We were so close to seeing Sets arrive as it was included in previews of Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update). However, Microsoft removed it and delayed it again. If you are unfamiliar with sets, it is a tabbing system that will work across Windows 10. Essentially a universal tab ability for applications. It works like tabs on a web browser, allowing users to open a tab in an application by clicking a + symbol in the title bar. A new tab will show recent apps, documents, and a search. The concept of using Windows 10 Sets is to be able to multi-task more easily without needing to leave an app you are in.

— Rich Turner (@richturn_ms) April 20, 2019

Future

With Windows 10 May 2019 Update set to arrive soon and finalized in preview, it has become clear Sets was not part of the release. Microsoft has stayed silent on the future of Sets in recent months. Recently, Senior PM Rich Turner tweeted about the demise of Sets. He said the “Shell-provided tab experience is no more”. Despite the seeming end of the feature, Turner said Microsoft is still committed to adding a tab experience to Windows 10. So, it seems Sets has been put on the backburner but Microsoft is still working on a tabbed based Windows solutions. It will be interesting to see how the company approaches such a feature in the future.

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