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Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.176 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/09/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22000-176/)

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Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.176 to the Beta Channels!
We are also making Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.176 available to commercial PCs in the Release Preview Channel. Please see this blog post for all the details (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/commercial-previews-for-windows-11-and-windows-10-version-21h2/ba-p/2676467).

Fixes

[General]

• We fixed an issue with paired Bluetooth LE devices that was causing an increase in Bluetooth reliability issues and bugchecks after resume from hibernate or when Bluetooth was turned off.
  
• We mitigated an issue that was resulting some users hitting in an unexpected error when trying to take pictures with certain USB cameras.
  
• When setting up Windows Hello in OOBE, we've added a new link to learn more about Windows Hello.

[Chat from Microsoft Teams]

• Arabic and Hebrew languages will now allow changing Teams Settings.
  
• We fixed the issue where if you were making an outgoing call, there was no ring tone, but the user interface would show that the call is getting connected.

[Microsoft Store]

The following issues were fixed in the most recent Store updates:

• We fixed the issue where the install button might not be functional in limited scenarios.
  
• We also fixed an issue where rating and reviews were not available for some apps.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.184 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/09/09/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22000-184/)

Fixes
[General]

• Fixed an issue where the new learn more info in OOBE about Windows Hello (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/09/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22000-176/) wasn't translated for non-English languages.
  
• Fixed an issue where a small set of languages were missing translations across the UI in Windows 11
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.194 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/09/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22000-194/)

This update is also for commercial PCs in the Release Preview Channel.

Fixes

• Addressed an issue where if you enable then disable a contrast theme, it would lead to artifacts in title bars, in some cases making the minimize/maximize/close buttons hard to see and use.
• Fixed a crash with certain connected devices that could result in not being able to use Bluetooth.
• Mitigated an issue that was resulting in subtitles not appearing when expected in certain apps, particularly Japanese language subtitles.
• Fixed an issue that was causing certain PCs to bugcheck during modern standby.
• Mitigated an issue when typing with certain 3rd party IMEs into the search box in Settings that could result in the candidate window being rendered elsewhere on-screen (not attached to the search box) and/or characters inserted into the search box not displaying.
• We fixed an issue that causes PowerShell to create an infinite number of child directories. This issue occurs when you use the PowerShell Move-Item command to move a directory to one of its children. As a result, the volume fills up and the system stops responding.
• This build includes a change that aligns the enforcement of the Windows 11 system requirements on Virtual Machines (VMs) to be the same as it is for physical PCs. Previously created VMs running Insider Preview builds may not update to the latest preview builds. In Hyper-V, VMs need to be created as a Generation 2 VM (https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fwindows-server%2Fvirtualization%2Fhyper-v%2Flearn-more%2Fgeneration-2-virtual-machine-security-settings-for-hyper-v&data=04%7C01%7Cbleblanc%40microsoft.com%7Cb630fd734c404096c1dd08d978a7337b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C0%7C0%7C637673481840356309%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=EwBnqWrSIXmqIL7%2BVSkwc34qjy6tDshgX%2F51ZCZd3E8%3D&reserved=0). Running Windows 11 in VMs in other virtualization products from vendors such as VMware and Oracle will continue to work as long as the hardware requirements are met. For more details on the Windows 11 system requirements – see this blog post here (https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.windows.com%2Fwindows-insider%2F2021%2F08%2F27%2Fupdate-on-windows-11-minimum-system-requirements-and-the-pc-health-check-app%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cbleblanc%40microsoft.com%7Cb630fd734c404096c1dd08d978a7337b%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C0%7C0%7C637673481840356309%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=oFiOE87fVrMvYEc%2F9j12K6uURmR2wysH2k5bdvsFwbg%3D&reserved=0).

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.282 to Beta and Release Preview Channels (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/10/15/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-282-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/)

Note:  This is release is for both Beta and Release Preview. 

See the referenced blog post for the very long list of improvements.

Announcing Android™ apps on Windows 11 Preview for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/10/20/announcing-android-apps-on-windows-11-preview-for-windows-insiders-in-the-beta-channel/)

The first preview of Android™ apps on Windows 11 is now available for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the U.S. See the referenced blog post for instructions on getting started as well as Introducing Android™ Apps on Windows 11 to Windows Insiders (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/10/20/introducing-android-apps-on-windows-11-to-windows-insiders/) for additional information.

Releasing Windows 11 KB5008295 to Beta and Release Preview Channels | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/11/04/releasing-windows-11-kb5008295-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/)

Fixes:

• We fixed a known issue that might prevent some users from opening or using certain built-in Windows apps or parts of some built-in apps. This issue occurs because of a Microsoft digital certificate that expired October 31, 2021. This issue might affect the following applications:
  
  
  
  • Snipping Tool
    
  • Touch Keyboard, Voice Typing, and Emoji Panel
    
  • Input Method Editor user interface (IME UI)
    
  • Getting started and Tips
    
• We fixed a known issue that prevents the Start menu and Settings app from opening as expected (S-mode only).
  

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.346 to Beta and Release Preview Channels | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/11/12/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-346-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/)

Fixes:

• We fixed an issue that affects the Appx PowerShell cmdlet functionality on PowerShell 7.1 and later.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes some users to see an unexpected "bad image" error message dialog at startup.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes searchindexer.exe to stop responding during a dismount operation in the remote desktop environment.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the opening of the SearchFilterHost.exe process.
  
• We added support for the cancellation of daylight savings time for the Republic of Fiji for 2021.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes devices that have certain processors to stop responding when waking from hibernation.
  
• We fixed a COM initialization issue in dll that might cause the calling process to stop working.
  
• We fixed an issue in the Hyper-V virtual machine bus (VMBus) that causes the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) VM to occasionally time out when attaching disks. This issue also prevents the utility from starting.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the System Memory Management Unit's (SMMU) fault handling after hibernation.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the system to stop working after you enable Hyper-V.
  
• We fixed an issue that fails to apply machine Group Policy objects automatically at startup or in the background to devices on a domain that have certain processors.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the Server Manager cmdlet to return a failure. As a result, many Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) validations fail during the installation of optional features.
  
• We added the option to configure an Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) maximum transmission unit (MTU) that is less than 576 bytes on an interface.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes get-winevent to fail, and the error is an InvalidOperationException.
  
• We fixed an issue that incorrectly renders some variable fonts.
  
• We fixed an issue that displays glyphs at the wrong angle when you use the Meiryo UI font and other vertical fonts. These fonts are frequently used in Japan, China, or other countries in Asia.
  
• We added a feature to facilitate certain cross-browser data transfers.
  
• We fixed an issue that occurs when a dialog opens within Internet Explorer.
  
• We fixed an issue in CLSID_InternetExplorer.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes Internet Explorer to stop working when you copy and paste text while using the Input Method Editor (IME).
  
• We fixed an issue that causes certain apps to stop responding to input. This issue occurs on devices that have a touchpad.
  
• We fixed a touch keyboard deployment issue that affects WebView2 controls in Windows UI Library 3.0 (WinUI 3) applications.
  
• We fixed a memory leak in ctfmon.exe that occurs when you switch between different edit clients.
  
• We updated the phone number for Windows Activation for locales that have the wrong phone number.
  
• We fixed a known issue that causes error codes 0x000006e4, 0x0000007c, or 0x00000709 when connecting to a remote printer that is shared on a Windows print server.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects USB Print devices that support Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) Over USB. This issue prevents these USB Print devices from completing installation.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes certain USB Print installers to report that they don't detect the printer after you plug it in.
  
• We fixed an issue where OS functionality could be improperly redirected when microsoft-edge: links are invoked.
  
• We fixed an issue in the Windows audio system that might cause the audiodg.exe process to stop working, which results in a temporary loss of audio.
  
• We fixed an issue that prevents Software-Defined Networking (SDN) virtual machines from working when you configure the Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) VPN bandwidth limitation.
  
• We fixed an issue that might cause the return value of GetCommandLineA() to be lowercase in some developer scenarios.
  
• We fixed a Primary Refresh Token (PRT) update issue that occurs when VPN users sign in using Windows Hello for Business when the VPN connection is offline. Users receive unexpected authentication prompts for online resources that are configured for user sign-in frequency (SIF) in Azure Active Directory-Conditional Access (https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/active-directory/conditional-access/howto-conditional-access-session-lifetime).
  
• We added the message that indicates that an organization's policy manages the user's location privacy settings. This message appears when the privacy settings are controlled by the Group Policy documented in Manage connections from Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating system components to Microsoft services (https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/privacy/manage-connections-from-windows-operating-system-components-to-microsoft-services#bkmk-priv-location).
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the Fast Identity Online 2.0 (FIDO2) credential provider and prevents the display of the PIN entry box.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes Windows Defender Application Control to incorrectly compare two file version numbers.
  
• We enhanced Microsoft Defender for Endpoint's ability to identify and intercept ransomware and advanced attacks.
  
• We fixed an issue that might cause Windows Mixed Reality to start when you put on a headset. This issue occurs even when you've turned off the option "Start Mixed Reality Portal when my headset's presence sensor detects that I'm wearing it".
  
• We fixed an audio distortion issue that affects Xbox One and Xbox Series Audio peripherals and occurs when you use them with spatial audio.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the AltGr key to stop working if a remote desktop client is running or if RemoteApp was disconnected.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the edit button and the battery icon in Quick Settings to intermittently disappear.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the Focus Assist button in the notification area, and we provided an accessible name for screen readers.
  
• We updated several aspects of Windows emoji. As part of an iterative and ongoing work, we have made the following improvements for this release:
  
  
  
  • Updated all emoji in the Segoe UI Emoji font to the Fluent 2D emoji style
    
  • Included support for Emoji 13.1, which:
    
    
    
    • Updated the emoji dictionary
      
    • Added the ability to search for Emoji 13.1 in all supported languages
      
    • Updated the Emoji and more panel so you can enter emoji in your applications
      
• We fixed an issue that affects the display of the number of unread notifications; some numbers don't appear in the center of the circle in the notification area.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the Start menu when you install a large number of apps and change the screen resolution. The app names appear on the Start menu, but the app icons are missing. This update might also improve the reliability of the Start menu when you use secondary monitors in mixed resolution scenarios.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes flickering when you hover over icons on the taskbar; this issue occurs if you've applied a high contrast theme.
  
• We updated the Start menu's Ease of Access folder name to "Accessibility" to match our naming standard across Windows 11 (original release).
  
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Narrator users when they select Braille options in Settings.
  
• We changed the screen color to blue when a device stops working or a stop error occurs as in previous versions of Windows.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes some app icons in the Start's All apps list to be cut off on the bottom after you change the screen resolution.
  
• We fixed an issue that, under certain conditions, prevents the keyboard focus rectangle from being visible when you use Task View, Alt-Tab, or Snap Assist.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects apps that provide context (shortcut) menu items in File Explorer and desktop context menus. This issue occurs if these apps utilize Directory or Directory\Background registrations.
  
• We fixed an issue that automatically removes the Serbian (Latin) Windows display language from a device .
  
• We fixed an issue that displays the incorrect background for the iFLY Simplified Chinese IME icon in the notification area.
  
• We fixed an issue that displays a blank space on the bottom of the Touch keyboard when you close the keyboard while the Suggestion UI is expanded.
  
• We fixed reliability issues that prevent the display of File Explorer and desktop shortcut menus. This issue often occurs when you choose to use a single click to open an item.
  
• We added an option for you to choose whether to automatically turn on Focus Assist for the first hour after a Windows feature update.
  
• We improved the animation performance of icons on the taskbar.
  
• We fixed a reliability issue on the lock screen that affects the rendering of the network status text.
  
• We fixed volume control issues that affect Bluetooth audio devices.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes File Explorer to stop working after you close a File Explorer window.
  
• We fixed an issue that displays incorrect closed-caption shadows for some videos.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the Windows Update History page in the Settings app to display a summary count of zero (0) updates per category when there are updates listed.
  
• We fixed an issue that occurs when you run a 32-bit application on a 64-bit version of Windows 11. If you call NetServerEnum (https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/api/lmserver/nf-lmserver-netserverenum)(), it might return error 87 or error 1231.
  
• We fixed an issue that prevents your device from starting up, and it becomes unresponsive because of licensing API calls.
  
• We fixed an issue in the Windows Network File System (NFS) client that might prevent you from renaming a file after mounting an NFS share. This issue occurs if you rename the file using File Explorer but does not occur if you rename the file using command line.
  
• We fixed an issue that prevents flash drives, such SD cards and certain USB drives, from appearing in the Defragment and Optimize Drives UI.
  
• We fixed an issue that might cause a stop error in volmgr.sys when you delete a volume.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects NTFS when you enable the update sequence number (USN) journal. NTFS performs unnecessary actions each time it performs a write operation, which affects I/O performance.
  
• We enabled onunload events to create pop-up windows in Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode.
  

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.348 to Beta and Release Preview Channels | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/11/19/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-348-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/)

This update includes all the improvements previously noted here (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/11/12/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-346-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/) plus this additional fix:

• We fixed a known issue that might prevent apps, such as Kaspersky (https://support.kaspersky.com/15819) apps, from opening after you attempt to repair or update the apps using the Microsoft Installer (MSI).
  

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.466 to Beta and Release Preview Channels (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/01/14/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-466-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/)

This update includes the following improvements:

• We improved the reliability of application installations on ARM64 devices.
• We updated daylight savings time to start in February 2022 instead of March 2022 in Jordan.
• We fixed an issue that causes ARM64 devices to stop responding when they hibernate or resume from hibernation.
• We fixed an issue that might prevent some image editing programs from rendering colors correctly on certain high dynamic range (HDR) displays. This frequently affects white colors that might display in bright yellow or other colors.
• We fixed an issue that affects predictive pre-rendering in Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode.
• We fixed an issue that sometime prevents you from entering strings in the Input Method Editor (IME).
• We fixed an issue that causes the audio service to stop responding on some devices that support hardware-accelerated Bluetooth audio.
• We fixed an issue in which the text that informs a customer about the Windows update progress is incorrect for Japanese.
• We fixed an issue that affects icons for apps when the apps are not running. On the taskbar, these icons might display as active as if the apps are running.
• We fixed an issue that might cause VPN profiles to disappear. This issue occurs when you use Microsoft Intune or a third-party mobile device management (MDM) tool to deploy VPN profiles on Windows 11 (original release).
• We fixed an issue that affects applications that are written to only integrate with Azure Active Directory (AAD). These applications will not work on machines that are joined to Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS).
• We fixed an issue that might cause the Get-TPM PowerShell command to fail when it attempts to report Trusted Platform Module (TPM) information. The command fails with the error, "0x80090011 Microsoft.Tpm.Commands.TpmWmiException,Microsoft.Tpm.Commands.GetTpmCommand".
• We fixed an issue that causes a remote desktop protocol (RDP) session to disconnect or the screen to be blank for Server Core. This issue occurs when you install the AppCompat feature.
• We fixed an issue that affects windows.system.profile.retailinfo.dll.
• We fixed some issues that affect File Explorer's performance when you browse for files and select files.
• We added a new Your Microsoft Account page to the Accounts category in Windows Settings for Home and Professional editions.
• We fixed an issue that incorrectly shows the volume icon in the taskbar as muted.
• We fixed a reliability issue that causes File Explorer and desktop context menus to stop working.
• We fixed an issue that fails to pass the Shift KeyUp event to an application when you use the Korean IME.
• We added the HelpWith feature, which uses Microsoft Bing technologies to suggest Help topics that are relevant for each Settings page.
• We fixed an issue that prevents the touch keyboard from appearing on the lock screen when a device has a Microsoft account (MSA).
• We fixed an issue that affects the loading of badging information on the taskbar, which sometimes causes a device to stop working.
• We fixed an issue that prevents some options from appearing on the Win + X menu.
• We fixed an issue that causes a device to stop working when it's connected to multiple displays.
• We fixed an issue that affects the auto-hide feature of the taskbar. The taskbar might not reliably appear when you hover over the primary or secondary display.
• We fixed an issue that sometimes prevents you from using the Chinese Simplified IME.
• We fixed an issue that might prevent icons from appearing on the taskbar of a secondary display.
• We fixed an issue that fails to install certain printer companion applications when the printer device driver is installing.
• We fixed an issue that displays outdated battery percentages for connected Bluetooth devices on the Bluetooth and other devices page in Settings.
• We fixed an issue that prevents IP cameras from connecting and streaming to certain DirectShow (DShow) applications.
• We improved the auto brightness algorithm to provide a better response under low light conditions on all the supported systems.
• We fixed an issue that causes lsass.exe to stop working and the device restarts. This issue occurs when you query Windows NT Directory Services (NTDS) counters after the NTDS service has stopped.
• We fixed an issue that causes a deadlock in the WebDav redirector. This issue occurs when you attempt to read a file from the local TfsStore, which causes the system to stop responding.
• We fixed a performance regression issue that occurs when you enable the update sequence number (USN) journal.
• We fixed an issue that fails to apply the Group Policy Object (GPO) "Do not allow compression on all NTFS Volume" in some cases.
• We fixed an issue that prevents Robocopy from retrying the file copy process.
• We fixed an issue that causes Windows to stop working and generates the error, "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL".
• We fixed a memory leak that occurs when you call WinVerifyTrust (https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/api/wintrust/nf-wintrust-winverifytrust)(). This issue occurs if verification fails for the first signature of a file that has multiple signatures.

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.526 to Beta and Release Preview Channels (http://'https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/10/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-526-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/')

This update includes the following improvements:

• We fixed an issue that occurs when Windows Server 2016 runs as a terminal server using certain cloud computing virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). As result, the servers randomly stop responding after running for a period of time. This also addresses a regression that proactively checks to ensure that the CSharedLock in rpcss.exe is set correctly to avoid a deadlock.
• We fixed an issue that might cause the time zone list in Settings to appear blank for users who are not administrators.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Windows search service and occurs when you query using the proximity operator.
• We fixed an issue that fails to show the Startup impact values in Task Manager.
• We fixed an issue that prevents ShellWindows() from returning the InternetExplorer object when iexplore.exe runs in the Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode context.
• We provided the ability to share cookies between Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode and Microsoft Edge.
• We fixed an issue that affects dialog boxes in Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode.
• We fixed an issue that causes Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode to stop working when you press the F1 key.
• We fixed an issue that causes the improper cleanup of Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) objects. This prevents session teardown and causes a session to stop responding.
• We fixed an issue that prevents printing from operating properly for some low integrity process apps.
• We introduced support for Windows Hello for Business Cloud Trust. This is a new deployment model for hybrid deployments of Windows Hello for Business. It uses the same technology and deployment steps that support on-premises single sign-on (SSO) for Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) security keys. Cloud Trust removes the public-key infrastructure (PKI) requirements for deploying Windows and simplifies the Windows Hello for Business deployment experience.
• We fixed an issue that prevents you from unloading and reloading drivers when the drivers are protected Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI).
• We fixed an issue that affects the Silent BitLocker enablement policy and might unintentionally add a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) protector.
• We fixed a reliability issue that affects the use of the Remote Desktop app to mount a client's local drive to a terminal server session.
• We fixed an issue that displays right-to-left (RTL) language text as left justified on File Explorer command menus and context menus.
• We fixed an issue that prevents you from reaching the LanguagePackManagement configuration service provider (CSP) using the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Bridge.
• We opened Microsoft Office files that are in the Start menu's recommended section in the browser. This occurs if the device does not have an appropriate Microsoft Office license and the file is stored in Microsoft OneDrive or Microsoft SharePoint. If there is a license, the file will open in the desktop app instead.
• We fixed an issue that causes a mismatch between a Remote Desktop session's keyboard and the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client when signing in.
• We added the clock and date to the taskbars of other monitors when you connect other monitors to your device.
• We added weather content to the left side of the taskbar if the taskbar is aligned in the center. When you hover over the weather, the Widgets panel will appear on the left side of the screen and will disappear when you stop hovering over the area.
• We added the ability to quickly share open application windows directly from your taskbar to a Microsoft Teams call.
• We fixed an issue that causes incorrect tooltips to appear in an empty area on the taskbar after you hover over other icons like battery, volume, or Wi-Fi.
• We fixed an issue that occurs when you try to write a service principal name (SPN) alias (such as www/FOO) and HOST/FOO already exists on another object. If the RIGHT_DS_WRITE_PROPERTY is on the SPN attribute of the colliding object, you receive an "Access Denied" error.
• We fixed an issue that disconnects Offline Files on the network drive after you restart the OS and sign in. This issue occurs if the Distributed File System (DFS) path is mapped to the network drive.
• We fixed an issue that displays the authentication dialog twice when you mount a network drive.
• We added support for hot adding and the removal of non-volatile memory (NVMe) namespaces.
• We added the ability to instantly mute and unmute a Microsoft Teams call from your taskbar. During a call, an active microphone icon will appear on the taskbar so that you can easily mute the audio without having to return to the Microsoft Teams call window.

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.588 to Beta and Release Preview Channels (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/03/15/releasing-windows-11-build-22000-588-to-beta-and-release-preview-channels/)

This update includes the following improvements:

• New! We displayed up to three high priority toast notifications simultaneously. This feature is for apps that send notifications for calls, reminders, or alarms using Windows notifications in the OS. As a result, up to four toast notifications might appear simultaneously–three high priority notifications and one normal priority notification.
  
• We fixed an issue that turns off auto-startup for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps after you upgrade the OS.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes SystemSettings.exe to stop working.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects searchindexer.exe and prevents Microsoft Outlook's offline search from returning recent emails.
  
• We fixed an issue that increases the startup time for Windows. This issue occurs because a UI thread in a networking API stops responding when a 5G wireless wide area network (WWAN) device is slow to wake up.
  
• We fixed a memory leak in the wmipicmp.dll module that causes a lot of false alarms in the System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) datacenter monitoring system.
  
• We fixed an issue that incorrectly returns the Execution Policy settings from the registry.
  
• We fixed an issue in which modern browsers fail to correctly render HTML that is generated by gpresult/h.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes an "Access denied" exception for a file during a PowerShell test for AppLocker.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the Remote Desktop Service (RDS)server to become unstable when the number of signed in users exceeds 100. This prevents you from accessing published applications using RDS on Windows Server 2019.
  
• We fixed an issue that returns an error message when you browse for a domain or organizational unit (OU). This issue occurs because of improper zeroing out of memory.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the Group Policy Management Console to stop working after you close it. The system logs Application Error Event ID 1000 and the error, 0xc0000005 (STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION); the failing module is GPOAdmin.dll.
  
• We fixed an issue that might cause the Group Policy Service to stop processing telemetry information for Group Policy Registry Preferences.
  
• We fixed a stop error (0xD1, DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) in the DirectX kernel component.
  
• We fixed an issue that might cause Kerberos.dll to stop working within the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). This occurs when LSASS processes simultaneous Service for User (S4U) user-to-user (U2U) requests for the same client user.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the Key Distribution Center (KDC) Proxy. The KDC Proxy cannot properly obtain Kerberos tickets for signing in to Key Trust Windows Hello for Business.
  
