The code in the middle of the Windows 11 SDK for build 22523 shows that Microsoft is developing a new blur effect for Windows 11. The developers of the well-known taskbar customization application StartisBack discovered on Twitter that this effect is called Tabbed and is a complement to Acrylic and Mica.
The effect appears to be a severely blurred version of the screencaster’s wallpaper, with no fixed hue. Microsoft seems to be working hard to bring the Mica style to more traditional applications. The “MicaBackdropInApplicationFrameHostTitlebar” field has also appeared in the latest Insider builds.
New DWMWA_SYSTEMBACKDROP_TYPE in 22523 SDK, public Win32 API for Mica, Acrylic and their strange new ‘tabbed’ blend: pic.twitter.com/dbsu7ZFiIi
— Start Is All Back (@StartIsBack) December 15, 2021
According to reports, Microsoft will bring the next big update to Windows 11 in the summer of 2022, so it shouldn’t be long before we see these changes roll out to ordinary users. The following is a sample of the new interface that was previously leaked: