in the coming months.