• We added support for Microsoft Account (MSA) Pass-through scenarios in Azure Active Directory(AAD) Web Account Manager (WAM).
  
• We fixed an issue that logs Event ID 37 during certain password change scenarios, including failover cluster name object (CNO) or virtual computer object (VCO) password changes.
  
• We fixed an issue that prevents the User Account Control (UAC) dialog from correctly showing the application that is requesting elevated privileges.
  
• We fixed an issue that might cause a Microsoft OneDrive file to lose focus after you rename it and press the Enter key.
  
• We returned the corresponding Settings page when you search for the word widgets.
  
• We fixed an issue that prevents Event 4739 from displaying the new values of certain attributes after a policy change.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes the Move-ADObject command to fail when you move computer accounts across domains. The error message is, "Multiple values were specified for an attribute that can have only one value".
  
• We fixed an issue that prevents you from accessing Server Message Block (SMB) shares using an IP Address when SMB hardening is enabled.
  
• We fixed an issue that causes stop error 0x1E in the SMB Server (srv2.sys).
  
• We fixed an issue that causes a mismatch between NetBIOS and DNS Active Directory domain names when you create a cluster.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22581 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/03/23/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22581/)

Build 22581 is also being flighted to Windows Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels. Now that the Dev and Beta Channels are receiving the same builds, the limited window has opened for Insiders to switch channels if desired. Please read the details in the blog post about the limited window to switch channels and what happens when the window closes.

Changes and Improvements:

[General]

• As described in our blog post here (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/03/whats-coming-for-the-windows-insider-program-in-2022/), Windows Insiders who use the Dev Channel may get to try out new ideas, longer lead features, and experiences that may never get released. In this build, a limited set of Insiders will see the first of these experimental features as we explore additional ways to help people discover and get quick access to content that they care about on the web with the Windows search box. If you see some of these concepts, be sure to let us know what you think via Feedback Hub (Win + F) and choose category Desktop Environment > Search.
  

[Taskbar]

• The tablet-optimized taskbar feature which began rolling out with Build 22563 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22563/) is now available to all Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels. As a reminder, this feature only works on devices that can be used as tablets. It does not work on laptops or desktop PCs.
  
• Several fixes to taskbar such as the top border line now extending across the entire taskbar will be seen for everyone regardless of device type.
  
• Keyboard focus and mouse hover for Win32 system tray icons and the "Show hidden icons" flyout have been updated to match the rest of the visual style of the taskbar. You may also notice that drag-and-drop is no longer supported to pin/unpin these items — you can show/hide these icons using by right clicking on the taskbar and choosing "Taskbar settings". We also introduced an optional setting to hide the "show hidden icons" button completely, supporting users who want a simpler taskbar.
  

[Settings]

• In Build 22557 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22557/), we introduced new links in Settings to help customers give their PC a second life or recycle it. These links will disappear when upgrading to the latest builds (Build 22581 and higher) and will come back later.
  

Fixes
[Taskbar]

• Made a fix for another issue causing taskbar previews to use the wrong fonts for the window title in languages other than English.
  
• Drag and drop to taskbar should now work with auto-hidden taskbars.
  
• When dragging something to pin to the taskbar, the message on the dragged item (for example, displaying an X if it's not supported) will now have rounded corners.
  
• Mitigated an issue where swiping to collapse the tablet-optimized taskbar might unexpectedly invoke the widgets board.
  

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue that was sometimes causing the search box in the top of Start to flicker.
  
• Mitigated an underlying issue where if you swiped to open the All apps list, sometimes it would think that you'd tapped one of the letter headers in the All apps list.
  
• Updated the context menu when right clicking a pinned app to say "Move to front" rather than "Move to top", so it's clearer what will happen.
  

[Focus]

• A Clock app update (version 11.2202.24.0 and higher) has rolled out that fixes the issue where the Clock app was unable to update the Windows Focus state when configuring focus sessions in the Clock app.
  

[File Explorer]

• Fixed a few cases where icons were missing next to entries in the context menu and command bar (for example, for the Next Desktop Background entry in the context menu if you right click the desktop while using a background slideshow).
  
• Made some small adjustments to some of the icons used in the context menu and command bar, including the copy icon.
  
• Folders whose only content is other folders will now show an icon with a slip of paper to indicate there is content inside the folder instead of an empty folder icon.
  
• Addressed an underlying issue that could cause File Explorer to crash when using the Group By option.
  

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where the conversion option in the Korean IME context menu wasn't working.
  
• Addressed an issue where the IME toolbar wasn't showing/hiding correctly if you'd chosen to use the previous version of the Japanese IME.
  
• Improved reliability of showing the touch keyboard on the login screen after tapping the PIN or password field after rebooting or upgrade.
  
• Fixed an issue where some of the text in the touch keyboard was difficult to read when using the "Black and White" text input theme.
  
• Made another fix for the "size and theme" link under Settings > Time & Language > Typing > Touch Keyboard not working.
  
• Mitigated an issue where the touch keyboard was still showing the previous text candidates when you switched to voice typing.
  
• The "Press Enter" and "Press Tab" commands should be working when using voice typing for Chinese (Traditional) now.
  
• Fixed an issue where the 3 or 4 finger touchpad gesture for adjusting your audio volume level wasn't working with certain paired Bluetooth audio devices.
  

[Settings]

• Changes in Sounds to Program Events (for example, turning certain system sounds off) should persist on upgrade going forward.
  
• Improved visibility of the battery icon in the Bluetooth section of Quick Settings when a contrast mode was enabled.
  

[Windowing]

• If you set keyboard focus to Desktops in Task View, the border shown around the thumbnails will now have rounded corners.
  
• Fixed an issue where hovering over the Task View icon on secondary monitors wouldn't bring up the Desktops flyout when using the Arabic or Hebrew display language.
  
• Fixed an issue where if you selected one of the Microsoft Edge tabs displayed in snap assist, the window would animate in from the wrong place.
  
• Snap layouts should now minimize properly if you drag a window through the corner of snap layouts.
  
• Fixed an issue where snap layouts would unexpectedly immediately display while dragging a window instead of just showing a hint for Insiders with an Arabic or Hebrew display language.
  
• Addressed an issue where rotating your tablet before the previous screen rotation animation had finished would cause the rotation animation to abruptly cut out.
  
• Mitigated an issue where using the 3-finger touch gesture to minimize all apps quickly could result in windows getting stuck in a shrunken state.
  
• Reduced the size of the area above a notification where clicks weren't being passed through to the underlying window so it's the same sized area as the side of the notification.
  
• Mitigated an issue leading to issues dragging the title bar of a maximized window with touch.
  
• Fixed an issue where if the Open or Save dialog was open in an app, and you used ALT + Tab to switch away from the app and then back, keyboard focus might get lost.
  

[Voice access]

• Fixed an issue that was causing voice access to crash when using commands to capitalize text in Office apps.
  

[Narrator]

• Narrator will now correctly tell you if there is an image in table cells in Office apps.
  
• When Narrator is reading with scan mode in Microsoft Edge, it will no longer stop reading when getting to some embedded links and buttons in the middle of text, like on nytimes.com.
  

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where tooltips did not accurately display the preferred visual setting when Task Manager is configured for dark mode.
  
• Fixed an issue where Task Manager wasn't populating the details of the Status column in the Startup Apps page.
  

[Other]

• Fixed an issue that was causing the volume flyout that appears from using your hardware keys to be stuck on screen.
  
• Mitigated an issue that could result in explorer.exe getting stuck and not fully initializing during first login.
  
• Fixed a few more issues impacting explorer.exe reliability.
  

UPDATE 3/25: We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 22581.100 (KB5013283). This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Dev and Beta Channels.

UPDATE 3/29: We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 22581.200 (KB5013296). This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Dev and Beta Channels.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22593 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/04/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22593/)

Build 22593 is being offered to both the Beta and Dev Channels.  In addition, Insiders still have the option to switch channels if they wish.

Changes and Improvements:

[General]

• [REMINDER] As described in our in our blog post here (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/03/whats-coming-for-the-windows-insider-program-in-2022/), Windows Insiders who use the Dev Channel may get to try out new ideas, longer lead features, and experiences that may never get released. In this build, a limited set of Insiders will see the first of these experimental features as we explore additional ways to help people discover and get quick access to content they care about on the web with the Windows search box. If you see some of these concepts, be sure to let us know what you think via Feedback Hub (Win + F) and choose category Desktop Environment > Search.
  
• Updated WIN + X so that if Windows Terminal is installed the menu will include an entry for Terminal, and in cases where Windows Terminal is uninstalled it will display Windows PowerShell.
  

[File Explorer]

• The default homepage of File Explorer is now called Home. The name Quick access has been repurposed for the pinned/frequent folders section and Pinned files is now called Favorites to align with Office and OneDrive.
  

• Recent and pinned files displayed in Home are now searchable using the search box in File Explorer even if they are not local files, so you can find Office files recently shared with you.
  

[Input]

• Microsoft Journal is now pinned by default on the Pen menu. If you don't have the app installed, it will be installed from the Microsoft Store if chosen on the Pen menu.
  

• If you press WIN + Z to open snap layouts, all the layouts will now show associated numbers, so you can quickly use the number keys to select the desired layout.
  

[Focus]

• Added 5-minute increments for everything under a half hour to focus session length options.
  

[Windows Security]

• Memory integrity is a feature in Windows 11 designed to prevent attacks from inserting malicious code into high-security processes. This feature can be found in Windows Security under Device Security > Core isolation. In the most recent Insider Preview builds, we will notify the user that this feature is currently turned off so that action can be taken for the user to turn it back on so that their device is as secure as possible against malicious attacks.
  

[Input]

• Updated the ADLaM keyboard layout to add access to brackets and ADLaM Hamza. To access these:
  
  
  
  • Right Alt + \ will now input »
    
  • Right Alt + | will now input «
    
  • Right Alt + Shift + [ will now input {
    
  • Right Alt + Shift + ] will now input }
    
  • Ctrl + Shift + ; will now input the Hamza character
    
• Updated the Pashto keyboard layout so that ې and ئ are now directly accessible on the keyboard. Accessing ظ and ط is now done by holding Shift and pressing the aforementioned letters, respectively.
  

Fixes
[General]

• Fixed a few more issues impacting explorer.exe reliability in recent flights.
  

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue where app icons were unexpectedly animating in from the upper left when launching a new app.
  
• Improved the performance of rearranging taskbar icons.
  
• Addressed an issue in the previous flight leading to duplicate app icons after closing and re-opening an app.
  
• If you have a lot of apps open, the icons shouldn't overlap the date and time on your secondary monitors anymore.
  
• Taskbar will no longer disappear when you enter search over a full screen window.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing icon spacing to invert so that it was large when it should be small and vice versa when switching in and out of the tablet-optimized taskbar.
  
• Tablet-optimized taskbar will now stay visible over full screen apps when expanded and only hide when you collapse it.
  
• If you have multiple keyboards for your current language, the input indicator will now only show one row of text when the tablet-optimized taskbar is in a collapsed state, so that it doesn't get clipped.
  
• Fixed a crash that was causing taskbar to get stuck in the tablet-optimized taskbar view.
  
• Settings will now remember your taskbar's auto-hide setting more consistently.
  
• Mitigated an issue where some app icons in the system tray which were expected to flash weren't doing that.
  
• Fixed an issue causing system tray icons to get stuck there even after you closed the application.
  
• Made a fix for an issue where some mouse move events weren't being passed to apps for icons in the system tray.
  
• Addressed an issue leading to a decrease in Notification Center launch reliability in recent flights.
  
• Mitigated an issue causing the Notification Center and its context to sometimes show the wrong color text for the system's theme, making it unreadable.
  
• Updated the names of some of the months in the Simplified and Traditional Chinese lunar calendar to be more accurate.
  

[Start menu]

• Updated the design of the folders in Start so that they're a little bigger, making it easier to see the app icons highlighted within the folder without having to open it.
  
• Fixed an issue where if you created a folder in Start in the same position as a deleted folder, it would show the old name.
  
• If you tab into naming a folder in Start with your keyboard, you can now tab back out instead of having to hit Esc.
  
• Fixed an issue where when using the keyboard to select options following WIN + X didn't work. And dismissing WIN + X should be more consistent now.
  
• Fixed an issue where the prompt wasn't coming to the front when launching Windows Terminal as an admin from Start's right-click context menu (WIN + X).
  
• The search icon in the taskbar should no longer unexpectedly flash when closing the Start menu.
  

[Search]

• Made some improvements to help with search indexer thread and memory usage for users with a very high number of indexed items.
  
• Fixed an issue impacting search reliability (where you would type into the search window or Start and nothing would happen) in recent flights.
  
• Made another fix to help address an issue where the search searches flyout could get stuck on the screen in a transparent area.
  

[File Explorer]

• Improved performance of loading Home in File Explorer.
  
• Fixed a scaling issue where the context menu could be an unexpected size when invoking it on systems with mixed DPI monitors.
  
• Addressed an issue where the Show More Options entry in the context menu wasn't working for items in File Explorer's navigation pane (for example, if you were to right click on This PC).
  
• Did some work to help reduce the chance you will see "Loading" for app entries in the context menu.
  
• Fixed an issue which was causing the "Open in Windows Terminal" context menu option to be unexpectedly missing for secondary users in some cases.
  
• Opening suggested results shown while entering search terms in File Explorer's search box should now work as expected.
  
• Mitigated an underlying issue leading to the address bar being inaccessible in certain cases.
  
• Mitigated an issue leading to increased launch time for certain file types in the previous flight.
  

[Widgets]

• We fixed the issue where sometimes when pinning from the Feed, the pinned widget is placed at the top instead of below other pinned widgets.
  
• We fixed the issue where after rearranging widgets in the widgets board, some users experience problems with widgets in the pinned section rendering incorrectly.
  

[Input]

• Fixed an issue preventing several input UI surfaces from displaying following explorer.exe crashes in recent flights – this included the emoji panel, candidate windows, clipboard history, and the touch keyboard.
  
• Mitigated an issue where Narrator was silent when launching the emoji panel in certain cases, for example if the search box wasn't displayed.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing custom theme changes in Settings > Personalization > Text input to not save properly sometimes.
  
• Addressed a few more color issues with the touch keyboard, including where after changing from dark to light mode, the touch keyboard might end up with a mix of dark and light.
  
• Updated the touch keyboard button so that pressing it always shows the touch keyboard, rather than hiding it if it's visible.
  
• Returned the Backspace key to the touch keyboard's small layout when using Chinese (Traditional).
  
• Improved reliability of launching the touch keyboard on the login screen.
  
• You should be able to use the Japanese IME's context menu on the login screen to change conversion mode now.
  
• Fixed an issue where the Chinese (Traditional) IMEs were only showing 5 suggested associated phrases when they should have been showing 9.
  
• Fixed an issue where if you'd set a custom background image under Settings > Personalization > Text Input, the preview wouldn't show how it looked in the candidate window for Chinese (Simplified).
  
• Addressed a rendering issue with the corners of the IME toolbar.
  
• Fixed an issue where the IME toolbar wasn't hiding and showing correctly when using the previous version of the Japanese IME.
  
• Improved voice typing reliability.
  
• Updated voice typing error message "Voice typing is limited on this app" to be "Some voice typing features might not work in this app", so it's a little clearer that basic voice typing will still work.
  
• Fixed an issue causing some voice typing commands not to work, for example "scratch that" (刮除它) in Chinese (Simplified).
  
• Addressed an issue where the setting "Disable Touch while using Pen" under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Pen & Windows Ink would arbitrarily not take effect sometimes on first boot in recent flights.
  
• Fixed an issue causing the Get-InstalledLanguage and Install-Language PowerShell commands to unexpectedly fail with error 0x8007023E for some languages.
  

[Settings]

• If keyboard focus is on the chevron for a collapsible region on a Settings page, for example, the Snap windows section under System > Multitasking, you can now use the left and right arrows to expand and collapse the area.
  
• Fixed an issue impacting reliability of System > Power & Battery.
  
• When using the custom color picker on Personalization > Colors now, it should appear centered in the window frame and not randomly off to the side.
  
• Setting your background image fit to "fit" under Personalization > Background should no longer cause the background image preview to become a solid color.
  
• Addressed another issue that could cause Windows Spotlight to unexpectedly stop updating for a prolonged period of time.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing the Settings app to crash when going to focus settings.
  
• Fixed an issue that was letting keyboard focus go to elements in the contrast theme previews in Accessibility > Contrast Themes that you couldn't interact with.
  
• Fixed an issue where leaving the contrast themes editor in Settings by selecting the breadcrumbs would clear the dropdown selection, but the buttons were still acting as if you had a theme selected.
  
• Updated the text description for voice typing under Accessibility > Speech to make more sense when using the Japanese display language.
  
• Addressed an issue that was preventing Quick Settings from launching with its new touch gesture.
  
• Quick Settings will now show the correct icon to represent your audio output device again.
  

[Windowing]

• Mitigated an issue which could lead to explorer.exe crashes when using ALT + Tab.
  
• Fixed an issue where the keyboard focus outline in ALT + Tab sometimes was smaller than the displayed thumbnail.
  
• Addressed an underlying DWM issue which was leading to crashes when using touch gestures from the sides of the screen.
  
• Fixed a DWM crash when rotating the screen.
  
• Mitigated an issue leading to some lag when resizing two apps snapped side by side in certain cases.
  
• Fixed an issue where snap assist could unexpectedly dismiss if the initial window wouldn't fit into the selected zone size. Now we resize the snap assist regions accordingly when minimum window size of the initial snapped window is larger than the selected zone.
  
• If you invoke Task View with touch, the close buttons should no longer overlap with the window titles.
  
• Hovering your mouse over the tooltip with the Desktop's name will no longer unexpectedly make the Desktops flyout dismiss.
  
• Using drag and drop to reorder your Desktops via the Desktop flyout should no longer leave a thumbnail of the Desktop you moved stuck on the screen.
  

[Voice access]

• Fixed a crash that was impacting voice access reliability.
  
• Addressed an issue that was preventing voice access's speech models from downloading correctly.
  

[Live captions]

• Addressed an underlying issue leading to live captions showing a download error, even though the download had actually completed successfully.
  
• Live captions will now remember your chosen settings for position across sessions.
  
• Mitigated an issue where the live captions position changed to floating when entering full screen, but the settings incorrectly showed the last position still.
  
• Removed the live captions notification about audio playing from multiple apps as it was popping up repeatedly during usage.
  
• The border of the live captions window will now match the style of all other borders in contrast themes.
  

[Narrator]

• We fixed the issue that was causing natural voices to break up sporadically in recent builds.
  
• Narrator will now read out the word minutes with the duration times listed in Settings for focus options.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing Narrator to read dialog buttons incorrectly in scan mode.
  

[Task Manager]

• Removed backplate (colored square) from UWP app icons were displayed in Task Manager.
  
• Mitigated an issue where the one side of the View button did not appear to do anything.
  
• Fixed an issue which was causing the real time update speed to get set to Paused on its own. Please note, if you were impacted by this, you will need to make a one-time change to set the setting back to your preferred update speed after upgrading to this build.
  

[Other]

• Mitigated an issue which was leading to a black (albeit interactable) screen when playing certain full screen games with Auto HDR enabled.
  
• Fixed a memory leak in Connected Devices Platform User Service.
  
• The volume and brightness flyouts you get when using your hardware keys will no longer show a focus window outline on top of them.
  
• If WIN + Alt + K is pressed when a supported app isn't running, the pop-up text displayed will now say "No supported apps in use for mic mute", instead of "Mic mute unavailable", so it's clearer.
  
• Addressed an issue which was leading to unexpected errors being displayed in Event Viewer when conhost.exe was activated.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22598 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/04/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22598/)

Build 22598 is being offered to both the Beta and Dev Channels.  ISOs are available and can be downloaded here (https://aka.ms/wipISO).

Changes and Improvements:

[General]

• We are now offering new builds to Windows Insiders in China on Lenovo PCs starting with Build 22598. These users should connect to the internet for a minimum of 15 minutes to allow the Lenovo PC Manager to auto update to the latest version (version 5.0.0.3292 or later) to receive an important fix with the app.
  
• We are trying out auto-launching of the Get Started app with some Windows Insiders after upgrade to help people get started with their PC.
  
• [REMINDER] As described in our in our blog post here (https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.windows.com%2Fwindows-insider%2F2022%2F02%2F03%2Fwhats-coming-for-the-windows-insider-program-in-2022%2F&data=04%7C01%7Ckybeck%40microsoft.com%7C8aa5f1de41aa40af3f8008da092603ae%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C0%7C0%7C637832356142972087%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=2rtpCZE1ANeGvtoypKX1A0Z6Oz%2BGdMFzqy%2FMYYQR0R0%3D&reserved=0), Windows Insiders who use the Dev Channel may get to try out new ideas, longer lead features, and experiences that may never get released. In this build, a limited set of Insiders will see the first of these experimental features as we explore additional ways to help people discover and get quick access to content they care about on the web with the Windows search box. If you see some of these concepts, be sure to let us know what you think via Feedback Hub (Win + F) and choose category Desktop Environment > Search.
  

[Windows Spotlight]

• We are trying out Windows Spotlight on desktop is on by as the default background for new devices (clean installs using the ISO) and for upgrades where the background the Windows 11 default. We are trying this experience out with a limited number of Windows Insiders at first.
  
• We are also trying out displaying 4K desktop backgrounds in Windows Spotlight. We are also trying this experience out with a limited number of Windows Insiders at first.
  

[Taskbar]

• Updated the tooltip on the volume icon to tell you when you're using spatial sound.
  

Fixes

[General]

• Devices using Windows Information Protection (https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fwindows%2Fsecurity%2Finformation-protection%2Fwindows-information-protection%2Fprotect-enterprise-data-using-wip&data=05%7C01%7Cbleblanc%40microsoft.com%7C6448d8453e1c40271caa08da1692f534%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C0%7C0%7C637847117685119439%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=O7aoUFPTm1opfNqQoofxGPzQ2B4GWydBLtqGvNSGABA%3D&reserved=0) (formerly EDP) policies can now access controlled data via protected apps such as Outlook, Word, Microsoft Edge, etc. as expected.
  

[Taskbar]

• We fixed an issue where if you used keyboard focus on taskbar, hovers like previews would stay up during all taskbar interactions.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing taskbar badges to come back after explorer.exe crashes even if you had them turned off in Settings.
  
• Made a fix for an issue where some mouse move events weren't being passed to apps for icons in the system tray.
  
• Fixed an issue where hovering over some app icons in the system tray wasn't showing previews or tooltips.
  
• App icons in the system tray should now be showing more reliably when opened again in this build.
  
• Fixed an issue that was delaying or preventing the show hidden icons flyout from opening.
  
