This new feature will make you want to install Windows 11 24H2
Microsoft has started rolling out the biggest Windows 11 update of the year, called Windows 11 24H2. If you haven't decided yet to install it, this new feature might convince you: it increases file copy speeds by up to 94%.
The Windows 11 24H2 update has been received with disdain by users. It adds controversial features like Intrusive Recall, permanently removes apps like WordPad, or supports Windows Mixed Reality virtual reality headsets.
If you haven’t decided to upgrade yet, this new, unannounced feature might change your mind: ReFS Block Cloning. Okay, it doesn’t sound very appealing, but once you know what it does, you’ll be interested.
ReFS is an alternative disk format to NTFS, and is currently the most widely used at the consumer level. It was originally focused on servers, but now Microsoft has brought it to Windows 11.
ReFS will be appreciated by developers and advanced users who manage multiple disks. It requires formatting a disk that does not have an operating system, which is called a Dev Drive. The ReFS format uses a technique called block cloning, which speeds up the file copying process, getting faster the larger the file size.
In data provided by Microsoft itself, block cloning on the Dev Drive increases copying of 1MB files by 18%, 1GB files by an incredible 94%, and 10GB files by 92%.
ReFS also offers other improvements, such as integrated backups, which automatically check file integrity without manual intervention, according to Tom's Hardware. It's also more resistant to file corruption, because if part of the disk becomes corrupted, it can isolate that area and save the rest.
This new Windows 11 24H2 feature can be very useful for users who use NAS with multiple drives, developers, backups, and even for installing games and apps that take up a lot of space, and transferring a lot of files.