Since the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft has been moving through its native apps on the platform to refresh them. The goal is to bring the design of those apps in line with Windows 11’s Flow aesthetic. Following Clock, Paint, Snipping Tool, Phone Link, Task Manager, Photos, and Media Player, Microsoft is now turning attention to Sound Recorder.
Yes, this is Sound Recorder that was once known as Voice Recorder. Microsoft is updating the name of the app alongside giving it a visual refresh. Available now in preview on the Dev Channel for Windows Insiders, the update is also on the Microsoft Store for public testing.
This is all possible from Microsoft’s new way of updating Windows apps outside of normal updates. In other words, core apps on the OS get individual updates that are not tied to major Windows annual feature updates.
Alongside the rebranding, the big news here is Microsoft is leaving behind the Windows 10-inspired design of Voice Recorder. As the app evolves into Sound Recorder, it gets a Windows 11 aesthetic with new controls, layouts, and icons.
Update
Microsoft has also added a new visual element that shows audio during recording and playback. Elsewhere, the new app now has support for changing file formats and the recording device from directly within the app. Microsoft points out this is one of the top requested features from Insiders.
You can read about the changes to Sound Recorder on Microsoft’s official blog post. On this same page, Microsoft also details changes it has made to the other Windows 11 inbox apps in recent months.
Tip of the day: Windows now has a package manager similar to Linux called “Winget”. In our tutorial, we show you how to install and use this new tool that allows the quick installation of apps via PowerShell or a GUI.