• Fixed an issue where Chinese characters weren't displaying in the taskbar calendar when the Lunar calendar was turned on.
  
• Addressed an issue where the visual indicator around an app icon when sharing a window might not go away once you'd stopped sharing.
  

[Start menu]

• We fixed a crash when selecting the More button in Start's Recommended section.
  
• Addressed an underlying issue which could lead to Start crashing on launch when invoked with a gesture.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing the buttons and labels in Start to be the wrong colors while using contrast themes.
  
• Addressed an issue where if you swiped to scroll the contents of a folder in the pinned section of Start, it would unexpectedly close Start.
  

[File Explorer]

• Addressed an issue which was causing the context menu to not render completely sometimes and be transparent.
  

[Input]

• Improved the performance of launching the touch keyboard on the login screen.
  
• Fixed an issue where if you had selected text with touch in certain apps like Settings, the backspace key in the touch keyboard would have to be tapped twice for it to delete.
  
• Voice typing should no longer stop responding if you repeatedly press WIN + H.
  
• Fixed an issue for people with a large number of input methods, where the currently selected one might not be in view when you opened the input switcher.
  
• Fixed the link at the bottom of the Chinese (Simplified) IME appearance settings so it points to Settings > Personalization > Text Input.
  
• Addressed an issue where the emoji panel's background image and color might not be rendered correctly after using options in Settings > Personalization > Text Input.
  

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue where high DPI options in the Compatibility tab of the properties for an executable weren't working.
  
• Narrator should now read the view options we added in Settings > Apps > Installed apps
  

[Windowing]

• Returned the missing animation when pressing WIN + D or clicking the Show Desktop button.
  
• We addressed an issue when using snap layouts with touch which could result in an acrylic sheet getting stuck on top of the window.
  
• The thumbnails in Task View should no longer be inverted when using Hebrew or Arabic display languages.
  
• Fixed an explorer.exe crash when invoking Task View.
  
• If you have a lot of windows open, they should no longer become superimposed on top of Desktops in Task View.
  
• Fixed an issue when using ALT + Tab with a screen reader, where if you ALT + Tabbed back to certain app windows, focus would be set to a pane within the window rather than the whole window.
  
• Fixed an underlying issue where accented colored title bars (when enabled) for certain apps and File Explorer were only displaying when the windows were maximized.
  
• Mitigated a rare issue that could lead to the system hanging when changing the resolution sometimes in certain games.
  
• Addressed an issue causing white pixels in the corners of some apps when using dark mode.
  
• Did some work to address an issue where certain app windows wouldn't move to the expected area after selecting them using snap assist.
  
• Fixed a glitch in the animation when using snap layouts at the top of the screen to snap windows.
  

[Live captions]

• Fixed an issue where the very top of maximized apps (e.g., title bar window management buttons) couldn't be reached with touch while live captions were positioned at the top.
  
• Live captions will now tell you when it's done downloading and ready to caption.
  

[Task Manager]

• Mitigated an issue causing the Performance page CPU graph to be colored as if Show Kernel Times was enabled even though it wasn't.
  
• Did some work to further improve Task Manager reliability.
  
• Added access key support for Run New Task (ALT + N), End Task (ALT + E), Efficiency Mode (ALT + V), and other buttons on each page. If you press ALT, the letters will display next to the button.
  
• With a process selected, pressing the Delete key will now end the process like it used to.
  
• CTRL + Tab and CTRL + Shift + Tab will now cycle through the pages in Task Manager.
  
• Fixed an issue where the memory composition graph was blank instead of filed in with the appropriate color.
  
• Mitigated an issue leading to the GPU graph on the performance tab not being displayed in some cases.
  
• The icons in the status column of the Processes page are no longer touching the side of the column.
  
• Fixed an issue where "Efficiency mode" was missing status column of the Users page.
  

[WSL]

• Fixed an issue that would prevent WSL2 from mounting the host file system on ARM64.
  

[Other]

• Fixed an issue from the previous flight where the acrylic might not extend across the entire login screen.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing the volume and brightness keys that appear when your use your hardware keys to be cut off in the middle.
  
• Running powercfg /query should work now when launched from syswow64 or from a 32-bit process.
  
• Fixed an apostrophe that wasn't rendering correctly in the text when doing an offline scan from the Windows Security app.
  
• Removed an extra "be" in the text describing Smart Account Control in the Windows Security app.
  
• Fixed an issue for certain language which could lead to question marks being displayed in the place of some of the text when upgrading to a new build.
  
• If you have increased the text size under Settings > Accessibility > Text Size and launch setup from a Windows ISO while booted into your currently installed OS, the text displayed in the setup window will now be increased to match your preferences.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22598 | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/04/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22598/)

UPDATE 4/15: We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 22598.100 (KB5014100). This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Dev and Beta Channels.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22598 | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/04/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22598/)

UPDATE 4/19: We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 22598.200 (KB5014105). This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Dev and Beta Channels.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22610 | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/04/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22610/)

See the blog post for information about new group policies for IT administrators and an update to the Family Safety Widget.

Changes and Improvements:

[General]

• Windows 11 Home edition Dev and Beta Channel builds no longer enable the SMB1 client by default. If you have installed SMB1 manually or upgraded from a previous version of Windows where SMB1 was installed, upgrading to the latest Dev and Beta Channel build will not remove SMB1. For more information, check out this blog post here (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/storage-at-microsoft/smb1-now-disabled-by-default-for-windows-11-home-insiders-builds/ba-p/3289473).
  
• We have updated the design of the battery icon on the Lock screen to be consistent with the one in the taskbar.
  
• Battery icon on the Lock screen matches the design of the battery icon on the taskbar.
  
• If your PC supports it, we will now show estimated battery life timing in the tooltip for the battery icon in the system tray with the most recent Insider Preview builds.
  
• The build watermark at the lower right-hand corner of the desktop is no longer present in this build. This doesn't mean we're done, and the watermark will return to Insiders in a future build.
  

[Taskbar]

• As a result of feedback from Windows Insiders, we have disabled the tablet-optimized taskbar feature that first began rolling out to Windows Insiders in Build 22563 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22563/) for now. We hope to bring this feature back in the future after further refinement of the experience. As we've mentioned previously (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/03/whats-coming-for-the-windows-insider-program-in-2022/), features we try out in the Dev or Beta Channels may not always ship.
  

[Widgets]

• The changes in Widgets that bring more dynamic content to your Widgets board announced with Build 22563 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22563/) is rolling out to more Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels.
  

[Task Manager]

• We've updated the Processes page in Task Manager so that the colors used in the heatmap are now based on your accent color. Please note in certain cases we will use the default blue accent color to ensure readability. We did a demo of this during this month's Windows Insider webcast featuring Claton Hendricks from the Task Manager Team – watch the webcast on-demand here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1gZgbUwa8).
  
• The Processes page in Task Manager now shows colors based on your accent color.

[File Explorer]

• We have updated the rename, properties, and optimize icons used in the context menu and command bar to help with discoverability and consistency.
  
• Context menu in File Explorer showing the updated icons for rename and properties.

[Settings]

• Your Phone now shows as Phone Link under Settings > Bluetooth & devices. Your Phone is now Phone Link – read the announcement here (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2022/03/31/evolving-the-connection-between-your-phone-and-your-windows-pc/).
  

[Other]

• Based on feedback from Windows Insiders, we are rolling back the change originally documented with Build 22557 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22557/) where TKIP and WEP connections were no longer allowed. These connections are allowed again starting with this build as we go back to the previous behavior where a warning is given notifying you that these are not secured connections. As a reminder, TKIP and WEP are deprecated (https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/planning/windows-10-deprecated-features) security standards and are planned for removal in a future release. We recommend updating your router or other devices to one that supports at least WPA2 (WPA3 is the current standard).
  

Fixes

[General]

• We fixed the issue causing Windows Insiders running Windows 10 who were trying to join the Dev or Beta Channels to encounter a download error code 0xc8000402 while trying to download the latest build. If you experienced this issue, please install KB5011831 (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/april-25-2022-kb5011831-os-builds-19042-1682-19043-1682-and-19044-1682-preview-fe4ff411-d25a-4185-aabb-8bc66e9dbb6c) and then try to download the latest build from either the Dev or Beta Channels. If you continue to see this issue – please file feedback in Feedback Hub.
  
• We've fixed an issue causing explorer.exe to crash repeatedly in a loop in the latest builds (and unable to successfully load) for a small percent of Insiders.
  
• Made a change to help address an issue causing some Insiders to experience a bugcheck with the error BAD_POOL_CALLER when opening Notification Center and some other actions after the last build.
  
• When opening Group Policy editor, an Administrative Template error will no longer pop up.
  
• Fixed an issue where Group Policy Editor was unexpectedly showing an error saying "mmc cannot initialize the snap-in" on ARM64 in some cases.
  

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue that was preventing Shift + Right-click on a taskbar icon from opening the expected context menu.
  
• Changing the resolution of a secondary display should no longer result in the taskbar app icons unexpectedly shifting to the right.
  
• Clicking the taskbar should close things like Quick Settings and Notification Center now if they're open.
  
• Windows and taskbar icons that were being used on a secondary monitor will now transfer correctly to your primary monitor if you unplug the secondary one.
  
• Fixed an issue that was preventing taskbar icon animations on system icons like Start, Search, and Task view.
  
• Animations will now play correctly the first time you drag and drop to taskbar.
  
• If you drag to the taskbar in a right-to-left (RTL) language, the icon will now appear on the correct side.
  
• When you're connected to Wi-Fi, the network icon in the taskbar will no longer incorrectly show as disconnected.
  
• Fixed a crash that was happening if the taskbar clock updated while transitioning to daylight savings time changes.
  
• The show hidden icons flyout will now dismiss when you click away from it again.
  
• There will no longer be an empty show hidden icons arrow showing in your system tray when you've set all your icons there to show.
  
• Fixed an issue causing Notification Center to be cut off when opened on small screens, hiding the do not disturb button.
  
• Fixed an issue for Arabic and Hebrew display languages, where the Notification Center would jump up unexpectedly when dismissed.
  
• If your microphone is in use but not your location, hovering over the microphone button in the taskbar should no longer show a location section with an empty app name in the tooltip.
  

[Start menu]

• App icons like Microsoft Edge will no longer be cut off on the bottom in Start's all apps list.
  
• If you cancel while dragging icons to create a folder in Start, they will no longer be stuck in a broken folder with just one icon.
  
• The Windows Tools entry under All apps should be visible again now.
  
• Animations of folders in the Start menu will no longer start on the first pinned app instead of where the folder is located.
  

[Search]

• We did some work to help address an issue where sometimes you couldn't search for an app you'd just installed, although it was showing in Start.
  

[File Explorer]

• Using the rename, copy, paste, delete, and other options context menu options in File Explorer or on the desktop should no longer cause explorer.exe to crash when the context menu dismisses.
  
• Right-clicking on a file now reflects the updated naming in File Explorer and shows "Add to Favorites".
  
• Right-clicking on This PC in the Open or Save As dialog's navigation pane should bring up the context menu again now.
  
• Addressed an issue believed to be the underlying cause for File Explorer freezing when selecting a large number of files in recent builds.
  
• We made some improvements to the performance of keyboard selection of images and zipped files in OneDrive folders.
  
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to freeze frequently when WSL was installed, and WSL files were opened via Home.
  
• To help with performance, when opening Home only images and videos will now show thumbnails.
  
• Updated the tooltip for the "Please sign in" button in File Explorer from "Sign in again to fix authentication issues." to "One of your accounts needs attention to show files from Office.com in Home", so that its purpose is clearer.
  
• We addressed an issue where the Sign In button in File Explorer might not work.
  
• Fixed an explorer.exe crash related to loading recently used Office files in Home.
  
• Addressed an issue where the Open option was unexpectedly showing a generic icon when right clicking on certain file types.
  
• Fixed an underlying issue believed to be the cause of some Insiders not seeing the This PC option in the "Open File Explorer to" dropdown in folder options.
  

[Input]

• Fixed a couple issues where under certain conditions the emoji panel, clipboard history, and voice typing would stop working after unlocking your PC or right after a Windows update.
  
• Fixed an issue where the text suggestions for physical keyboards might sometimes display with a transparent background.
  
• To ensure that text input is always available, if you use touch and tap a text field in OOBE, on the login screen, or in the UAC dialog, the touch keyboard will now always appear even if a physical keyboard is connected.
  
• When you lock your PC, if you have turned off "Play sounds as I type" under Settings > Time & Language > Typing > Touch keyboard, you should no longer hear key press sounds when using the touch keyboard on the login screen.
  
• Added typographic quotes as an option after a press and hold on the quote key when using the German touch keyboard layout.
  
• We did some work to address an issue where if you were using the docked touch keyboard on a tablet and tapped the text field of an app that didn't have focus, the touch keyboard might appear and immediately disappear.
  
• Improved the performance going into the listening state after launching voice typing (WIN + H).
  
• Fixed a crash when deleting letters using a strikethrough gesture in the handwriting panel.
  
• Addressed an issue where if you had unchecked "leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected" under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad, the touchpad wasn't re-enabled after connecting and disconnecting a mouse.
  
• Fixed an issue that could lead to the trail when sliding your finger around the screen being unexpectedly red or invisible in some cases.
  
• If you don't have the Chinese (Simplified) IME installed, it should no longer display as an option to customize under Settings > Personalization > Text Input > Custom Theme.
  
• If an Xbox controller is connected, using it to interact with games should no longer result in an unexpected pop-up saying, "No supported apps in use for mic mute."
  

[Widgets]

• Improved reliability of opening the widgets board on first login after an upgrade or after an app update.
  
• We did some work to help address an issue where the widgets board wouldn't light dismiss and you had to use the Esc key to close it.
  
• As some Insiders have noticed, to help make the state clearer, if the weather status on the taskbar isn't available, we will now show a greyed-out weather icon.
  
• Addressed an underlying issue leading to Widgets being missing from the taskbar and Settings after upgrading. This fix should stop future PCs from being impacted – if you are currently impacted, please try reinstalling this (http://'https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9MSSGKG348SP'), which may resolve it for you.
  

[Settings]

• Fixed the Windows Update text for English (United Kingdom) so that it will say "last checked" and not "last ticked."
  
• Addressed an underlying issue leading to not being able to activate the "Restart now" button in Windows Update when it had focus using Narrator in scan mode.
  
• Fixed an issue where if you opened the Bluetooth section of Quick Settings and went back, it could result in the scrollbar style changing in Quick Settings under certain conditions.
  
• Apps should no longer show up with the incorrect icon under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Other system tray icons.
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing the search icon in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar to be backwards and the wrong color in the Desert contrast theme.
  
• Fixed an issue preventing Quick Settings from taking touch input.
  
• Addressed an additional issue causing the media controls above Quick Settings to stay there after the media source was closed.
  
• Fixed a high hitting crash in recent flights when navigating to the page to pick a sound output option in Quick Settings.
  

[Windowing]

• Did some work to help address an issue related snap layouts at the top of the screen where a large invisible area could get stuck and would consume clicks in that area.
  
• When you drag down on the title bar of a maximized window, it should be easier to invoke snap layouts from the top of the screen now.
  
• If you have a window within a snap group that is set to display across all your Desktops, that setting should now persist if you drag and drop the snap group into a different Desktop in Task View.
  
• Fixed a couple issues leading to explorer.exe crashes when using and interacting with snap.
  
• Fixed a couple high hitting DWM crashes in recent flights.
  
• Addressed an issue where focus wasn't being properly set when using the 3-finger touchpad gesture to bring up ALT + Tab.
  
• Fixed an issue where snap assist was unexpectedly appearing when you had only a single Microsoft Edge window open and tried to snap it.
  
• Reduced the likelihood of seeing an acrylic backdrop noticeably lagging when dragging a window around.
  
• Improved the reliability of using gestures from the edge of the screen (for example to open Start menu) when using an app full screen.
  
• Addressed an issue which could cause the screen to appear frozen after using a 3 finger on screen gesture to minimize open apps on top of certain full screen apps.
  

[Narrator]

• Fixed an issue when using Narrator and your keyboard to navigate the show hidden icons panel where focus was jumping out to taskbar at the end of the icons instead of looping back to the beginning.
  
• Narrator will now start reading from the beginning of the page on Edge even if a control on the page has focus by default, like Bing's search box.
  

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an underlying issue leading to some apps not showing as suspended in Task Manager even though they should have been.
  
• Fixed an issue where expanding the child of a child process would result in the content of the Name column in Processes being significantly offset.
  
• Clicking "Show history of all processes" in settings should no longer hang or crash Task Manager.
  
• The Run New Task button should work on the Details and Services pages now.
  
• To address issues with text and UI clipping, Task Manager will no longer show accent color on the title bar.
  

[Networking]

• The issue causing internet connectivity issues for some Insiders recently when certain VPNs were connected should be addressed now.
  

[Lock screen and logging in]

• The login screen shouldn't crash anymore if you click the Power button while a contrast theme is enabled.
  
• Fixed an issue where the network icon on the login screen could become clipped if you used the text scaling option in Settings > Accessibility.
  
• Did some work to address a high hitting login screen crash.
  

[Other]

• Addressed a few issues that were preventing the accessibility flyout from showing or from selecting items in it with your mouse in the device setup experience (OOBE) for Windows 11.
  
• The accessibility flyout will no longer be empty in RTL languages in the device setup experience (OOBE).
  
• Fixed an issue that was causing notification popups to get stuck as a transparent box on the side of your screen that blocked input.
  
• Addressed an underlying issue believed to be the root cause of the system thinking you were on battery when UPS was connected recently.
  
• The keyboard shortcut to launch Quick Assist (WIN + CTRL + Q) should be working again now.
  
• Addressed an issue where some signed apps were unexpectedly blocked by Smart App Control.
  
• If you use your keyboard to control your brightness or volume level, the flyout that appears with now respect if you've turned animation effects off in Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects.
  
• Addressed an underlying issue that could result in a yellow border getting stuck around your game after taking a screenshot with the Xbox Game Bar.
  
• Fixed an underlying app registration issue leading to the Windows Security app not launching or showing a prompt saying there was no installed app for that protocol after upgrade.
  
• Made a change that should help address an issue where Insiders were seeing Windows Terminal failing to update in the Microsoft Store with error code 0x80073CFB.
  
• Fixed an issue which was causing certain apps relying on the .NET Framework to fail to launch in the last few flights.
  
• Did some work to address a leak in uxtheme.dll (http://'https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/api/uxtheme/'), leading to some performance degradation over time in certain apps.
  
• Addressed an issue causing defrag.exe to show an error saying "No such interface supported (0x80004002) recently.
  
• Fixed a bugcheck with error DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION in recent builds that Insiders might have encountered when disconnecting Bluetooth devices or other Bluetooth scenarios.
  
• Improved the reliability of connecting Bluetooth devices like Apple AirPods.
  
• Fixed an issue leading to audio not playing immediately after resuming from hibernation when certain Bluetooth headsets were connected.
  
• Addressed an issue which could lead to a bugcheck with error PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA when connecting certain USB audio devices in recent builds.
  
• Fixed a crash in the previous flight related to cdp.dll.
  
• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing the Wireless Display app to not be able to receive content in the last couple flights.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22616 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/05/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22616/)

Windows Insiders who like to game on their PCs with an Xbox Controller on the latest Insider Preview builds in the Dev and Beta Channels can try out the new controller bar feature – see this blog post for details (http://'https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/05/05/windows-insiders-can-now-try-out-an-early-preview-of-controller-bar/').

Note: The window for switching from Dev Channel to the Beta Channel is closing soon.  See the blog post for instructions if you need assistance making the change.

Changes and Improvements:

[General]

• [REMINDER] The build watermark at the lower right-hand corner of the desktop is no longer present in this build. This doesn't mean we're done, and the watermark will return to Insiders in a future build.
  

[Taskbar]

• As a result of feedback from Windows Insiders, we have decided to disable the changes to the system tray introduced in Build 22581 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/03/23/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22581/) for now. The system tray and specifically the "Show hidden icons" flyout will now function the same way it did with the original release of Windows 11, including the ability to rearrange icons in the flyout. We hope to bring these changes back in the future after further refinement of the experience by addressing some of the feedback we have received. As we've mentioned previously (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/03/whats-coming-for-the-windows-insider-program-in-2022/), features we try out in the Dev or Beta Channels may not always ship.
  

[Other]

• Previously (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22557/), we shared new requirements for internet and MSA on the Windows 11 Pro edition. Today, Windows Insiders on Windows 11 Pro edition will now require MSA and internet connectivity during the initial device setup (OOBE) only when setting up for personal use. If you choose to setup device for Work or School, there is no change, and it will work the same way as before.
  

Fixes

[General]

• We fixed an issue where performance and reliability of explorer.exe could degrade over time, eventually resulting in a bugcheck, in the recent Insider Preview builds.
  

[Taskbar]

• We fixed the issue causing the "Show hidden icons" flyout in the system tray to disappear completely for some Insiders, even though it shows as "on" under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and "Other system tray icons".
  

[Input]

• Fixed an issue which was leading to some apps crashing when pressing the half-width/full-width key while using the Japanese IME.
  

[Widgets]

• Fixed an issue where if you tried to open the widgets board using a gesture from the side of the screen, you would see the widgets board open and then immediately close.
  
• Fixed an issue where users were unable to use the swipe functionality to reliably invoke Widgets.
  

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue that could cause Quick Settings to crash when projecting to certain wireless devices.
  

[Windowing]

• Addressed an issue where using the 3-finger on-screen touch gesture for minimizing could cause animations to stop working across the system.
  
• Fixed an issue impacting DWM reliability in recent flights.
  
• Fixed an issue which was causing some apps like Settings to open blank if they were re-opened an upgrade or reboot.
  

[Task Manager]

• We fixed an issue that was causing the process list to fluctuate between Apps & Background groups when clicking on Efficiency mode from the command bar
  

[Windows Sandbox]

• Fixed an underlying issue which could cause some text in Windows Sandbox to appear as black boxes in certain cases.
  

[Other]

• Fixed an issue leading to Windows Update notifications showing they were sent from "Windows.SystemToast.WindowsUpdate.MoNotification" instead of "Windows Update".
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22616

(https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/05/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22616/)UPDATE 5/10: We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 22616.100 (KB5014650). This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline for builds in the Dev and Beta Channels.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/05/11/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621/)

ISOs are available for this build and can be downloaded here (https://aka.ms/wipISO).

Changes and Improvements

[General]

• [REMINDER] The build watermark at the lower right-hand corner of the desktop is no longer present in this build. This doesn't mean we're done, and the watermark will return to Insiders in a future build.

Fixes

[General]

• Updated the underlying speech platform to improve voice activity detection for voice access, live captions, and voice typing, as well as address some issues with how punctuation is recognized.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue leading to Insiders seeing error 0x800703E6 when copying files from Google Drive.
• Fixed an issue where if you had ever opened the context menu, doing CTRL + ALT + DEL and cancelling would lead to explorer.exe crashing.

