Hands-on with Windows 10 'Sets' in Redstone 5 build 17618 (video)

By Zac Bowden
last updated

Check out our hands-on with Windows 10 build 17618 featuring Windows 'Sets' and tabs in File Explorer!

Windows 10 Redstone 5 is now in testing with Insiders in the Skip Ahead ring, and Microsoft has already thrown in one of the bigger features coming in the next update, scheduled for release this Fall. Windows 'Sets' is back, and is a little more polished than when we first saw it in testing during Redstone 4 development.

Microsoft rolled out build 17618 to Insiders in the Skip Ahead ring last week, and is the first build to include Sets to a larger group of people. Here's our hands-on with Sets, showcasing some of the early implementations Microsoft is working on for Redstone 5.

The only other notable change in build 17618 is that Cortana's Settings app category has been renamed to "Cortana & Search," with no other changes apparent within the category as of yet. Perhaps this change is in preparation of Microsoft splitting up Cortana and Search in Redstone 5? Time will tell.

Make sure you check out our list of things we're expecting to see in Windows 10 Redstone 5, and let us know in the comments if you're already testing the latest Redstone 5 builds in the Skip Ahead ring below!

Zac Bowden
Zac Bowden
Senior Editor

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter: @zacbowden.

20 Comments
  • good addition
  • Good but it is better if we can add desktop program.
  • Sorry, what's the value in grouping multiple apps in the same window? Do they want to disguise difference between regular apps and PWAs?
  • I think the real point of this feature is for those who do everything more like a "project", so they open multiple apps as part of work they are doing.  It's supposed to save all of those tabs as a session so you can bring everything back up.  Personally, that's NOT how I work, and I find it completely annoying to mix apps in the same window.  I want each app, each INSTANCE, in its own window.  So, obviously, for me this tabbed feature stays turned off.
  • you can turn it off in setting
  • It's obvious, you didn't have to explain it to this guy. He is just a pessimist.
  • I'd rather prefer to have a "project desktop" instead of "project window". Packing multiple apps into the same window frame looks strange. The window maybe too small for some apps and too large for others.
  • I thought the same as you , but I have been using Stardocks groupy and I have found that grouping some things together is ok, it is not a must have thing, but it can be useful. the problem is that a couple of the main bits of software I use will not group and I doubt that will be be any different with sets.  I will turn sets off when I eventually update to that verion of 10.  
  • Tbh, I don't see a point of this, having 2 task bars? Luckily there's a turn off button.
  • Hey Zac, I'm still findin my use cases for Sets so I'm not 100% there. I did notice though that the UWP version of Office (not Office mobile) don't work yet with Sets even though they are UWP... Any thoughts on that?
  • Watch Zac's video well, he specifically mentioned that.
  • Will have to take another look then... Must have missed it and supposed they should be supported since they are UWP...
  • There should be a possibility to turn sets into desktops (and vice versa).
    That way we could experience compact sets, but switch to a largely expanded experience (the regular desktop experience with Windows spread across the desktop). That way, grouping would make sense and be very modular.
  • Rather have multiple desktops
  • Zac please slow down your speech.
  • Try 0.5x playback speed
  • I would like to be able to make the window organization of a virtual desktop to be persistent. That would be useful to restore for work.
  • Oh dear......
  • Hmm, running 17618 and don't have it. The setting pointed out under multitasking isn't there either.
  • Same build here but no option to enable "Sets' anywhere in settings including multitasking.