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue related to loading the system tray icons in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar which could cause Settings to crash when opening that page recently. This issue may have also led to some explorer.exe crashes for impacted Insiders.

[Windows Security]

• Fixed an issue which could result in Smart App Control unexpectedly blocking correctly signed applications.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.160 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/06/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-160/)

Beginning to roll out a new to File Explorer with tabs and navigation updates.  See the blog post for details and file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File Explorer.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.290 & 22622.290 | Windows Insider Blog (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/07/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-290-22622-290/)

Two separate builds are being released to the Beta Channel:  Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.290 and Build 22622.290 (KB5014959).  Build 22622.290 has new features rolling out and Build 22621.290 has new features off by default.

As explained in the blog post:

Quote
This approach will help us validate our ability to release updates with features turned off by default. It will also allow us to have greater insight into the impact of enabling new features. By comparing feedback and usage data between Insiders in these two groups, we will get to see if a feature is causing issues with reliability, for example. Based on this insight, it will help us make decisions on whether to make new features available for more Insiders by increasing their rollout or, in some cases, disable a feature to address bugs. The goal is to use the comparison data to ensure the best possible experience as we try out new features and experience with Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel.

Insiders who are in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

The new features being rolled out are as follows:

Suggested Actions:  For example, when you copy a date, time, or phone number, Windows will suggest actions relevant to you such as creating calendar events or making phone calls with your favorite apps. This feature is currently only available to Windows Insiders in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment  > Suggested actions on copy.

Bringing OneDrive storage alert and subscription management in Settings: This feature is the enabling OneDrive Standalone 100GB subscriptions in the Accounts page within Settings, similar to the Microsoft 365 subscriptions. This will allow you to view your recurring billing, payment method, and OneDrive storage usage within Windows 11. Additionally, if you are close to or above your OneDrive storage limit, you will be informed on the same page.  FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Settings > Settings Homepage.

Fixes in Build 22622.290

[File Explorer]

• Middle clicking a folder in the body of File Explorer will now open it in a new tab.
• The row of tabs should now be included in the keyboard focus cycle when pressing Tab or F6. Once focus is in the tab row, you can use left or right arrow keys to navigate through them.
• Fixed an issue where the tab order when using CTRL + Tab would be wrong if you'd rearranged the tabs in File Explorer.
• Made some adjustments for when "Display the full path in title bar" is enabled, to ensure that the folder name is always visible.
• Fixed a scaling issue which could result in the tabs being unexpectedly large.
• Right clicking a tab and then clicking somewhere else in File Explorer should dismiss the context menu more reliably now.

Fixes included for BOTH Build 22621.290 & Build 22622.290

This update includes the following improvements:

• New! We added Server Message Block (SMB) redirector (RDR) specific public File System Control (FSCTL) code FSCTL_LMR_QUERY_INFO.
• New! We added support for Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 in Windows client and server Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) implementations.
• We updated the Remove-Item cmdlet to properly interact with Microsoft OneDrive folders
• We enabled the InternetExplorerModeEnableSavePageAs Group Policy. For more information, see Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation (http://'https://docs.microsoft.com/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies#internetexplorermodeenablesavepageas').
• We fixed an issue that causes the Take Photo button to disappear when you use a common file dialog to open the camera.
• We fixed an issue that prevents devices from receiving an offer from Windows Update for the same extension driver when that extension driver is already installed without the base driver.
• We fixed an issue that causes install from media (IFM) creation for Active Directory to fail with the error, "2101 JET_errCallbackFailed".
• We fixed an issue that occurs when the Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (LDS) resets the password for userProxy objects. The password reset fails with an error such as, "00000005: SvcErr: DSID-03380C23, problem 5003 (WILL_NOT_PERFORM), data 0".
• We enabled the InternetExplorerModeEnableSavePageAs Group Policy. For more information, see Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation (http://'https://docs.microsoft.com/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies#internetexplorermodeenablesavepageas').
• We fixed an issue that occurs when the Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS) resets the password for userProxy objects. When you try to reset someone else's password and you are authenticated using a simple bind, the password reset fails. The error is like, "00000005: SvcErr: DSID-03380C23, problem 5003 (WILL_NOT_PERFORM), data 0".
• We fixed an issue that prevents Microsoft Edge from being available in Windows Sandbox.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.436 and 22622.436

• Build 22622.436 = New features rolling out.
• Build 22621.436 = New features off by default.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

What's new in 22622.436

Improved Nearby Sharing:  The discovery of devices under nearby share when sharing a local file from the desktop, File Explorer, Photos, Snipping Tool, Xbox, and other apps that use the built-in Windows share window has been enhanced by using UDP (Network needs to be set to private) along with Bluetooth to discover nearby devices. You will now be able to discover and share to more devices including desktop PCs.  FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File sharing.

Share Local Files to OneDrive:  When sharing a local file from the desktop, File Explorer, Photos, Snipping Tool, Xbox, and other apps that use the built-in Windows share window, you can choose OneDrive as a target to directly upload the file to OneDrive and share it further along with access control options. All this can be done right from sharing local files in File Explorer without any context switches or opening the OneDrive app.  (Please note this feature is currently only available for Microsoft accounts. A user will need to switch to their Microsoft account via the top right profile icon in the share window if logged in via AAD. AAD support will be added in a future update.)  FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File sharing.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22622.436

[Windows Terminal]

• Windows Terminal is now the default terminal in Windows 11. This means, all command line applications will open in Windows Terminal automatically (Command Prompt and PowerShell, for example). The setting for this change can be found via Settings > Privacy & security > For developers. Please note that Windows Terminal version 1.15 or greater is required for this feature.

[Input]

• You can now report animated gifs that you feel are inappropriate from the emoji panel (WIN + .)

Fixes in Build 22622.436

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where the tab order when using CTRL + Tab would be wrong if you'd rearranged the tabs in File Explorer.
• Fixed an explorer.exe crash when dragging tabs around.
• If "Show all folders" is enabled, the dividers in File Explorer's navigation pane should no longer show. With this change, it should also address the issues where dividers were unexpectedly showing in some other folder pickers.
• Opening a zipped folder in a new tab should no longer have a blank tab name.
• Removable drives should no longer unexpectedly be displayed in a section by themselves in the navigation pane, which was breaking up the section with This PC and Network.
• Fixed an issue where the add new tab button wasn't clearly visible when using Aquatic or Desert contrast themes.
• A faint line should no longer display between the current tab and the command bar.
• Updated the tooltip when hovering over a tab to suggest using CTRL + W to close the tab (rather than CTRL + F4, which didn't work).
• If focus is on the tab row, CTRL + W will no longer unexpectedly close two tabs instead of just the tab in focus.
• Fixed an issue where the tab row might unexpectedly expand vertically, covering the command bar contents.

[Start]

• Fixed a Start crash which was impacting some Insiders on Build 22622.160.

Fixes included for BOTH Build 22621.436 & Build 22622.436

This update includes the following improvements:

• We fixed an issue that prevents troubleshooters from opening.
• We fixed an issue that causes the Smart App Control to block catalog-signed files.
• We fixed an issue that might highly distort photos you take using the Camera app. This issue occurs when using certain cameras under certain low light conditions.
• We fixed an issue that throws an exception when you debug drivers using Visual Studio 2022 version 17.2 or later.
• We fixed an issue that causes the Windows profile service to fail sporadically. The failure might occur when signing in. The error message is, "gpsvc service failed to sign in. Access denied".
• We fixed an issue that prevents virtualized App-V Office applications from opening or causes them to stop responding.

[General]

• We fixed an issue resulting in a small number of Insiders in the Beta Channel experiencing cyclical crashes in Explorer.exe and other Windows UI components, making the screen look like it's flickering. Please note, this fix should stop more Insiders from being newly impacted, however if you are already impacted by this, you will need to run the following command in PowerShell to resolve it: Add-AppxPackage -Register -Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.CBS_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppxManifest.xml -DisableDevelopmentMode -ForceApplicationShutdown
• Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders on the previous Beta Channel flight to have their PCs stuck on a black screen after waking from sleep.
• Fixed an issue which would lead to losing network connectivity after turning on mobile hotspot.
• Fixed an issue causing Build 22621.290 / 22622.290 to fail to install with error 0x800f081f for some Insiders.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.440 and 22622.440

• Build 22622.440 = New features rolling out.
• Build 22621.440 = New features off by default.

As a reminder, Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

What's new in Build 22622.440

Taskbar Overflow

We're reintroducing taskbar overflow, with a newly designed experience for Windows 11. This taskbar experience has been thoughtfully crafted to offer you a more productive switching and launching experience when space is constrained. Your taskbar will automatically transition into this new overflow state when it has hit its maximum capacity. In this state, taskbar will offer an entry point to an overflow menu that allows you to view all your overflowed apps in one space.

The overflow menu will contain many of the current taskbar behaviors users are familiar with, such as supporting pinned apps, jump list, and extended UI. After invoking overflow, the menu will quietly dismiss once you click outside of it or navigate to an application.

[We are beginning to roll this feature out, so it isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Taskbar.

What's new in BOTH Build 22621.440 & Build 22622.440

Dynamic Widgets content on the taskbar

We're trying out some changes to bring more dynamic Widgets content to your taskbar. In addition to seeing live content from the weather widget, you'll also start to see live updates from the sports and finance widgets, along with breaking news alerts.

This should make it easier for you to know when something important happens related to these widgets and keep you informed of breaking news.

The content is meant to be quick and glanceable with the ability to see more inside the widgets board if you click on it. However, if you don't interact with the content update the taskbar will return to showing you the weather.

[We are beginning to roll this feature out, so it isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22622.440

[General]

• We are beginning to roll out the updated "Open with" dialog box again to align with Windows 11 design principles. The updated dialog box honors light and dark theme. We have also simplified the experience by making it possible to update your default app with just one click. Since reverting this change back in March, we've made performance improvements based on Insider feedback.

[Input]

• We have updated the U.S. English (EN-US) handwriting model to be faster and more accurate. Use the updated Handwriting Panel for ink-to-text and let us know what you think.

[Settings]

• Settings now supports managing apps which were earlier only supported from Control Panel. This includes uninstallation of apps which have inter-dependencies (e.g., Steam and gaming apps running on Steam), repair and modifying of Win32 apps.

Fixes in Build 22622.440

[General]

• Fixed an issue leading to some Insiders experiencing explorer.exe crashes when docking and undocking monitors in Build 22622.436.

[File Explorer]

• Did some work to fix a memory leak when using tabs with File Explorer.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator wasn't reading out the titles of tabs as focus moved through them.
• Fixed an issue where the preview thumbnail for File Explorer in the taskbar, ALT + Tab, and Task View might show the title of an adjacent tab and not the currently selected one.
• The add new tab button shouldn't overlap with the minimize button in the title bar when using text scaling with a lot of tabs open anymore.

[Suggested Actions]

• Fixed an issue which was leading to certain apps freezing after a copy action if Suggested Actions was enabled.
• Fixed a high hitting crash impacting Suggested Actions reliability.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.450 and 22622.450

• Build 22622.450 = New features rolling out.
• Build 22621.450 = New features off by default.

As a reminder, Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

Fixes included for BOTH Build 22621.450 & Build 22622.450
This update includes the following improvements:

• New! We enhanced Microsoft Defender for Endpoint's ability to identify and intercept ransomware and advanced attacks.
• New! We compressed a file regardless of its size if you have configured Server Message Block (SMB) Compression.
• New! We improved storage replication that occurs over low bandwidth or congested wide area networks (WAN).
• We fixed an issue that causes Windows to display tablet mode features for some devices that do not have touchscreens.
• We fixed an issue that causes some application windows to have blank sections in the Task View preview.
• We fixed an issue that occurs for some of you when you copy files from network drives. The error code is 0x80070026.
• We fixed a token leak issue in the LsapGetClientInfoEx
• We fixed an issue that, in certain cases, causes sihost.exe to use a high amount of the CPU.
• We fixed an issue that causes Microsoft Edge to stop responding when you use IE mode. This issue also prevents you from interacting with a dialog.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.575 and 22622.575

• Build 22622.575 = New features rolling out.
• Build 22621.575 = New features off by default.

As a reminder, Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

Changes and Improvements in Build 22622.575

[File Explorer]

• Middle clicking a folder in the navigation pane of File Explorer will now open it in a new tab, like clicking a folder in the body of File Explorer already does.

Fixes in Build 22622.575

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where launching File Explorer in certain ways when using dark mode (for example, from the command line) was showing the body of File Explorer unexpectedly in light mode.
• Fixed an issue where the left/right arrows in File Explorer were in light mode when you were using dark mode, causing them to not have enough contrast to show when they were enabled.
• Fixed an issue causing UI issues in File Explorer when using F11 to put File Explorer in full screen mode.
• Fixed an issue where if you drag and drop a folder into the navigation pane was sometimes unexpectedly putting the folder at the bottom of the list rather than where you'd dropped it.
• Fixed an issue where the dividers in the navigation pane were overlapping / drawing too close to text sometimes.
• Fixed an issue where the context menu when right clicking on a tab wasn't being translated.

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue where the taskbar overflow flyout wasn't showing up on the correct monitor.

[Open With]

• Fixed an issue where Narrator wasn't reading out the "New" text next to the app name in the Open With dialog.

[Suggested Actions]

• Improved date / time recognition for existing supported markets (U.S., Canada, and Mexico).

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.575 & Build 22622.575

• An app update for the issue causing Photos to crash on launch for Insiders in the Beta Channel is currently rolling out via a Microsoft Store app update.
• We fixed an issue that causes the App-V client service to leak memory when you delete App-V registry nodes.
• We fixed an issue that prevents you from opening a URL if the URL's length is more than 2084 characters. This update supports a URL of up to 8192 characters.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.586 and 22622.586 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/08/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-586-and-22622-586/)

• Build 22622.586 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.586 = New features off by default.
  

As a reminder, Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

Fixes in Build 22622.586

[General]

• We fixed an issue causing DWM crashes (leading to black flashes or content stuck on the screen) for Insiders on 22622.575.
• We fixed an issue causing SQL Server Management Studio to fail to launch for some Insiders.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue causing the left-half of the File Explorer title bar to not be draggable via mouse or touch for some Insiders.
• Selecting multiple folders and then using the context menu option to open them in a new tab will now actually do that, rather than opening the first folder in a new tab and all the others in a new window.
• We fixed an issue causing Home, Documents, Pictures, and potentially other folders to become unexpectedly duplicated in File Explorer's navigation pane or appear on the desktop.
• We fixed an explorer.exe crash which could happen when closing a newly opened File Explorer window.
• We fixed an issue where the search box background in File Explorer might be the opposite color of your current mode (for example dark in light mode).
• Fixed an issue where File Explorer would appear to open, close, and re-open before it finished drawing after being launched from certain places (for example when opening the location of a downloaded file from Microsoft Edge).
• Fixed an issue which could lead to explorer.exe crashing when File Explorer was closed.
• The up arrow should no longer be misaligned in File Explorer.
• • Removed the toolbar some people were unexpectedly seeing (with View / Edit / etc.) after the introduction of tabs in File Explorer. As part of this, the "always show menus" option in Folder Options was also removed which didn't do anything.
• Fixed an underlying explorer.exe crash which could happen when File Explorer launch was aborted, for example if you were attempting to access a network share from the Run dialog, were prompted for credentials, and then clicked cancel instead of entering them.
• Fixed an issue causing the delete key to unexpectedly not work on files in File Explorer sometimes.
• Fixed an issue which could lead to not being able to unpin Desktop, Pictures, or Documents folders from Quick access.
• Fixed an issue when dragging and dropping a folder to pin it to the navigation pane, that the line indicating where it would be inserted didn't have enough contrast in dark mode.
• Fixed an issue where the min / max / close button might not be visible in File Explorer when using a contrast theme.

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue which could lead to the taskbar overflow flyout unexpectedly appearing on the opposite side of the screen.
• Fixed an issue where the taskbar overflow flyout might appear floating away from the taskbar if you opened it after a display scaling change.
• Fixed an issue where if you right clicked an app in the taskbar and selected Close all windows, it wasn't bringing the app into the foreground anymore if it needed attention before closing (for example, if you hadn't saved the contents of a Notepad window).
• Fixed an issue where explorer.exe might crash if you attempted to rearrange app icons on the taskbar while the taskbar overflow was open.
• Fixed an issue for Insiders with at least two monitors, where if the monitors had different DPI, the taskbar overflow could appear before it was needed or end up overlapped with the date and time on the secondary monitor.

[Settings]

• Fixed a Settings crash that could happen when uninstalling certain apps.
• We fixed an issue where the buttons for changing current view in Settings > Apps > Installed apps might unexpectedly show arrows overlaid on top.

[Suggested Actions]

• Fixed an issue where when Suggested Actions was enabled, if you copied multiple items in a row to your clipboard history, some of the items might not display after you pressed WIN + V.
• Your preferred state for the Suggested Actions setting under System > Clipboard should persist upgrade going forward from this build.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.586 & Build 22622.586

• We fixed an issue where some Lenovo devices were not receiving updates as expected.
• We fixed an issue causing domain credentials to not work for some Insiders on the previous Beta Channel flight.
• We fixed an issue where the "Sync across your devices" option under Settings > System > Clipboard wouldn't stay enabled.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG). It delays or stops MDAG from opening.
• We fixed an issue that affects URLs generated by JavaScript: URLs. These URLs do not work as expected when you add them to the Favorites menu in IE mode.
• We fixed an issue that forces the IE mode tabs in a session to reload.
• We fixed an issue that affects open in IE mode.
  
• We fixed an issue that successfully opens a browser window in IE mode to display a PDF file. Later, browsing to another IE mode site within the same window fails. 40411607
• We fixed an issue that might bypass MSHTML and ActiveX rules for Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC).
• We fixed an issue that affects the SharedPC account manager. The issue stops it from deleting many accounts during cleanup.
• We fixed an issue that affects a network's static IP. The issue causes the configuration of the static IP to be inconsistent. Because of this, NetworkAdapterConfiguration() fails sporadically.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects the FindNextFileNameW() It might leak memory.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.590 and 22622.590 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/01/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-590-and-22622-590/)

• Build 22622.590 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.590 = New features off by default.
  

As a reminder, Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22622.xxx).

Fixes in Build 22622.590

[General]

• We fixed the issue causing Control Panel to not launch from the Start menu, Search or if pinned to the taskbar in the Build 22622.436 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/07/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-436-and-22622-436/).
  
• As a result of feedback from Windows Insiders, we have disabled the ability to share a local file directly to OneDrive using the built-in Windows share window that first began rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel with Build 22622.436 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/07/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-436-and-22622-436/). We hope to bring this feature back in the future after further refinement of the experience. As we've mentioned previously, features we try out in the Dev or Beta Channels may not always ship.
  

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue causing a small percentage of Insiders to experience repeated explorer.exe crashes after attempting to access certain folders on their systems in the previous Beta Channel build.
• As a one-time change to help people find their folders with the navigation pane updates, if the default folders pinned to File Explorer's navigation pane had been unpinned, they will be re-pinned after upgrading.
• Fixed a recent issue where if File Explorer was open when you switched between light and dark mode, you could end up with some unreadable text / UI showing the wrong color.
• Fixed an issue where the New / Sort / View / etc buttons in the command bar could become noticeably clipped vertically after increasing your text scaling in Accessibility Settings.
• The search box background should no longer unexpectedly have a dark background sometimes when you're using light mode.
• If you move keyboard focus to the tab row (using F6), pressing the arrow keys to move keyboard focus within the row will now include setting focus to the close button within the tab.
• If File Explorer is maximized and the taskbar is set to autohide, hovering your mouse on the bottom of the screen should now actually bring up the taskbar.
• Fixed a memory leak which was happening when closing File Explorer windows.
• Fixed a GDI objects leak when resizing the navigation pane in File Explorer, which could potentially lead to content in File Explorer not rendering correctly over time for Insiders who resized the navigation pane frequently.

[Taskbar]

• The taskbar overflow flyout should now follow your accent colour like the rest of the taskbar does when "Show accent color on Start and taskbar" is enabled under Settings > Personalization > Colors.
• The apps in the taskbar overflow flyout should now be in the correct order when using an Arabic or Hebrew display language.
• When the taskbar is center aligned and full, the widgets entry point will now collapse to a shorter width to give you a little more room on the taskbar.
• Fixed a couple of issues related to the taskbar overflow which could lead to sporadic explorer.exe crashes.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.590 & Build 22622.590

• We fixed an issue that affects cldflt.sys. A bugcheck occurs when it is used with Microsoft OneDrive.
  
• We fixed an issue that affects robocopy. Robocopy fails to set a file to the right modified time when using the /IS
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.598 and 22622.59 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-598-and-22622-598/)

• Build 22622.598 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.598 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22622.598

[Settings]

• For the time being, you will no longer be able to uninstall apps with inter-dependencies (e.g., Steam and gaming apps running on Steam) or repair Win32 apps under Settings > Apps > Installed apps. You will still be able to modify and uninstall Win32 apps without inter-dependencies.

Fixes in Build 22622.598

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue leading to a small set of Insiders with "launch folder windows in a separate process" not being able to launch File Explorer in the last two flights due to an explorer.exe crash.
• Fixed an issue where you couldn't interact with the top part of File Explorer (with the address bar) when File Explorer was full screen (F11).
• Fixed an issue where command bar items like copy, paste, and empty recycle bin may unexpectedly not be enabled when they should be.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.598 & Build 22622.598

• We fixed an issue that creates a duplicate print queue. Because of this, the original print queue stops working.
• We fixed an issue that affects Roaming User Profiles. After you sign in or sign out, some of your settings are not restored.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.601 and 22622.601 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/21/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-601-and-22622-601/)

• Build 22622.601 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.601 = New features off by default.
  

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.601 & Build 22622.601

• We fixed the issue where clicking the network icon on the Lock screen would not work and would crash the Lock screen.
• We updated the start date for daylight saving time in Chile. It will start on September 11, 2022 instead of on September 4, 2022.
• We reduced the power that the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol uses on some devices when they are in Sleep mode.
• We fixed an issue that affects Dual SIM calling. If you select no SIM on your phone and initiate a call on your device, Dual SIM functionality does not work.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.730 and 22623.730 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-730-and-22623-730/)

• Build 22623.730 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.730 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22623.730

Tablet-optimized taskbar

The touch-optimized taskbar is being re-introduced.  Note: Your taskbar will automatically transition to this optimized version when you disconnect or fold back the keyboard on your 2-in-1 device. This feature only works on devices that can be used as tablets. It does not work on laptops or desktop PCs.

As a reminder, there are two states of this taskbar: collapsed and expanded. In the collapsed state, the taskbar gets out your way, gives you more screen space, and prevents you from accidentally invoking the taskbar when you're holding your tablet. In the expanded state, the taskbar is optimized to be easier to use with touch. You can easily switch between the two states by swiping up and down on the bottom of your device.

If this feature is available, you will see a new setting at Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors called "Optimize taskbar for touch interactions when this device is used as a tablet" that will be set to on by default.

[This feature is isn't available to all Insiders as it is just beginning to roll out as feedback will be monitored before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Taskbar.

System Tray Updates

This update introduces updates to the System Tray that affect all device types — not just 2-in-1 devices. With this change, users will see a rounded focus and hover treatment on all icons in the lower right due to the continued modernization of this experience.

You may also notice that it is not possible to drag and drop or rearrange your system tray icons with this change. We heard your feedback on this change earlier this year and are working to address this in a future Insider Preview build.

[We are beginning to roll this feature out, so it isn't available to all Insiders just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > System Tray.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.730

[File Explorer]

• Home now searches more recently opened Microsoft 365 cloud files for users who are signed with their Microsoft account or have their Microsoft account connected to the profile via Settings. Home search now shows recent file activity for cloud files when in details view. Microsoft 365 cloud files can now be searched using additional file properties such as file location, extension, and activity.
• File Explorer search will now show results as you type. The full search results page will update live without needing to press enter.

Fixes in Build 22623.730

[System Tray Updates]

NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar with System Tray updates is enabled on your device. Please see above for details on the tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray updates, which is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• The taskbar should no longer flash because of changes in the system tray in non-tablet-optimized scenarios.
• Fixed an issue that was causing parts of the taskbar or its icons like search to get stuck in the wrong theme's colors when switching between light and dark themes.
• Date and time should no longer get stuck cutting off on the side of the screen from system tray changes.

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue which was causing Start menu crashes for some Insiders.
• Fixed an issue where the Start menu recommended section might unexpectedly show one column instead of two.
• If you change the app associated with a particular file type, the icon for any of those file type displayed should now update in the recommended section.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.730 & Build 22623.730

• We fixed an issue that affects some processors. This issue occurs when you turn on Hyper-V and kernel Direct Memory Access (DMA) protections.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft Japanese input method editor (IME). Text reconversion fails when you use some third-party virtual desktops.
• We fixed an issue that might cause an application to stop responding. This might occur when the input queue overflows.
• We fixed an issue that stops you from signing in to various Microsoft Office 365 apps. This affects Outlook, Word, Teams, and so on.
• We fixed an issue that affects graphics drivers that use d3d9on12.dll.
  
• We fixed issues that cause updates to the Microsoft Store to fail.
• We fixed an issue that affects the LanmanWorkstation service. It leaks memory when you mount a network drive.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Miracast UI. Sometimes it closes too soon when you cast to devices that use the DeviceObjectType:Aep.
• We fixed an issue that affects Task Manager. It stops working when you switch between light and dark mode or change the accent color.
• We fixed an issue that affects the font of three Chinese characters. When you format these characters as bold, the width size is wrong.
• We fixed an issue that affects input method editors (IME) from Microsoft and third parties. They stop working when you close the IME window. This occurs if the IME uses Windows Text Services Framework (TSF) 1.0.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode. It stops you from opening webpages. This occurs when you enable Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) and you do not configure Network Isolation policies.
• We fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge when it is in IE Mode. The titles of pop-up windows and tabs are wrong.
• We fixed an issue that stops the credential UI from displaying in IE mode.
• We fixed an issue that affects certificate mapping. When it fails, lsass.exe might stop working in schannel.dll.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.741 and 22623.741 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/10/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-741-and-22623-741/)

Build 22623.741 = New features rolling out.

Windows Insiders who are on Build 22622.601 and did not see Build 22623.730 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-730-and-22623-730/) should be able to reboot and see this new build offered.

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

Fixes in Build 22623.741

[Tablet-optimized taskbar]
NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• We fixed the issue causing the taskbar to sometimes collapse when it should be expanded if there are no running windows on the desktop.
• We fixed an issue that would occur when using the left or right edge gestures resulting in the Widgets or Notification Center (respectively) to overlap with or look truncated by the taskbar.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the tablet-optimized taskbar to crash explorer.exe if you entered the overflow flyout.

[System Tray Updates]
NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar with System Tray updates is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• Fixed an issue so that Quick Settings items can now be rearranged with touch again.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.741 & Build 22623.741

• We fixed an issue that affects Server Manager. It might reset the wrong disk when several disks have the same UniqueId.
• We fixed localization issues for some setup files. These issues might stop you from creating installation media for non-English languages.

Known issues

[General]

• We're looking into reports that audio stopped working for some Insiders in recent Beta Channel builds.

[Tablet-optimized taskbar]

• The taskbar sometimes flashes when transitioning between desktop posture and tablet posture.
• The taskbar takes longer than expected to transition to the touch-optimized version when switching between desktop posture and tablet posture.
• When using the bottom right edge gesture to see Quick Settings, the taskbar sometimes stays stuck in the expanded state, instead of dismissing to collapsed state.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.746 and 22623.746 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/10/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-746-and-22623-746/)

Build 22623.746 = New features rolling out.
Build 22621.746 = New features off by default.

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.746

[System Tray]

• This build includes preliminary support to rearrange System Tray icons for Insiders who have the System Tray updates that began rolling out with Build 22623.730 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-730-and-22623-730/). Further improvements for this experience are coming soon. As a reminder, these System Tray updates are still rolling out and are not available to all Insiders just yet. If your PC does not have these changes, your System Tray experience will remain the same as before.
  

Fixes in Build 22623.746

[Tablet-optimized taskbar]
NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• Fixed an issue where the gesture to slide the Start menu open from the bottom of the screen using touch might stop following your finger.

[System Tray Updates]
NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar with System Tray updates is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• Fixed an issue for Insiders with "automatically hide the taskbar" enabled, where right-clicking app icons in the system tray was unexpectedly making the taskbar dismiss.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.746 & Build 22623.746

• We enabled the ms-appinstaller Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to work for the DesktopAppInstaller.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Windows Search service. Indexing progress is slow when you use the service.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.870 and 22623.870 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/10/20/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-870-and-22623-870/)

• Build 22623.870 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.870 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

What's new in Build 22623.870

Narrator Braille Driver Solution
Braille devices will continue working while switching between Narrator and third-party screen readers as narrator will automatically change Braille drivers.

Prerequisites:  You must remove Narrator's current braille support if it is already installed by following the steps below:

• Open Settings.
• Go to Apps> Optional features > Installed features.
  
• Search for Accessibility – Braille support.
  
• Expand Accessibility – Braille supportand uninstall the feature.
  

Install new narrator braille support:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.
  
• Select the more button.
• Download braille from this new window by selecting the Download and installbraille button.
  
• After braille is installed, then return to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.
  
• Select the braille display driver used by your third-party screen reader from the "Braille display driver" option. This only needs to be done once.

Refer to the detailed documentation (https://sway.office.com/owCFmRgW4zv2hkmQ?ref=Link) to learn more about the braille driver solution.

Additional Resources:
Please refer to the Narrator User Guide (http://aka.ms/narratorguid') for additional information on supported braille displays (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/appendix-c-supported-braille-displays-65c40265-8aa6-9b53-9bc8-8a7a87e5dd8a#WindowsVersion=Windows_11) and [URL'https://support.microsoft.com/windows/chapter-8-using-narrator-with-braille-3e5f065b-1c9d-6eb2-ec6d-1d07c9e94b20#WindowsVersion=Windows_11]braille functionality in Narrator[/URL].

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.870

[Taskbar]

• Based on your feedback, we've added Task Manager to the context menu when right-clicking on the taskbar. We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet.
  

Fixes in Build 22623.870

[Tablet-optimized taskbar]
NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• Improved how touch gestures and their animations with the tablet-optimized taskbar work with the touch keyboard.

[System Tray Updates]
NOTE: These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar with System Tray updates is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• Fixed an issue causing explorer.exe to crash when dragging icons in the system tray.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.870 & Build 22623.870

• New! We added improvements to the Microsoft Account experience in Settings. For instance, you can manage your Microsoft One Drive subscription and related storage alerts.
  
• New! We added a new consent form for those of you enrolled in Windows Hello Face and Fingerprint. You have new choices for your biometric data. You can keep storing your biometric data or open Settings to delete the data if you have not used your face or fingerprint for authentication in over 365 days. You also have these options if you upgraded to Windows 11 and have not yet seen the new Hello Learn More Privacy text.
  
• New! We enhanced search visual treatments on the taskbar to improve discoverability. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow. Some devices might notice different visual treatments as we gather feedback. To learn more about why you might be seeing these changes, see Search for anything, anywhere (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/search-for-anything-anywhere-b14cc5bf-c92a-1e73-ea18-2845891e6cc8).
  
• We updated DriverSiPolicy.p7b for the Windows kernel vulnerable driver blocklist. This update includes drivers that are vulnerable to Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• We extended original equipment manufacturer (OEM) control of Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) enforcement for targeted hardware configurations.
• We fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD) Application Proxy connector. It cannot retrieve a Kerberos ticket on behalf of the user. The error message is, "The handle specified is invalid (0x80090301)."
• We fixed an issue that affects cached credentials for security keys and Fast Identity Online 2.0 (FIDO2) On hybrid domain-joined devices, the system removes these cached credentials.
• We fixed an issue that might cause vertical and horizontal line artifacts to appear on the screen.
• We fixed an issue that affects title bars when you use third-party tools to customize them. The title bars did not render. This update ensures that title bars render; however, we cannot guarantee all text customizations will work as before.
• We fixed an issue that might fail to sync the audio when you record game play using the Xbox Game Bar.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.875 and 22623.875 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/10/27/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-25231/)

• Build 22623.875 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.875 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.875

[Tablet-optimized taskbar]

• Tablet-optimized taskbar which began rolling out with Build 22623.730 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-730-and-22623-730/) is now available to all Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. The System Tray improvements that began rolling out with Build 22623.746 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/10/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-746-and-22623-746/) that include drag and drop is still rolling out so not all Insiders in the Beta Channel will see this right away.
  

[Taskbar]

• The change that adds Task Manager to the context menu when right-clicking on the taskbar is now available to all Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel.

Fixes in Build 22623.875

[Taskbar]

• You can now swipe up from within the taskbar with a pen to expand the tablet-optimized taskbar.

[System Tray Updates]

NOTE: These fixes for System Tray are still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.

• The show hidden icons panel in the system tray should no longer block context menus opened after it.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.875 & Build 22623.875

• New! We enhanced the backup experience when using your Microsoft Account (MSA). Some devices might notice visual treatments for this enhancement. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow.
  
• We fixed an issue that might affect some types of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) connections. These connections might have handshake failures. For developers, the affected connections are likely to send multiple frames followed by a partial frame with a size of less than 5 bytes within a single input buffer. If the connection fails, your app will receive the error, "SEC_E_ILLEGAL_MESSAGE".
• We stopped the start of daylight saving time in Jordan at the end of October 2022. The Jordan time zone will permanently shift to the UTC + 3 time zone.
• We fixed an issue that affects transparency in layered windows. This occurs when you are in High-Definition remote applications integrated locally (RAIL) mode.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.885 and 22623.885 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/11/07/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-885-and-22623-885/)

• Build 22623.885= New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.885 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22623.885

Access Windows Studio Effects from Quick Settings
Windows Studio effects (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/manage-cameras-with-camera-settings-in-windows-11-97997ed5-bb98-47b6-a13d-964106997757) can now be accessed directly from Quick Settings on the taskbar, for devices that have a supported Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This makes it quick and easy to enable and configure camera effects (Background Blur, Eye Contact, and automatic framing) and audio effects (Voice Focus). You can still access these effects in the Settings pages if desired.

Energy Recommendations
We are beginning to roll out Energy Recommendations under Settings > System > Power & Battery > Energy Recommendations. Review and apply these recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of your PC and reduce your carbon footprint.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Power and Battery > Energy Recommendations.

What's new in Build 22621.885 & 22623.885

Expanded View in Widgets
Need more space in your widgets board? Can't quite see everything at a glance? We're trying out some changes that will allow you to expand the size of your widgets board.

Use the expand and collapse button in the top right corner of the board, next to the add widgets button, to expand or collapse the size of your widgets board.

The size of your board is remembered, so if you prefer your widgets board to always show you more content and leave it expanded then that's how it will be the next time you open it.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.885

[System Tray]

• This build includes support to rearrange icons in the hidden icons flyout in the system tray that began rolling out with Build 22623.746 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/10/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-746-and-22623-746/).
  

[Input]

• We are introducing the new Tamil Anjal keyboard for the Tamil language. To add it, make sure Tamil (Singapore), Tamil (Malaysia), Tamil (Sri Lanka), or Tamil (India) is listed under Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region, and then click the "..." next to the language, select Language Options, and add Tamil Anjal (QWERTY) to the list of keyboards.
  
• This build includes support for the use of clipboard history (WIN + V) on password fields.
• Switched the touch keyboard icon option under Settings > Personalization > Taskbarfrom being a toggle to now being a dropdown where you can select Never, Always, or When no keyboard attached.
  

Fixes in Build 22623.885

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed a few explorer.exe crashes related to the recent taskbar and system tray work.
• The pin/unpin visual will now display when dragging system tray icons to any position along the system tray, and not only when hovering over the show hidden icons button.
• Fixed the issue where certain chat apps (that supported it) weren't flashing with new messages or opening a preview on hover in the system tray.
• The show hidden icons flyout in the system tray should now responsively resize with changes again to prevent empty spaces and columns.
• Fixed an issue that could result in the show hidden icons flyout appearing disconnected from the taskbar in certain cases.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the volume icon in the system tray to incorrectly show as muted.
• Fixed an issue where invoking the context menu for items in the system tray might not put the context menu in the foreground and it would get stuck behind the taskbar.

[File Explorer]

• Did some work to help improve the performance of deleting files via File Explorer (when emptying the recycle bin or using Shift + Delete) in the case where there are a large number of files being deleted at once.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.885 & Build 22623.885

• We fixed an issue that affects some modern applications. It stops them from opening.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Quick Settings.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.891 and 22623.891 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/11/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-891-and-22623-891/)

• Build 22623.891= New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.891 = New features off by default.
  

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

What's new in Build 22623.891

Task Manager Improvements
We have a set of Task Manager improvements rolling out with this build. 

Filter processes: We are bringing process filtering to Task Manager. This is the top feature request from our users to filter/search for processes. You can filter either using the binary name, PID or publisher name. The filter algorithm matches the context keyword with all possible matches and displays them on the current page. The filter is also applied as you switch between pages. You can also use the keyboard shortcut ALT + F to focus on the filter box. This is a helpful feature if you want to single out a process or a group of processes and want to take action or just monitor the performance of the filtered processes.

Better theme support: We have added the ability to use your preferred theme in Task Manager regardless of the active theme in Windows. You can set it in the setting page in Task Manager.  Task Manager now also supports themes for in-app dialogs. All dialog except for "Run new task" and Properties dialog now support themes and will adhere to either app specific theme or Windows theme. 

Improved Efficiency mode dialog: We are making it easy for you to apply Efficiency mode and offering the ability to opt-out of the confirmation dialog. You can make changes on the Efficiency mode dialog box by unchecking "Don't ask me again" or you can enable/disable it the settings for Task Manager.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Task Manager.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.891

[Input]

• We have made improvements to Emoji search for Japanese and Simplified Chinese by handling Kana/Kanji and Pinyin properly in the emoji panel.

Fixes in Build 22623.891

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• When using the bottom right edge gesture to see Quick Settings, the taskbar should no longer get stuck in the expanded state (instead of dismissing to collapsed state).
• Fixed an issue causing the do not disturb icon to disappear while in do not disturb mode.
• The new show hidden icons flyout's animation should now be consistent with other taskbar flyouts.
• The show hidden icons flyout background color should now align with your accent color if "Show accent color on Start and taskbar" is enabled in Settings > Personalization > Colors.
• Fixed multiple explorer.exe crashes impacting taskbar performance.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.891 & Build 22623.891

• New! You can back up applicable settings to your Microsoft account. You can also sync these settings on any Windows device and in Microsoft Office.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected File Explorer. It failed to localize folders.
• We fixed an issue that affected the CopyFile function. It might have sometimes returned error 317: ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND. 
  
• We fixed an issue that affected process creation. It failed to create security audits for it and other related audit events.
• We fixed an issue that affected printing in landscape mode in Microsoft Edge. The print output was incorrect. This issue occurred when you used Microsoft Defender Application Guard.
• We fixed an issue that affected Microsoft Defender when it was not the primary antivirus. Microsoft Defender failed to turn off passive mode. This issue occurred when you turn off Smart App Control (SAC).
• We added .wcx to the list of Dangerous Extensions that some app control policies do not allow.
• We fixed an issue that affected a computer account. Use of non-standard characters can stop the cleanup of the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) accounts.
• We fixed an issue that affected the Windows Firewall service. It did not start when you turned on the Override block rules option. 
• We fixed an issue that might have affected applications that run on the Windows Lock Down Policy (WLDP). They might have stopped working.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1020 and 22623.1020 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/11/28/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1020-and-22623-1020/)

• Build 22623.1020= New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1020 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

What's new in Build 22623.1020

Support for new Braille displays in Narrator
We are excited to announce support for new Braille displays and new Braille input and output languages in Narrator. Some of the new braille displays we support include: the APH Chameleon, the APH Mantis Q40, the NLS eReader and many more. Refer to the detailed documentation (//'https://sway.office.com/5bUU6cZHx1rAC6hV?ref=Link') to learn more about the new displays and languages that we support.

Prerequisites:

You must remove Narrator's current braille support if it is already installed by following the steps below:

• Open Settings.
• Go to Apps > Optional features > Installed features.
• Search for Accessibility – Braille support.
• Expand Accessibility – Braille support and uninstall the feature.

Install new narrator braille support:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.
• Select the more button.
• Download braille from this new window by selecting the Download and install braille button.
• After braille is installed, restart your computer and return to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.
• For Braille display to continue working seamlessly while switching between Narrator and third-party screen readers, select the braille display driver used by your third-party screen reader from the "Braille display driver" option. See the note below for customers that use the JAWS for Windows screen reader. This only needs to be done once. Refer to the detailed documentation (https://sway.office.com/owCFmRgW4zv2hkmQ?ref=Link)to learn more about the braille driver solution.
  

Note: If you have the JAWS for Windows screen reader installed from Freedom Scientific (http://www.freedomscientific.com/) and are using a version released in April 2022 or later along with a Focus braille display then there is no need to select the braille display as noted above.

Additional Resources:
Please refer to the Narrator User Guide (http://aka.ms/narratorguide) for additional information on braille functionality in Narrator (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/chapter-8-using-narrator-with-braille-3e5f065b-1c9d-6eb2-ec6d-1d07c9e94b20#WindowsVersion=Windows_11).

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Fixes in Build 22623.1020

[General]

• The spelling dictionary now uses a language-neutral word list and syncs across all devices that use the same Windows account (Microsoft accounts and AAD) is now available to all Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. Users can toggle this feature via Settings > Accounts > Windows backup > Remember my preferences > Language preferences.
  

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed a high hitting explorer.exe crash in the previous Beta Channel flight related to the system tray. This crash is also believed to be the cause of some Insiders experiencing a repeated explorer.exe crash when entering safe mode on that flight.
• Fixed an issue which was causing certain third-party app icons in the system tray to be unresponsive after the latest system tray changes.
• The Windows Update icon in the system tray should no longer look pixelated after changing between light and dark mode.

[Windowing]

• If you have two monitors on top of each other, the Desktops list in Task View should no longer appear to be floating in the middle of Task View.

[Task Manager]

• Moved the open navigation pane button to be under the title bar when Task Manager is wide enough to expand it inline – in doing so, addressed an issue where you couldn't drag Task Manager from the area in the title bar above the navigation pane if the navigate pane was expanded.
• The Delete key should work in the search box now.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1020 & Build 22623.1020

• New! We combined Windows Spotlight with Themes on the Personalization page. This made it easier for you to discover and turn on the Windows Spotlight feature.
  
• New! We provided the full amount of storage capacity of all your Microsoft OneDrive subscriptions. We also displayed the total storage on the Accounts page in the Settings app.
  
• New! We gave Microsoft OneDrive subscribers storage alerts on the Systems page in the Settings app. The alerts appeared when you were close to your storage limit. You could also manage your storage and purchase additional storage, if needed.
  
• New! We added the organizational messages feature. With it, third-party companies could provide content to their employees. They did not need to use the default behavior of Windows.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected protocol activation of the Settings app. The app failed to open a page under the Accounts category.
• We fixed an issue that affected certain applications. They stopped working. This occurred when you used keyboard shortcuts to change the input mode for the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME).
• We fixed an issue that affected cluster name objects (CNO) or virtual computer objects (VCO). Password reset failed. The error message was, " There was an error resetting the AD password... // 0x80070005".
• We fixed an issue that might have caused certain apps to stop responding. This occurred when you opened the Open File dialog.
• We fixed an issue that sometimes affected File Explorer when you opened a file. Because of that, there was high CPU usage.
• We fixed an issue that affected Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Automated investigation blocked live response investigations.
• We fixed an issue that affected Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) authentication hardening. We would automatically raise the authentication level for all non-anonymous activation requests from DCOM clients to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY. This occurred if the authentication level was below Packet Integrity.
• We fixed an issue that affected microphone streams that used the Listen To feature to route to the speaker endpoint. The microphone stopped working after you restarted the device.
• We fixed an issue that caused File Explorer to stop working. This occurred when you closed context menus and menu items.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1028 and 22623.1028 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/12/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1028-and-22623-1028/)

Build 22623.1028 (KB5021866) to the Beta Channel.

• Build 22623.1028= New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1028 = New features off by default.
  

December 2022 Bug Bash: Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels will have seen quests light up in the Feedback Hub covering various scenarios we're looking for feedback on. Take the opportunity to try out some new features and let us know how things are going! The Bug Bash will be running from now through to 11:59pm PST December 12th. Insiders who participate (by filing feedback or completing quests on the latest builds for their channel) will receive a badge in the Feedback Hub once the Bug Bash is over.

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

Fixes in Build 22623.1028

[General]

• Made another fix to address explorer.exe crashing repeatedly in safe mode.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue where, with the system tray design updates, auto-hiding the taskbar would stop working after you had interacted with the hidden icons flyout.
• Made a small refinement for tablet-optimized taskbar users to make it a bit easier to expand the taskbar without invoking the Start menu.
• Fixed an issue which could lead to the taskbar jump lists and preview thumbnails not appearing in the correct position for Insiders with 2-in-1 PCs.
• Improved the transition animation when switching between collapsed and expanded views of the tablet-optimized taskbar.
• The tablet-optimized taskbar should collapse more reliably now after launching an app from the Start menu.
• Fixed an explorer.exe crash when using Alt + F4 with the show hidden icons flyout in the system tray open.
• Updated the battery icon's tooltip to let you know if your device is charging slowly.
• Fixed an issue causing the top half of the media controls in Quick Settings to be missing sometimes.
• Fixed a GDI handle leak in recent builds related to receiving certain types of notifications. This could cause UI issues or explorer.exe crashes for Insiders who receive a lot of notifications.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the NVIDIA icon in the system tray to show empty notifications.

[Search]

• Fixed an issue causing search to not work in the previous flight for Insiders with Arm64 PCs.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue where the sleep recommendation on the Energy Recommendations page and Battery & Power page were sometimes inconsistent.

[Task Manager]

• Task Manager colors in light and dark should display correctly now for people with their mode set to Custom.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1028 & Build 22623.1028

• We fixed an issue that affected some games and applications. This issue was related to GPU performance debugging features. This lowered the expected game performance.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1037 and 22623.1037 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/12/15/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1037-and-22623-1037/)

Releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1037 and Build 22623.1037 (KB5021304) to the Beta Channel. This will be the last Beta Channel flight for the holidays.

• Build 22623.1037= New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1037 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (http://'https//support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384'). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

What's new in Build 22623.1037

Voice Access Improvements
Voice access is now more flexible and supports interaction with UI controls having different names such as:

• Names which contain numbers in them, for example the Calculator app where you can now directly say "Click 5".
• Names without any whitespaces between them, for example in Excel, under the Insert tab, you can interact with UI controls like "PivotTable" and "PivotChart" directly by saying "click pivot table" or "click pivot chart".
• Names with special characters in them, for example items like "Bluetooth & devices" or "Dial – up". You can now say "click Bluetooth and devices" or "click dial hyphen up" and interact with these UI controls.

We have improved the horizontal scroll experience where we now support scrolling to the extreme left and right ends of a page, and you can do a continuous scroll left/right similar to what is already present in vertical scroll experience.

We have also added support for UI controls such as spin controls, thumb control and split buttons which enables you to interact with these controls with "click" command or by using number overlays. Commands that move the cursor in a text box now execute instantly and issues with snapping commands that snap a window left or right are fixed.

In addition, we have added support for the following commands:

To do this	Say this
Close the voice access application	"Close voice access", "Exit voice access", "Quit voice access"
Open a new application	"Show [application name]" , e.g., "Show Edge"
Close an application	"Exit/Quit [application name]", e.g., "Exit Word", "Quit Edge"
Show grid overlay on your screen	"Show window grid"
Pull up the command help list	"Show command list", "Show commands"
Release a held down key	"Release"
Move cursor in a text box	"Move forward 5 characters", "Go back 2 lines", "Go to start of document", "Move to beginning of line"
Select the desired no. of characters/lines	"Select forward/backward [count] characters/lines", e.g., "Select forward 5 characters"
Delete selected text or last dictated text	"Strike that"
Paste text in a text box	"Paste here", "paste that"
Apply bold formatting to specific text	"Boldface [text]", e.g., "boldface hello world"
Capitalize selected text or last dictated text	"Cap that"

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice Access.

Changes and Improvements for BOTH Build 22621.1037 & 22623.1037

[Search on the Taskbar]

• In this build, we are continuing to try out different treatments for how search looks on the taskbar. We are excited to learn from your feedback on this, so please let us know what you think via Feedback Hub if you see the different treatments on your PC. Insiders who get this experience will have the ability to change the treatment of search on taskbar in settings under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Items.

Fixes in Build 22623.1037

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Updated the Quick Settings icons in the taskbar when using a screen reader so if you set focus to each of the icons it no longer includes the words system state and instead just says what the icon is (for example instead of "system volume state" it just says "volume").
• Fixed a few more explorer.exe crashes relating to recent taskbar changes.

[Task Manager]

• We fixed the issue causing Task Manager to become unresponsive when using the search box at the top of Task Manager.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1037 & Build 22623.1037

• We fixed a known issue that might have affected Task Manager. It might have displayed certain elements in the user interface (UI) in unexpected colors. Some parts of the UI might not have been readable. This issue might have occurred if you had "Choose your mode" set to "Custom" in the Personalization > Colors section of Settings.
• We fixed an issue that might have affected Data Protection Application Programming Interface (DPAPI) decryption. The decryption of a certificate private key might have failed. Because of that, virtual private network (VPN) and other 802.1 certificate-based authentication might have failed. This issue might have occurred when you encrypted the DPAPI master key with a wrong value.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1095 and 22623.1095 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/01/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1095-and-22623-1095/)

Releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1095 and Build 22623.1095 (KB5022364) to the Beta Channel.

• Build 22623.1095 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1095 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

Changes and Improvements in Build 22621.1095 & 22623.1095

[Start]

• The search box design in the Start menu has been updated with more rounded corners to reflect the design of the search box on the taskbar.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.1095

[General]

• Moved Quick Assist out of Windows Tools so it displays directly in the Start menu's All apps list and is easier to find.

Fixes in Build 22623.1095

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed a couple issues which could result in the top half of the taskbar getting clipped.

[Start]

• Fixed an issue where the uninstall app dialog might not display correctly in the Start menu in certain cases, making the buttons inaccessible.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue causing filtering by publisher name to not match correctly on the Processes page.
• Fixed an issue causing some services to not show in the Services page after filtering is applied.
• Fixed an issue which resulted in new processes appearing in a filtered list if launched while a filter is set.
• We fixed the issue where some dialogs were not rendering in the correct theme when applied from Task Manager Settings page.
• The issue causing the data content area of the Processes page to flash once when theme changes are applied in the Task Manager Settings page is fixed.
• The Startup apps page in Task manager will now list apps as expected.
• Fixed an issue which could cause a black flash when opening Task Manager.
• If there are no matching search results, Task Manager will now explicitly say that.
• Fixed a Task Manager crash that could happen when attempting to end certain processes.
• You can now set focus to the search box by pressing CTRL + F.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1095 & Build 22623.1095

[Search on the Taskbar]

The following known issues only apply for Windows Insiders who received one of the different treatments for how search looks on the taskbar as mentioned here this blog post (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/12/15/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1037-and-22623-1037/):

• We've made improvements to reliability to fix some crashes and the performance of animations and transitions.
• We fixed the issue causing the search box on taskbar to not render correctly and display visual artifacts.
• We fixed the issue causing layout issues with right-to-left display languages like Arabic.

[Other fixes]

• New! We changed the experience for preview .NET Framework updates. After you installed this update, all future preview (optional) .NET Framework updates would display on the Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates On that page, you could control which optional updates you wanted to install.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected Windows Server 2022 domain controllers (DC). They stopped responding when they handled Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests.
• We fixed an issue that might have occurred when the Input Method Editor (IME) was active. Applications might have stopped responding when you used the mouse and keyboard at the same time.
• We fixed an issue that affected exe. It stopped responding.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected how fast you could copy items from a network to a local computer. For some users, the copy speed was slower than expected.
• We fixed an issue that affected certain systems that had firmware Trusted Platform Modules. (TPM). This issue stopped you from using AutoPilot to set up those systems.
• We fixed a resource conflict issue between two or more threads (known as a deadlock). This deadlock affected COM+ applications.
• We fixed an issue that affected devices that were subject to Microsoft Exploit Protection Export Address Filtering (EAF) (https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/exploit-protection-reference?view=o365-worldwide). Some applications stopped responding or did not open. These included Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected exe. It randomly stopped you from signing in or signing out.
  
• We fixed an issue that might have occurred when you converted or reconverted Japanese Kanji using a multibyte character set (MBCS) app. The cursor might have moved to the wrong location when you typed.
• We fixed an issue that affected exe. It stopped responding while connecting to a RemoteApp and Desktop Connection.
  
• We fixed an issue that might have affected FindWindow() or FindWindowEx(). They might have returned the wrong window handle.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected picture files you found using search on the taskbar. This issue stopped you from opening those pictures.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1180 and 22623.1180 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/01/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1180-and-22623-1180/)

Releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1180 and Build 22623.1180 (KB5022363) to the Beta Channel.

• Build 22623.1180 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1180 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

What's new in Build 22621.1180 & 22623.1180

Updates to your cloud storage in settings for Windows 11

With today's build, the Settings app supports new visuals on your Accounts page to provide a visual overview of your cloud storage usage across Microsoft products. The new visuals include a consolidated cloud storage bar that shows your storage usage for each product and notifies you if you're running low on storage. We removed the quota bar from our subscriptions card to eliminate duplication on these visuals. Outlook attachment data will be included in your cloud storage as displayed on the visual with today's build. This change will gradually roll out starting with a small number of insiders, so not everyone will see it right away. You may see an alert regarding your storage usage; however, it does not impact your storage amount until as early as February 1st, 2023. Learn more about cloud storage here (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2204581).

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Settings > User Profile Account Settings.

Widgets Improvements

In the most recent update for Widgets, we are removing the sign-in requirement for the widgets board and making it available for all users. Now, you can now get weather updates on the taskbar, pin widgets from your favorite apps or access personalized dynamic feed without an account.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Fixes in Build 22623.1180

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue where right clicking on certain icons in the hidden icons flyout would make the flyout dismiss rather than bringing up the context menu for that icon.
• Fixed an explorer.exe crash which could happen when attempting to load certain app icons.
• Task view should no longer show behind the taskbar when using tablet-optimized taskbar options.
• Fixed an issue that was preventing taskbar from showing in Safe Mode when using the new search box option.

[Task Manager]

• When the Task Manager window size is small and the search box collapses to an icon, hovering over the icon will now show a tooltip.
• Fixed a few issues with how icons and labels were displayed when a contrast mode is enabled.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue where Braille devices were incorrectly saying there was no screen on the latest version of Braille.

Get Help app: Troubleshoot network issues
Getting disconnected from the internet hurts productivity at work and relaxation at home. To help you get back online we're replacing the Network Troubleshooter in the OS with a modern Get Help based experience. With new APIs that diagnose problems and offer specific recommendations to get online, the app targets the 30 most common connectivity issues. To use the new experience, you will need Get Help app version 10.2208.2551.0 or greater.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1245 and 22623.1245 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/01/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1245-and-22623-1245/)

Releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1245 and Build 22623.1245 (KB5022358) to the Beta Channel.

• Build 22623.1245 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1245 = New features off by default.
  

Screen recording in Snipping Tool

We are beginning to roll out screen recording in Snipping Tool (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/12/08/screen-recording-in-snipping-tool-begins-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel (version 11.2212.24.0). And as part of the most recent Snipping Tool update, we have also added the ability to pause while recording and you should notice improved performance and reliability.

Fixes in Build 22623.1245

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed a high hitting ShellExperienceHost crash related to interacting with Quick Settings.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed a few issues causing Task Manager crashes.
• You now shouldn't have to make Task Manager be as wide before the navigation pane appears.
• If text scaling has been increased, the search box shouldn't overlap with the title bar text anymore.
• Made some tweaks to address cases where text in dialogs was getting cut off when text scaling was increased.
• Fixes an issue where certain parts of the title bar couldn't be used to drag the window.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1245 & Build 22623.1245

• New! This update changed the experience for preview .NET Framework updates. After you installed this update, all future preview (optional) .NET Framework updates would be displayed on the Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates On that page, you could control which optional updates you wanted to install.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected the ReFS. The issue caused high nonpaged pool usage, which depleted system memory.
• We fixed an issue that affected copying from a network to a local drive. Copying was slower than expected for some users.
• We fixed an issue that caused Windows Server 2022 domain controllers (DC) to stop responding. This occurred when they processed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests.
• We fixed an issue that affected a Group Policy for Expanded Toasts.
• We fixed an issue that might have occurred when the Input Method Editor (IME) was active. Applications might have stopped responding when you used the mouse and keyboard at the same time.
• We fixed an issue that affected conhost.exe. It stopped responding.
  
• We fixed a resource conflict issue between two or more threads (known as a deadlock). This deadlock affected COM+ applications.
• We fixed an issue that affected devices that are subject to Microsoft Exploit Protection Export Address Filtering (EAF) (https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/exploit-protection-reference?view=o365-worldwide). Some applications stopped responding or did not open. These included Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader.
  
• We fixed an issue that stopped you from searching for a file based on the file's contents.
• We fixed an issue that affected searchindexer.exe. It randomly stopped you from signing in or signing out.
  
• We fixed an issue that might have occurred when you converted or reconverted Japanese Kanji using a multibyte character set (MBCS) app. The cursor might have moved to the wrong location when you typed.
• We changed how you enabled the Windows diagnostic data processor configuration in preparation for EU Data Boundary (https://learn.microsoft.com/privacy/eudb/eu-data-boundary-learn#eu-data-boundary-countries-and-datacenter-locations) To learn more, see Enable Windows diagnostic data processor configuration (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/privacy/configure-windows-diagnostic-data-in-your-organization#enable-windows-diagnostic-data-processor-configuration).
  
• We fixed an issue that affected mstsc.exe. It stopped responding while connecting to a RemoteApp and Desktop Connection.
  
• We fixed an issue that might have affected FindWindow() or FindWindowEx(). They might have returned the wrong window handle.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected picture files you found using search on the taskbar. This issue stopped you from opening those pictures.
• We fixed an issue that might have affected applications that used Microsoft Edge WebView2 (https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/webview2/) to display content. Applications that used WebView2 (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/widgets/) included Microsoft Office and the Widgets app. The content might have appeared blank or greyed out.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1250 and 22623.1250 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/02/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1250-and-22623-1250/)

• Build 22623.1250 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1250 = New features off by default.
  
  

Changes and Improvements in 22621.1250 & 22623.1250

[Search on the Taskbar]

• We are adding a new policy for IT administrators to manage how the search box on the taskbar appears in their organizations. See this blog post for details (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/customizing-search-on-the-windows-11-taskbar/ba-p/3730314).
  

Fixes in Build 22623.1250

[Task Manager]

• Typing F in the search box should work again now.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator wasn't reading out some of the text in dialogs.
• Dragging the window using the search box area should work now (like other areas of the title bar).
• If you do a search and then press the down arrow, keyboard focus should now move from the search box into the results.
• Fixed an issue where ending processes in the Details tab wasn't showing a confirmation dialog.
• Increasing the text scaling should no longer result in a "see more" button appearing with no contents.
• Fixed an issue where focus might not get set properly to search, leading to Narrator not saying that focus was on the search box.
• If you have a contrast theme enabled and select one of the rows in the Processes page, that row should now show that it's selected.

[Search on the Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue where the search box would randomly disappear sometimes when you clicked it (leaving a blank space on the taskbar).
• Fixed an issue where the search box was shifting to the side slightly when you clicked it.
• If you have the taskbar set to auto-hide and press the Windows key and start typing, the taskbar should no longer unexpectedly hide.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1255 and 22623.1255 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/02/09/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1255-and-22623-1255/)

• Build 22623.1255 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1255 = New features off by default.
  

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22623.xxx).

Tabs in Notepad
We are beginning to roll out tabs in Notepad  (//'https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/01/19/tabs-in-notepad-begins-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/')to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel (version 11.2301.17.0).

Fixes in Build 22623.1255

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue where Start would open behind the taskbar when entering it while using the touch keyboard.
• Fixed an issue where the taskbar would disappear when switching from Task view to a Win32 app icon through the tablet-optimized taskbar.

[Task Manager]

• Process names typed into the search box should no longer unexpected get spellchecked.
• Fixed a couple of issues with how Narrator was reading out content in Task Manager.
• Fixed an issue where the dropdowns in settings might not match your currently selected theme.
• When using search on the App History page, results should no longer suddenly disappear.
• If you open the Default Start Page dropdown in settings, clicking the Task Manager window should make the dropdown disappear now.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1325 and 22623.1325 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1325-and-22623-1325/)

• Build 22623.1325 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1325 = New features off by default.
  

What's new

New Widgets: Messenger, Spotify, Phone Link, and Game Pass
We are beginning to roll out support for new preview widgets for Messenger (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9WZDNCRF0083), Spotify (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NCBCSZSJRSB), Phone Link (https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/phone-link/9NMPJ99VJBWV), and Xbox (https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/xbox/9MV0B5HZVK9Z) (Game Pass) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. To give them a try, go to the widgets collection in the Microsoft Store and update to the latest version of the apps. Then open the widgets board and navigate to the widgets picker by clicking the "+" button at the top-right of the board to pin your widgets.

As you give these and other new widgets a try, please let us know what you think through the Widgets feedback link in the widgets picker. You should expect to see additional new widgets as more developers create and release widgets for their apps.

With the release of Windows App SDK 1.2 (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2022/11/16/whats-new-in-windows-app-sdk-1-2/) developers are now able to create widgets for their apps. Users can access these experiences on their Windows 11 widgets board in current Dev Channel Insider Preview builds. If you're interested in developing a widget, watch our latest tutorial video:  https://youtu.be/PUhYfRepxvc

New commercial policy: Enable features introduced via servicing that are off by default
This new policy enables commercial customers to enable features introduced via servicing (outside of the annual feature update) that are off by default for devices that have their Windows updates managed. Windows update managed devices are those that have their Windows updates managed via policy; whether via the cloud using Windows Update for Business or on-premises with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Learn more about this new policy here (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/commercial-control-for-continuous-innovation/ba-p/3737575).

Changes and Improvements in 22623.1325

[Start menu]

• For devices that are Azure Active Directory (AAD) joined, we are personalizing your experience by delivering AI-powered recommended content within your Start menu. When you open the Start menu, you will find related content to help you prepare for upcoming meetings, quickly access files you're collaborating on, and more.

Fixes in Build 22623.1325

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue that was causing taskbar to be cut off after resolution changes.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1325 & Build 22623.1325

• We fixed compatibility issues that affected some printers. Those printers used Windows Graphical Device Interface (GDI) printer drivers. Those drivers did not completely adhere to GDI specifications.
• We fixed a reliability issue that occurred when you used Task View.
• We fixed an issue that affected copying from a network to a local drive. Copying was slower than expected for some users.
• We provided support for the United Mexican States' daylight-saving time change order for 2023.
• We fixed a date information issue. It affected the format of dates sent between Windows and some versions of the Heimdal Kerberos library.
• We fixed an issue that affected provisioning packages. They failed to apply in certain circumstances when elevation was required.
• We fixed an issue that affected which folders appeared in the Browse for Folder picker.
• We fixed an issue that affected File Explorer. When you used Shift + Tab or Shift + F6, the input focus did not move.
• We fixed an issue that affected the user interface (UI). The volume up and volume down commands from a Bluetooth keyboard did not display.
• We improved the reliability of Windows after you installed an update.
• We fixed an issue that might have affected lsass.exe. It might have stopped responding when it sent a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) query to a domain controller that had a very large LDAP filter.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Using a provisioning package for bulk provisioning failed.
• We fixed an issue that affected the software keyboard. It did not appear in the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) after a Push-button reset (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/how-push-button-reset-features-work?view=windows-11) (factory reset). This type of reset required an external keyboard to be attached to provide credentials.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected AppV. It stopped file names from having the correct letter case (uppercase or lowercase).
• We fixed an issue that affected Universal Print's Configuration Service Provider (CSP). A command prompt window appeared when you installed a printer.
• We fixed an issue that might have affected the touch keyboard and the PIN entry keyboard. You might not have been able to use them to enter text when you signed in to your device.
• We fixed an issue that displayed a blue screen during video playback. This occurred after you set high dynamic range (HDR) on your display.
• We fixed an issue that affected parity virtual disks. Using Server Manager to create them failed
• We fixed an issue that affected IE mode. The text on the status bar was not always visible.
• We fixed an issue that affected the Color filters setting. When you selected Inverted, the system set it to Grayscale instead.
• We fixed an issue that affected Microsoft Edge. The issue removed conflicting policies for Microsoft Edge. This occurred when you set the MDMWinsOverGPFlag in a Microsoft Intune tenant and Intune detected a policy conflict.
  
• We fixed an issue that affected the Appx State Repository. When you removed a user profile, the cleanup was incomplete. Because of that, its database grew as time passes. This growth might have caused delays when users signed in to multi-user environments like FSLogix.

Update from Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1325 and 22623.1325 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1325-and-22623-1325/):

UPDATE 2/23/2023: Off-ramp for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel

In response to feedback from Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, we are providing an off-ramp window for Insiders who have chosen the option to unenroll their device under "Stop getting preview builds" under Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. This off-ramp window will run starting today through March 8th, 2023. 

This off-ramp will only apply to Insiders who chose the option to unenroll their device and are currently on Build 22621.1325 or 22623.1325 (this won't apply for devices that chose the option to unenroll but are on earlier builds in the Beta Channel).

During this off-ramp, a troubleshooter will run that will unenroll the device from receiving new flights in the Beta Channel and uninstall the enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384) (EKB) if needed. Once the troubleshooter finishes  – a reboot will be required to complete the process. After that, the device will no longer receive new Insider Preview builds from the Beta Channel. To see if this troubleshooter has been run on your device, go to Settings > Troubleshoot > Recommended troubleshooter history.

Today, we are beginning to launch the troubleshooter for only a small set of these devices that have chosen the option to unenroll their device in the Beta Channel and will increase to all applicable devices early next week.

After the troubleshooter process is complete, the device will then get an in-place upgrade with the March 2023 "B" release (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/update/quality-updates#b-releases) (the next Patch Tuesday) which will bring the device up to date with the released version of Windows 11, version 22H2. From there, the device will continue to receive normal servicing updates each month.

Insiders who choose the option to unenroll their device after this off-ramp window closes on March 8th, 2023, will not get moved out of the Beta Channel until the next off-ramp window.

Please report any issues with this experience in Feedback Hub.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1391 and 22624.1391 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1391-and-22624-1391/)

• Build 22624.1391 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1391 = New features off by default.
  

Off-ramp for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel: Insiders in the Beta Channel who chose the option to unenroll their device under "Stop getting preview builds" under Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and are currently on Build 22621.1325 or 22623.1325 will NOT receive this update. These Insiders are part of the off-ramp out of the Beta Channel running until March 8th, 2023 as described here in this blog post (//'https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1325-and-22623-1325/').

What's new in Build 22624.1391

Voice access improvements
We have completely renovated the in-app command help page in voice access to make it simpler to use and comprehend. The search bar allows users to quickly find commands and the different categories provide further guidance. Every command now has a description and examples of its variations, making it easier to understand and use.

You can access the command help page from Help > View all commands on the voice access bar or use the voice command "what can I say".

Please note that the redesigned in-app help page in voice access may not include all commands and the supplementary information may be inaccurate. We plan to update this in future builds. If you want an exhaustive list of Voice Access commands and extra information about them, we recommend you refer Use voice access to control your PC & author text with your voice – Microsoft Support (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-voice-access-to-control-your-pc-author-text-with-your-voice-4dcd23ee-f1b9-4fd1-bacc-862ab611f55d).

Voice access is available in English dialects: We have extended voice access to support other English dialects such as English -UK, English – India, English – New Zealand, English – Canada, English – Australia.

When voice access is turned on for the first time, you will be prompted to download a speech model to enable on-device recognition of voice data. In case voice access does not find a speech model matching your display language, you can still choose to proceed ahead to use voice access in English – US.

You can always switch to a different language by navigating to Settings > Language on the voice access bar.

We have added some more useful commands to make text selection and editing easier with voice access.  See the Release Notes for the various commands.


FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice Access.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1391 & Build 22624.1391

• This update improves the reliability of Windows after you install an update.
• Fixed an issue from the last Beta Channel flight which was causing Notification Center, Quick Settings, and taskbar jump lists to not work for some Insiders.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1465 and 22624.1465 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1465-and-22624-1465/)

• Build 22624.1465 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1465 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22623 will automatically get moved to Build 22624 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22624.xxxx).

What's new in Build 22624.1465

Introducing live captions in more languages
Live captions help everyone and people who are deaf or hard of hearing read live captions in their native language. The first release of live captions in the Windows 11 2022 Update (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2022/09/20/available-today-the-windows-11-2022-update/) provided captions in English, with a focus on English (United States). In this build, live captions gains the ability to also provide captions in Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish and other English dialects. We will add more languages as they become available.

To get started, live captions can be turned on with the WIN + Ctrl + L keyboard shortcut, or from the quick settings accessibility flyout via Quick Settings. When turned on for the first time, live captions will prompt for download of the required speech recognition support to enable on-device captioning. If speech recognition support is not available in your preferred Windows language or you want support in other languages, you will be able to download speech recognition support for live captions under Settings > Time & Language > Language & region.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Live captions.

Updated Touch Keyboard Settings
We are introducing updates for the new touch keyboard setting that replaces the "Show the touch keyboard when there's no keyboard attached" checkbox under Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard with a new dropdown menu with 3 options to control whether tapping an edit control should launch the touch keyboard:

• "Never" suppresses the touch keyboard even when no hardware keyboard is attached.
• "When no keyboard attached" will show the touch keyboard only when the device is used as a tablet without the hardware keyboard.
• "Always" will show the touch keyboard even when the hardware keyboard is attached.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Input and Language > Touch keyboard.

Cloud Suggestion in Simplified Chinese IME
We are trying out some changes that will allow you to easily type popular words in Simplified Chinese. The changes include an improved cloud suggestion and integrated search suggestion. The cloud suggestion adds the most relevant word from Bing to the IME candidate window. We've updated the back-end logic so that we can provide better, fresh suggestions.

The integrated search suggestion gives you additional suggestions that are similar to what you see in Bing search page. You can either insert a suggestion as text or search it directly in Bing.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Input and Language > Text Input.

Multi-App Kiosk Mode
Multi-app kiosk mode is a lockdown feature for Windows 11 that allows an IT administrator to select a set of allowable apps to run on the device, while all other functionalities are blocked. This enables you to create multiple different apps and access configurations for different user types, all on a single device.

Some lockdown customizations include:

• Limiting access to Settings, except selected pages (e.g., Wi-Fi and screen brightness)
• Lock down the Start menu to show only allowed apps.
• Block toasts and pop-ups that lead to unwanted UI.

Multi-app kiosk mode is ideal for scenarios in which multiple people need to use the same device. This can include frontline workers and retail scenarios, education and test taking.

Currently, multi-app kiosk mode can be enabled using PowerShell and WMI Bridge, with support for Intune/MDM and provisioning package configuration coming soon.

To configure using WMI, follow these instructions. (https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/kiosk-mdm-bridge) Using the Windows 10 sample XML will enable the feature, but will result in an empty Start menu. To populate the Start menu with your apps, follow these instructions (https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/configuration/customize-start-menu-layout-windows-11#create-the-json-file) to generate the list of pinned apps, then add it to your XML file after closing the StartLayout section, like the below:

<win11:StartPins><![CDATA[ Your JSON here ]]></win11:StartPins>

Don't forget to update the namespace by replacing the AssignedAccessConfiguration tag with the below:

<AssignedAccessConfiguration xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/AssignedAccess/2017/config" xmlns:win11="http://schemas.microsoft.com/AssignedAccess/2022/config">

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security and Privacy > Device Lockdown.

Changes and Improvements in 22624.1465

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We have added a glanceable VPN status into the system tray when connected to a recognized VPN profile (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/connect-to-a-vpn-in-windows-3d29aeb1-f497-f6b7-7633-115722c1009c#WindowsVersion=Windows_11). The VPN icon, a small shield, will be overlayed in your system accent color over the active network connection.
  

[Voice access]

• The redesigned in-app help page in voice access introduced with Build 22624.1391 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1391-and-22624-1391/) now includes all commands and the supplementary information accurately.
  

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1465 & Build 22624.1465

• This update implements phase three of Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) hardening. See KB5004442 (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5004442-manage-changes-for-windows-dcom-server-security-feature-bypass-cve-2021-26414-f1400b52-c141-43d2-941e-37ed901c769c). After you install this update, you cannot turn off the changes using the registry key.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects a computer account and Active Directory. When you reuse an existing computer account to join an Active Directory domain, joining fails. This occurs on devices that have installed Windows updates dated October 11, 2022 or later. The error message is, "Error 0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy: 'An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy.'" For more information, see KB5020276 (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5020276-netjoin-domain-join-hardening-changes-2b65a0f3-1f4c-42ef-ac0f-1caaf421baf8).
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1470 and 22624.1470 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/23/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1470-and-22624-1470/)

• Build 22624.1470 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1470 = New features off by default.
  

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22623 will automatically get moved to Build 22624 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22624.xxxx).

What's new in Build 22624.1470

USB4 Settings Page
We are adding a USB4 hubs and devices Settings page for users under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > USB > USB4 Hubs and Devices. USB4 enables new productivity scenarios for docking, high performance peripherals, displays and charging. The USB4 settings page provides information about the system's USB4 capabilities and attached peripherals on a USB4 capable system. These insights are meant to assist with troubleshooting in case users need support from their device manufacturer (OEM) or system administrator. The features provided by this page are:

• View the tree of connected USB4 hubs and devices.
• View attributes and capabilities associated with the USB4 domain.
• Copy the details into the clipboard so it can be shared with customer support or system administrators for troubleshooting.

To confirm whether your system is USB4 capable or not, check for "USB4 Host Router" populating in the Device Manager.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Buses.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22624.1470

[General]

• Users will now see a copy button for quickly copying two-factor authentication (2FA) codes in notification toasts from apps installed on the PC or from phones linked to the PC. We make a best effort to determine if a notification toast has an authentication code but please send us feedback if we got it wrong or if we failed to detect the code in a notification toast.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We have added a glanceable VPN status into the system tray when connected to a recognized VPN profile (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/connect-to-a-vpn-in-windows-3d29aeb1-f497-f6b7-7633-115722c1009c#WindowsVersion=Windows_11). The VPN icon, a small shield, will be overlayed in your system accent color over the active network connection.
  
• In response to user feedback, we are introducing the capability to show seconds in the clock on the system tray. This feature can be enabled by toggling the option listed under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar in the Taskbar behavior section. You can also right-click on taskbar to quickly get to taskbar settings.
  

Changes and Improvements for BOTH Build 22621.1470 & Build 22624.1470

[Search on the Taskbar]

• The search box on taskbar will be lighter when Windows is set to a custom color mode. Specifically, when the Windows 11 mode is set to dark, and the app mode is set to light under Settings > Personalization > Colors you will see a lighter search box on taskbar.

Fixes in Build 22624.1470

[Live captions]

• We fixed the issue causing live captions to not work for Chinese Traditional on Arm64 devices.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1470 & Build 22624.1470

[Search on the Taskbar]

• Fixed rendering issues when using the touch keyboard with the search box on taskbar.
• Fixed an issue when double clicking the search highlight glyph in the search box makes it disappear.
• Fixed an issue where the search box would randomly disappear.
• Fixed an issue where the search icon flips incorrectly for right-to-left (RTL) languages.
• Fixed on issue where you might have seen some text flicker in the search box when you click into it.
• Fixed an issue where the search box might disappear on one monitor if you are using multiple monitors.
• Made some accessibility fixes to the settings for search under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1537 and 22624.1537 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/31/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1537-and-22624-1537/)

• Build 22624.1537 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1537 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22624.1537

Access Keys in File Explorer
We are adding access key shortcuts into the XAML context menu in File Explorer. An access key is a one keystroke shortcut that allows a keyboard user to quickly execute a command in context menu. Each access key will correspond with a letter in the display name. It's part of our effort to make File Explorer more accessible. To try this out, you can click on a file in File Explorer and press the menu key (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menu_key) on your keyboard.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File Explorer.

Create live kernel memory dumps in Task Manager
We are introducing a set of new developer-focused features in Task Manager to aid the collection of live kernel memory dumps (LKDs). This is in addition to the existing "Memory dump" for user mode processes. The goal of kernel live dump is to gather data to troubleshoot an abnormal situation but allow the OS to continue operation. This reduces downtime when compared to a bug check for "non-fatal" but high-impact failures and hangs. Click here (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/task-manager-live-dump) for more info on live kernel dumps.

To capture a live kernel memory dump (LKD), go to the Details page in Task Manager, right-click on the System process and the context menu should light up to show "Create live kernel memory dump file" to capture a Full live kernel or Kernel stack memory dumps.

The dumps will be written to a fixed location:

%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\TaskManager\LiveKernelDumps

Choose the new "Create live kernel memory dump file" option when right-clicking on a process on the details page in Task Manager.  You can also go to the Task Manager Settings page to view/edit the settings for live kernel memory dumps.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Task Manager.

Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) on plugged in devices including desktop PCs
(CABC) is already a feature that users are familiar with. This feature in Windows 11 will dim or brighten areas of a display or monitor based on the content being displayed with the goal of striking a balance between reduced power consumption with visual experience to save battery life. Starting with this build, we are allowing this feature to run on devices such as laptops and 2-in-1's that are plugged into a charger, as well as on desktop PCs. For most users, this change won't be noticeable and should reduce energy consumption.

This feature can be adjusted via Settings > System > Display under "Brightness & color" and through a drop-down menu with 3 options: Off, Always, and "On Battery Only". For battery powered devices such as laptops and 2-in-1's, the default is "On Battery Only". On desktop PCs, this is off by default. We encourage Insiders across laptops, 2-in1's, and desktop PCs to try the  "Always" option and give us feedback on the visual quality of CABC so we can ensure it is properly tuned.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Display and Graphics > Adaptive Brightness.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22624.1537

[Settings]

• As part of the deprecation of Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) and MSDT Troubleshooters (https://prod.support.services.microsoft.com/windows/deprecation-of-microsoft-support-diagnostic-tool-msdt-and-msdt-troubleshooters-0c5ac9a2-1600-4539-b9d0-069e71f9040a?preview=true), we have begun redirecting some of the troubleshooters found under Settings > System > Troubleshoot and in other areas of the OS to the new Get Help troubleshooting platform.
  

[Developer]

• Virtual Memory ranges which are marked by a KbCallbackTriageDumpData BugCheck Callback Routine  (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/drivers/kernel/writing-a-bug-check-callback-routine#implementing-a-kbcallbacktriagedumpdata-callback-routine)will now be added to kernel-generated minidumps after a bugcheck.
  

Changes and Improvememts for BOTH Build 22621.1537 & Build 22624.1537

[Search on the Taskbar]

• Once you have access to the new Bing (https://bing.com/new), the search box on the taskbar will include a button that opens the Bing chat experience in Edge. If you don't have access, the search box on the taskbar will feature a dynamic search highlight button. We're beginning to roll this out to Insiders, not everyone will see it right away.
  

Fixes in Build 22624.1537

[General]

• Improved the experience on logon after booting up by reducing the performance impact of startup apps.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We fixed the issue in the previous build (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/23/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1470-and-22624-1470/) where the option under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar in the Taskbar behavior section to show seconds in the clock on the system tray was not actually enabling the functionality. Enabling should work now.
  
• Fixed an issue causing the show hidden icons flyout to open behind things like OneNote flyout and live captions.

[Settings]

• Improved the performance of search within Settings.

[Voice access]

• Fixed an issue that was causing voice access to take some time to turn on after using the wake-up command.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue which was causing an unexpected error message to appear when opening Group Policy Editor in the previous flight.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1537 & Build 22624.1537

• New! This update adds many new features and improvements to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. For more information, see Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/microsoft-defender-endpoint?view=o365-worldwide).
  
• New! The search box on the taskbar will be lighter when you set Windows to a custom color mode. This will occur when you set the Windows mode to dark and the app mode to light in Settings > Personalization > Colors.
  
• This update affects the Arab Republic of Egypt. The update supports the government's daylight saving time change order for 2023.
• This update affects jscript9Legacy.dll. It adds ITracker and ITrackingService to stop MHTML from not responding.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects complexity policy settings for PINs. They are ignored.
• This update affects Xbox Elite users who have the Xbox Adaptive Controller. This update applies your controller remapping preferences on the desktop.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) option 119 – Domain Search Option. The issue stops you from using a connection-specific DNS Suffix Search List.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a Clustered Shared Volume (CSV). The CSV fails to come online. This occurs if you enable BitLocker and local CSV managed protectors, and the system recently rotated the BitLocker keys.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect your audio. It might cause glitching or screeching. This occurs when the system is under a heavy load or wakes from sleep.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Narrator. It fails to read items in dropdown lists in Microsoft Excel.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) client. The client returns an HTTP server error status (500). This error occurs when it runs a transfer job in the Storage Migration Service.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Active Directory Users & Computers. It stops responding. This occurs when you use TaskPad view to enable or disable many objects at the same time.
• This update affects the Group Policy Editor. It adds Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 to the list of protocols that you can set.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Search. Windows Search fails inside of Windows container images.
• This update addresses a rare issue that might cause an input destination to be null. This issue might occur when you attempt to convert a physical point to a logical point during hit testing. Because of this, the computer raises a stop error.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Desired State Configuration. It loses its previously configured options. This occurs if metaconfig.mof is missing.
  
• The update addresses an issue that affects the Remote Procedure Call Service (rpcss.exe). The issue might cause a race condition between the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) and the Microsoft Remote Procedure Call (RPC) endpoint mapper.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft PowerPoint. It stops responding on the Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). This occurs when you use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Fast Identity Online 2.0 (FIDO2) PIN credential icon. It does not appear on the credentials screen of an external monitor. This occurs when that monitor is attached to a closed laptop.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the new Windows Runtime (WinRT) API. This issue stops an application from querying for location information using MBIM2.0+.
• This update addresses an issue that affects USB printers. The system classifies them as multimedia devices even though they are not.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Microsoft HTML Application Host (HTA). This issue blocks code execution that uses Microsoft HTA. This occurs when you turn on Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) User Mode Code Integrity (UMCI) enforced mode.
• This update affects the Group Policy Management Console. It addresses a scripting error in the Group Policy Preferences window.
• This update addresses an issue that stops WDAC from parsing fields from binaries.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP) certificate. The system reports some SCEP certificate installations as failed. Instead, the system should report them as pending.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft PowerPoint. It stops responding. This occurs when you use accessibility tools.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Notepad combo box in Settings. It fails to show all the available options.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect Win32 and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. They might close when devices enter Modern Standby. Modern Standby is an expansion of the Connected Standby power model. This issue occurs if certain Bluetooth PhoneLink features are turned on.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1546 and 22624.1546 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/04/07/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1546-and-22624-1546/)

• Build 22624.1546 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1546 = New features off by default.
  

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22624.xxxx).

Changes and Improvements in Build 22624.1546

[General]

• In the previous flight (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/31/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1537-and-22624-1537/), we documented that Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) works on desktop PCs – however, it does not. We have updated that blog post. Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) also needs to be enabled by the OEM (the manufacturer of the device). As a result, this feature is not available on all laptop or 2-in-1 devices.
  

[Settings]

• Improved the performance of search within Settings.
• Pressing the print screen key will now open Snipping Tool by default. This setting can be turned off via Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. If you have previously modified this setting yourself, your preference will be preserved.
• A limit of 20 most recent tabs has been introduced under Settings > Multitasking to show tabs in ALT + TAB and Snap Assist.

Fixes in Build 22624.1546

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where text input features like touch keyboard, voice typing, and emoji panel might not launch.
• Fixed an issue where the buttons in the Pinyin IME's settings flyout were hard to see when they had focus if a contrast theme was enabled.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where some of the details in the Performance page wouldn't display properly until you resized the window or changed pages back and forth.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1610 and 22624.1610 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/04/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1610-and-22624-1610/)

• Build 22624.1610 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1610 = New features off by default.
  

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22624.xxxx).

Changes and Improvements in Build 22624.1610

[Settings]

• We are introducing new presence sensor privacy settings and APIs. If you have a device with compatible presence sensors, you can now manage your privacy and block/allow certain apps from accessing these sensors. No images or metadata is collected by Microsoft and all processing is done locally on the device hardware to maximize privacy. You will find these settings under Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensing here if your device supports it (https://aka.ms/PrivacySecuritySettings). App developers with devices with compatible presence sensors can target apps to request and read user presence information after requesting a human presence capability. Learn more about the API here (https://learn.microsoft.com/uwp/api/windows.devices.sensors.humanpresencesensor?view=winrt-22621).
  

Changes and Improvements in BOTH Build 22621.1610 & Build 22624.1610

[Settings]

• Windows Insiders can help us preview a new experience we're working on. Insiders will begin to see a new toggle under Settings > Windows Update for "getting the latest updates as soon as they are available". This new toggle is meant to be used in the Beta Channel to allow Insiders to switch more seamlessly to the enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). Insiders in the Beta Channel who are on Build 22621 and toggle this on will get updated to Build 22624 via the enablement package. Insiders in the Beta Channel already on Build 22624 and toggle this on will see a "Windows configuration update" offered via Windows Update that is designed to help us make sure this new toggle is connected to our backend services correctly. This configuration update introduces nothing new for Insiders.
  

Fixes in Build 22624.1610

[General]

• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing a noticeable increase in explorer.exe crashes in the last flight for some Insiders.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1610 & Build 22624.1610

• This update addresses a compatibility issue. The issue occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1616 and 22624.1616 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/04/20/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1616-and-22624-1616/)

• Build 22624.1616 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1616 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22624.1616
[Live captions]

• Languages support has been expanded to include Danish, English (Ireland), French (Canada), Korean, Portuguese (Portugal).

Fixes in Build 22624.1616
[General]

• Turning on the new toggle under Settings > Windows Update for "getting the latest updates as soon as they are available" introduced in the previous build (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/04/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1610-and-22624-1610/) should now offer a "Windows configuration update" offered via Windows Update for Insiders on Build 22624. This update is designed to help us make sure this new toggle is connected to our backend services correctly. A Update Stack Package update (version 413.2122.0) is required.
  
• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing a noticeable increase in explorer.exe crashes in the last flight for some Insiders.

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where the touch keyboard didn't correctly recognize a hardware keyboard was available in some cases.
• Updated the TextInput/EnableTouchKeyboardAutoInvokeInDesktopMode MDM policy (//'https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/client-management/mdm/policy-csp-textinput') to allow "2" as a valid value to enforce showing the touch keyboard on tapping an edit control even when the hardware keyboard is attached.
  

[Live captions]

• Fixed an issue that was causing live captions to crash on first launch due to an issue impacting registry data retrieval.
• Fixed an issue causing live captions' Add a language menu icon and label to overlap.
• Features have been added to the enhanced speech recognition language files to improve performance and provide out-of-language filtering meant to limit the incorrect captions for speech not in the caption language.

[Accessibility]

• Fixed an issue that was leaving voice access's window empty after opening.
• Fixed an issue where voice access was crashing when using the command to go to the start of a document.
• Fixed an issue where if you turn off the profanity filter in voice access, it wouldn't work.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator's CTRL + Narrator + Home and Ctrl + Narrator + End commands to move to the beginning and end of text weren't working correctly in Edge.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1680 and 22624.1680 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/04/27/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1680-and-22624-1680/?fbclid=IwAR0CRkvLEm-vwramhrmQ0ceJcoYLgQo9p8nf5_fB_MoI_8iRo6AYYH_3RPs)

• Build 22624.1680 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1680 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22621.1680 & Build 22624.1680

Evolved Widgets Board
We are beginning to preview a revamp of the widgets board experience with a larger canvas (3-columns if supported by the device) and new zones to provide users quick access to glanceable widgets from their apps and services as well as enable users to take a high-value break with their personalized feed.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22621.1680 & Build 22624.1680

[General]

• The new features for app defaults in Windows 11 as mentioned here in this blog post  (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2023/03/17/a-principled-approach-to-app-pinning-and-app-defaults-in-windows/)are included in this build. The features for app pinning are coming in a future flight.
  

[Widgets]

• We are beginning to roll out animated icons for Widgets on the taskbar. The animation triggers when you hover or click on the Widgets taskbar entry-point or when a new widget announcement is displayed on your taskbar. Currently, only a few weather and finance icons are supported.

Fixes in Build 22624.1680

[File Explorer]
We fixed the following issues for Insiders with access keys in File Explorer:

• Shift + Right clicking on a file or folder should open "Show more options" again now.
• Adjusted how Narrator was reading out the access keys after pressing the menu key, to make it clearer.

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where the touch keyboard and PIN entry wasn't appearing on the login screen for touch capable PCs in the previous flight due to an underlying crash.

[Live captions]

• Fixed an issue which was causing clipping in live captions text for non-English languages.
• Fixed an issue in Language & region settings that caused language feature installation progress to be hidden.
• Adding enhanced language recognition support in Language & region settings will now install the right files on ARM64 devices. You will no longer need to restart live captions after switching between caption languages installed from Language & region settings. However, you will need to uninstall any "speech pack" entries in Settings > Apps > Installed apps which were installed before the Language & region settings fix and re-install from Language & region settings.

[Notifications]

• Fixed an issue where 2FA codes weren't being recognized if they were in parentheses.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where if you searched for service host in the Processes section, it wasn't returning any results.
• Improved the performance of the expand all / collapse all View options on the Processes page.
• Fixed an issue where the search icon could end up overlapping the Task Manager icon in the title bar.
• The search box should no longer be cropped at the top when the window is maximized.
• Fixed an issue impacting Task Manager reliability.
• Double clicking Task Manager's title bar to maximize the window should work again now.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1680 & Build 22624.1680

• New! This update changes firewall settings. You can now configure application group rules.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the legacy Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) and the new Windows LAPS feature. They fail to manage the configured local account password. This occurs when you install the legacy LAPS .msi file after you have installed the April 11, 2023, Windows update on machines that have a legacy LAPS policy.
• This update affects the Islamic Republic of Iran. The update supports the government's daylight saving time change order from 2022.
• This update addresses an issue that affects apps that use DirectX on older Intel graphics drivers. You might receive an error from apphelp.dll.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS). A stop error occurs that stops the OS from starting up correctly.
• This update addresses an issue that affects protected content. When you minimize a window that has protected content, the content displays when it should not. This occurs when you are using Taskbar Thumbnail Live Preview.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Unified Write Filter (UWF). When you turn it off by using a call to Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), your device might stop responding.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Chinese input method. You cannot see all of the first suggested item.
• This update addresses an issue that affects SMB Direct. Endpoints might not be available on systems that use multi-byte character sets.
• This update addresses an issue that affects mobile device management (MDM) customers. The issue stops you from printing. This occurs because of an exception.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) process. It might stop responding. Because of this, the machine restarts. The error is 0xc0000005 (STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION).
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode. The Tab Window Manager stops responding.
• This update addresses an issue that affects signed Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies. They are not applied to the Secure Kernel. This occurs when you enable Secure Boot.
• This update changes the app icons for certain mobile providers.
• This update addresses an issue that affects MySQL commands. The commands fail on Windows Xenon containers.
• This update addresses an issue that displays Task View in the wrong area. This occurs when you close a full screen game by pressing Win + Tab.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you use a PIN to sign in to Windows Hello for Business. Signing in to Remote Desktop Services might fail. The error message is, "The request is not supported".
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode. Pop-up windows open in the background instead of in the foreground.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Administrator Account Lockout policies. GPResult and Resultant Set of Policy did not report them.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1690 and 22624.1690 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/05/04/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1690-and-22624-1690/)

• Build 22624.1690 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1690 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22621.1690 & Build 22624.1690

New Widget: Facebook
Facebook is rolling out a preview version of their widget. To give it a try, download the Facebook app (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9WZDNCRFJ2WL) from the Microsoft Store or update to the latest version of the app. Then open the widgets board and navigate to the widgets picker by clicking the "+" button at the top-right of the board to pin your widget.

As you give this and other new widgets a try (https://aka.ms/WidgetsCollectionWIP), please let us know what you think through the Widgets feedback link in the widgets picker. You should expect to see additional new widgets as more developers create and release widgets for their apps.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22621.1690 & Build 22624.1690

[General]

• We are trying out providing alerts under Settings > Accounts advising users to add a recovery email address or phone number to their Microsoft account to ensure they never lose access to their account.

[Start menu]

• We are trying out a small change with some Windows Insiders where the "Recommended" section of the Start menu is changed to "For you". Let us know what you think in Feedback Hub if you see this change.

Fixes in Build 22624.1690

[Input]

• Made another fix for the underlying crash impacting the ability to launch the touch keyboard / PIN entry on the login screen.

[Notifications]

• Fixed another 2FA code pattern which wasn't being recognized. If you see any others, please file feedback!

[Task Manager]

• Did some work to help address an issue which was causing random processes to sometimes get grouped under Microsoft Edge even though they weren't related.
• Fixed an issue impacting Task Manager reliability.
• The search icon should be easier to see now when using a contrast theme.
• Made the navigation pane a bit narrower. As part of this change, when necessary, the text will be wrapped now.
• The creation of live kernel memory dump file submenu has access keys now.
• Pressing enter when keyboard focus is on one of the sections (like Memory) in the Performance page should now actually switch sections.
• Resizing Task Manager from the top of the window should work now.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1755 and 22624.1755 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/05/09/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1755-and-22624-1755/)

• Build 22624.1755 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1755 = New features off by default.
  

Fixes in Build 22624.1755
[Settings]

• Settings should no longer crash when attempting to uninstall an app while using grid view.

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where the Pinyin IME's insert text button wasn't displaying correctly in some cases.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1755 & Build 22624.1755

• This update addresses a race condition in Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). The Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) might stop responding. This occurs when the system processes multiple local account operations at the same time. The access violation error code is 0xc0000005.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1825 and 22631.1825 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/05/25/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1825-and-22631-1825/)

• Build 22631.1825 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1825 = New features off by default.
  

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1825 & Build 22631.1825

• New! This update provides the full amount of storage capacity of all your OneDrive subscriptions. It also displays the total storage on the Accounts page in the Settings app.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects dot sourcing. It fails files that contain class definition in Windows PowerShell.
• This update addresses an issue that affects exe. It stops working after you sign out. This issue occurs after you upgrade your machine to Windows 11 Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and sign in to that machine.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Server Message Block (SMB). You cannot access the SMB shared folder. The errors are, "Not enough memory resources" or "Insufficient system resources."
• This update addresses a memory leak. It occurs every time you print a rich text document.
• This update addresses an issue that affects audio playback. It fails on devices that have certain processors.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). It stops working. This occurs when you use Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
• This update addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. Sometimes, it does not show the correct layout based on the current input scope.
• This update addresses a multi-function label printer issue. It affects the installation of some of them.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect a large reparse point. You might get a stop error when you use NTFS to access it. This issue occurs after a canceled FSCTL Set operation changes the reparse tag.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator. It now announces text attributes correctly for words, such as "misspelled," "deletion change," and "comment."
• This update addresses an issue that affects a computer when it renders a halftone bitmap. The computer stops working.
• This update addresses an issue that affects devices that have multiple, discreet GPUs. You cannot choose the high-performance GPUs from the default graphics settings page.
• This update changes the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) ranges for certain mobile providers.
• This update addresses an Event Viewer issue. It affects the rendering of a forwarded event log.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Chinese and Japanese Input Method Editor (IME). When you search within the Emoji Panel (Windows key + period (.)), search might fail for some of you.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Chinese and Japanese Handwriting Panel. It does not show text prediction candidates or stops responding. This occurs when you select a word from the candidate list of the Handwriting Panel.
• This update addresses an issue that stops your device from working when it resumes from Modern Standby. The error is 0x13A KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Firewall. The firewall drops all connections to the IP address of a captive portal. This occurs when you choose the Captive Portal Addresses option.
• This update addresses an issue that affects devices that are joined to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). The Windows Firewall cannot apply the correct domain and profile for them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the runas It stops working. The device behaves as if you did not sign in to your account.
  
• This update changes the support phone number for Microsoft India for Windows activation.
• This update addresses an issue that affects applications that perform certain actions in a callback. The applications might stop working. These actions include closing a Window (WM_CLOSE).
• This update addresses an issue that affects the use of the Event Viewer. The issue limits the number of event sources that users who are not administrators can access.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) cluster. It might not come online. This occurs after a periodic password rollover. The error code is 1326.
• This update addresses an issue that affects access to Tab settings for IE mode sites.
• The update addresses an issue that sends unexpected password expiration notices to users. This occurs when you set up an account to use "Smart Card is Required for Interactive Logon" and set "Enable rolling of expiring NTLM secrets."
• This update addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. It shows the wrong layout for the French-Canadian language.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1830 and 22631.1830 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/01/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1830-and-22631-1830/)

• Build 22631.1830 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1830 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.1830

[Networking]

• We added WPA3 support to the Phone Link instant hotspot feature for more secure connections to a phone's hotspot. Also made fixes to respect metered connection settings, reduce duplicate profiles, and show the phone's display name in the network list.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1835 and 22631.1835 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1835-and-22631-1835/)

• Build 22631.1835 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1835 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22631.1835

Narrator natural voices in Chinese & Spanish (Spain and Mexico)
We are introducing new natural voices in Chinese and Spanish (Spain and Mexico) that allow Narrator users to comfortably browse the web, read, and write mail, and do more. Natural Narrator voices use modern (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/azure-ai-milestone-new-neural-text-to-speech-models-more-closely-mirror-natural-speech/), on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection.

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

• Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + Ctrl + N hotkey.
• Under Narrator's voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
• Choose the language for which you want to install Natural Voices. List of available voices will be displayed.
• Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
• The new Chinese voices are Microsoft Xiaoxiao and Microsoft Yunxi.
  
• The new Spanish (Spain) voices are Microsoft Alvaro and Microsoft Elvira.
  
• The new Spanish (Mexico) voices are Microsoft Jorge and Microsoft Dalia.
  
• To start the download of the selected voice, select Install. The new voice will download and be ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your Internet download speed.
• When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator's voice > Choose a voice.

Note: If your display language is not set to Chinese or Spanish, then in step 3 you will first need to select "Choose a different language" and select the appropriate language followed by the specific voice.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.1835

[Settings]

• It is easier to control whether to use cellular when Wi-Fi is available but poor, using a new toggle which has been added to Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1900 and 22631.1900 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/15/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1900-and-22631-1900/)

• Build 22631.1900 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1900 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.1900

[General]

• To minimize distractions from notification toasts, we now detect if the user is interacting with toasts or not and provide a suggestion to turn the toast banners off for such apps. This will only stop the banners from appearing, and you can still find the toasts in the notification center. This feature is beginning to roll out, so not all Insiders in the Beta Channel will see it right away.

[Networking]

• Passpoint Wi-Fi networks will now support enhanced connection performance and will display a URL in Quick Settings to provide information to users about the venue or event.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1906 and 22631.1906 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/22/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1906-and-22631-1906/)

• Build 22631.1906 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.1906 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.1906

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• You can now hide the time and date in the system tray. You can turn this on by right-clicking on the system tray clock and choosing "Adjust date and time".
• When right-clicking on the network icon in the system tray, we've added the option to diagnose network problems.

[Lock screen]

• We have updated the network flyout on the Lock screen to align with Windows 11 design principles.

[Networking][/B]

• Added support for bridging adapters via command line via netsh (//'https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/networking/technologies/netsh/netsh').
  

[Windows Security]

• We have updated the Windows Security (firewall) notification dialogs that match the Windows 11 visuals.

[Settings]

• We have added links to advanced properties for network adapters and internet properties under Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
• We have added a way to view Wi-Fi passwords for your known networks via Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi and "Manage known networks".
  
• Based on your feedback, we have added additional options to the Data Usage page that allows for daily and weekly data limits. The page will also now show how far a data limit has been exceeded.
• We added the ability to join Bluetooth Personal Area networks under the Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. This option will appear for paired devices like Phones that are sharing internet over Bluetooth.
  
• Right-clicking on a Win32 app in Start, or searching for the app, and choosing "Uninstall" will now take you to the Settings to uninstall the app.
• The settings page for wheel devices such as the Surface Dial has been updated to better match the Windows 11 design principles.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1906 & Build 22631.1906

• This update addresses a compatibility issue. The issue occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1972 and 22631.1972 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1972-and-22631-1972/)

• Build 22631.1972 = New features rolling out.
  

• Build 22621.1972 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.1972

[File Explorer]

• Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel on Build 22631 are now previewing the Windows App SDK version of File Explorer. Functionality in File Explorer remains unchanged, it just switches from using WinUI 2 to using WinUI 3.

Fixes in Build 22631.1972

[Settings]

• The option to "Hide date and time in the System tray" from the last flight should no longer be backwards (on being off, off being on).

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1972 & Build 22631.1972

• New! This update improves several simplified Chinese fonts and the Microsoft Pinyin Input Method Editor (IME) to support GB18030-2022. You can enter and display characters from conformance level 1 or 2 using the additions to Microsoft Yahei, Simsun, and Dengxian. This update now supports Unicode Extensions E and F in the Simsun Ext-B font. This meets the requirements for level 3.
  
• New! With this update, you can now authenticate across Microsoft clouds. This feature also satisfies Conditional Access checks if they are needed.
  
• New! This update improves the sharing of a local file in File Explorer with Microsoft Outlook contacts. You now have the option to quickly email the file to yourself. In addition, loading your contacts from Outlook is better. This feature is not available for files stored in Microsoft OneDrive folders. OneDrive has its own sharing functionality.
  
• New! This update expands the roll out of notification badging for Microsoft accounts on the Start menu. A Microsoft account is what connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account backs up all your data and helps you to manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature gives you quick access to important account-related notifications.
  
• New! This update adds many new features and improvements to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. For more information, see Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (//'https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/microsoft-defender-endpoint?view=o365-worldwide').
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects TextInputHost.exe. It stops working.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. You can now set and maintain the correct default permissions for this directory path. When the permissions are wrong, Start menu, search, and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication fails.
• This update addresses an issue that affects devices that use the Network Protector for BitLocker. The device will not resume after it has been suspended.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain applications that use IDBObjectStore. They do not work in Microsoft Edge and IE mode.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects a scheduled monthly task. It might not run on time if the next occurrence happens when daylight savings time occurs.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator. It reads the wrong state when you cancel the selection of an option button you have selected.
• This update gives user accounts the ability to open an elevated Windows Terminal. This only works if they use an admin account that has not signed in before.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer (explorer.exe). It stops working. 
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator. The issue stops Narrator from retaining your scan mode when you switch between browsers.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain apps. It stops working when it tries to scan a barcode.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Intune push notifications. The issue stops devices that have less than 3.5 GB of RAM from getting them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Teams. The issue stops Teams from alerting you about missed calls or messages.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. They unexpectedly appear in the foreground.
• This update affects Active Directory event ID 1644 processing. It now accepts events of greater than 64 KB in length. This change truncates Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) queries contained within event 1644 to 20000 characters by default. You can configure the 20K value using the registry key "DEFAULT_DB_EXPENSIVE_SEARCH_FILTER_MAX_LOGGING_LENGTH_IN_CHARS."
• This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 users. You might not see the right location for a Remote Desktop session in your virtual machine or Cloud PC.
• This update affects the reliability of Windows. It improves after you update the OS.
• This update addresses an issue that affects some earbuds. They stop streaming music.
• This update addresses an issue that affects .msi files. A minor update is not installed. This occurs when you use the EnterpriseDesktopAppManagement configuration service provider (CSP) to distribute the .msi file.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a tib.sys driver. It does not load. This occurs when HyperVisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) is enabled.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the on-screen keyboard. The issue stops it from opening after you lock the machine.
• This update addresses an issue that affects msftconnecttext.net. It gets excessive HTTP traffic.
  
• This update addresses an issue that might affect your computer when you are playing a game. Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) errors might occur.
• This update addresses an issue that affects those who enable the "Smart Card is Required for Interactive Logon" account option. When RC4 is disabled, you cannot authenticate to Remote Desktop Services farms. The error message is, "An authentication error has occurred. The requested encryption type is not supported by the KDC."
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Recommended section of the Start menu. When you right-click a local file, it does not behave as expected.
• This update affects the Desktop Window Manager (DWM). It improves its reliability.
• This update addresses an issue that affects all the registry settings under the Policies paths. They might be deleted. This occurs when you do not rename the local temporary user policy file during Group Policy processing.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Spooler service. It stops working. This issue occurs when you print using a certain workspace.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain apps. In some instances, video flickering occurs.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It might stop responding indefinitely. This occurs after you try to view the effective access permissions for files in File Explorer.

The update to the Paint app for Windows 11 that includes dark mode is now rolling out to #WindowsInsiders in the Beta Channel.

From Updated Paint app for Windows 11 begins rolling out to Windows Insiders with dark mode and zoom improvements (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/01/updated-paint-app-for-windows-11-begins-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders-with-dark-mode-and-zoom-improvements/). (See the link for images.)

With this update, we are introducing support for dark mode in Paint. By default, Paint will adapt to your system theme preferences, but you can change this option yourself on the brand-new settings page.

We are also rolling out improvements to the zoom controls as well to give you more flexibility and control over the view of your content on the canvas. The classic presets are still available, but you can now also zoom in and out with finer granularity increments on the zoom slider or set a custom zoom value for even greater precision. We are also introducing a new fit to screen option to quickly optimize zoom to match your window size.

We updated the "Image Properties" dialogs to match the style of the new Windows 11 design and fit in with the new Paint app backdrop as well as many accessibility and usability improvements to dialogs throughout the app. We have also improved access key and keyboard shortcut support throughout the app for improved accessibility and productivity with keyboard.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Paint (https://aka.ms/paintfeedback).

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2050 and 22631.2050 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/07/21/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2050-and-22631-2050/)

• Build 22631.2050 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2050 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22631.2050

Modernized File Explorer Home, Address Bar, and Details Pane
Now that File Explorer is powered by Windows App SDK (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/), we are introducing a modernized File Explorer Home powered by WinUI (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/winui/). Recommended files (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/03/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-23403/) for users signed into Windows with an Azure Active Directory (AAD) account will be displayed as a carousel and support file thumbnails which is coming soon. Quick Access folders (available by default for users signed into Windows with a Microsoft account), Favorites, and Recent also bring in an updated experience with WinUI.

We are also introducing a modernized address bar and search box to File Explorer. The new address bar intelligently recognizes local vs. cloud folders with built-in status. For OneDrive users, you'll notice the address bar now contains your OneDrive sync status and quota flyout.

And we are introducing a modernized details pane in File Explorer (ALT + Shift + P) designed to help you easily access related content, stay up to date with file activity, and collaborate without even opening a file.

When a user selects a file in File Explorer and enables the pane, a modern pane will display contextual information about the file including file thumbnail, share status and button, file activity, related files and e-mails, and other information. To enable the pane, choose 'Details pane' in View menu and then toggle the pane with an easy-access button located on right side of the command bar. The View menu/toggle button in the command bar can similarly be used for accessing the preview pane. This modernized pane will replace the legacy details pane in File Explorer.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File Explorer.

Dynamic Lighting
Dynamic Lighting provides Windows users and developers with native control of Lighting Devices implementing the open HID LampArray standard. By adopting an open standard, and by working with our OEM and ODM partners,  Microsoft seeks to improve the RGB device and software ecosystem for users by increasing interoperability of devices and apps. Included are APIs for Windows apps to control devices from the background and foreground, as well as a page in Windows Settings for users to customize how their devices behave.

Several device manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, HP, HyperX, Logitech, Razer, and Twinkly have partnered with Microsoft on Dynamic Lighting.

As of the publication of this post, a list of current, in-market compatible devices is below. Review the Dynamic Lighting Hardware MS Learn page (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/components) for a more current list of compatible in-market devices. The latest firmware should be used with these devices. While all the devices below support wired connections, some devices don't support wireless (USB dongle and Bluetooth) connections. And check out the known issues below in this post for other issues that may impact this experience.

Note: Many of the devices listed below have not yet been verified for compatibility by Microsoft. In case of issues, contact the device manufacturer.

Keyboards:

• Coming soon: ASUS ROG Scope II Wireless 96 Gaming Keyboard
• Razer BlackWidow V3
• Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro
• Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini
• Razer BlackWidow V3 Tenkeyless
• Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
• Razer DeathStalker V2
• Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro
• Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL
• Razer Huntsman Mini
• Razer Huntsman Mini Analog
• Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
• Razer Huntsman V2
• Razer Huntsman V2 Analog
• Razer Huntsman V2 Tenkeyless
• Razer Ornata V2
• Razer Ornata V3
• Razer Ornata V3 TKL
• Razer Turret Keyboard Xbox One Edition

Mice:

• Coming soon: ASUS ROG Harpe Ace AimLab Edition Gaming Mouse
• Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse
• Razer Turret Mouse Xbox One
• Razer DeathAdder V2
• Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro
• Razer Naga Left-Handed
• Razer Naga Pro

To control and configure a HID LampArray device at both the per-device and all-device level, navigate to the new Dynamic Lighting page in Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Lighting.

Improvements for Windows Ink
Windows Ink is being modernized to allow users to enable inking directly onto edit fields. In addition, we are improving the accuracy from the recognition technology and a scratch out gesture for when users need to make edits. The goal with Windows Ink is to let users use their pen and handwrite anywhere they can type on their Windows device.

Currently, these new Windows Ink improvements support English (U.S.) only but stay tuned for broader language support. This new experience can be managed via Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Pen and Windows Ink under "Shell Handwriting". And please check out some of the known issues for Windows Ink below.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Input and Language > Pen input.

New volume mixer experience in Quick Settings
We're introducing a new enhanced volume mixer into Quick Settings! The updated audio quick settings experience brings a modern volume mixer that allows for quick customization of audio on a per-app basis, with additional control to swap devices on the fly. We've also added a new keyboard shortcut (WIN + CTRL + V) to bring you directly to the volume mixer for faster control of the experience. With this change, you can now tailor your audio experience better with more control and fewer clicks to better manage your favorite apps.

In addition, we've made it easier for users to enable their Windows Sonic experience with a quick access list of installed spatial sound technology. You can visit the Microsoft Store to find additional spatial sound technology to choose from such as Dolby and DTS.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Quick Settings.

Improving Windows Spotlight
We are rolling out improvements to the Windows Spotlight experience including preview images to full screen, multiple opportunities to learn more about each image and a minimized experience. To open the Windows Spotlight experience, right-click on the Spotlight icon on the desktop. You can also double click on the icon to directly launch a Bing landing page for more info on each image.

To enable Windows Spotlight on your PC today, right-click on your desktop and choose "Personalize" and then choose the new Spotlight theme. Alternatively, you can directly enable Windows Spotlight by going to Settings > Personalization > Background and choosing the option under the "Personalize your background" dropdown.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Windows Spotlight.

Passwordless Improvements
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/04/how-microsoft-can-help-you-go-passwordless-this-world-password-day/]Microsoft%20believes%20that%20the%20future%20is%20passwordless. Passkeys are a simple and more secure replacement for passwords when you sign into a web site or application that supports them. Passkeys represent a future where bad actors will have a much harder time stealing and using your credentials when signing into a web site or application. Passkeys are phish-resistant, recoverable, and faster for users.

Enroll and use passkey to sign into apps and websites: We are improving the passkey experience for Windows users. You can now go to any app or website that supports passkeys to create and sign in using passkeys with the Windows Hello native experience. Once a passkey is created, you can use Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, PIN) to sign in. In addition, you can use your phone or tablet to sign in.

Create and sign in using passkeys saved on your Windows device:

• Go to a website that supports passkeys (Examples include bestbuy.com, google.com and GitHub.com).
• Create a passkey from your account settings.
• Sign out of your account and sign in using your passkey.

Sign in using passkeys saved on your phone:

• Go to a website that supports passkeys (Examples include bestbuy.com, google.com and GitHub.com).
• Create a passkey from your account settings.
• Go to the website on Windows and sign in using your passkey saved on your mobile device.

Manage passkeys saved to your Windows device: We are giving you control over how you can manage the passkeys saved to your Windows device. You can now view and delete passkeys saved for your favorite apps/websites from Windows settings.

• Navigate to Settings > Accounts > Passkeys.
• You are presented with a list of all passkeys saved to your Windows device.
• You can now search and delete any passkey from the device.

Special Instructions:

• On Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, if you see the browser's passkey UI, choose "Windows Hello or external security key" to get the Windows native experience. Try Microsoft Edge Canary or Google Chrome Canary for the latest experience there.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security and Privacy > Passkey.

Unsafe password copy and paste warnings
Starting in Windows 11, version 22H2, Enhanced Phishing Protection in Microsoft Defender SmartScreen (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/microsoft-defender-smartscreen/phishing-protection-microsoft-defender-smartscreen?tabs=intune) helps protect Microsoft school or work passwords against phishing and unsafe usage on sites and apps. We are trying out a change starting with this build where users who have enabled warning options for Windows Security under App & browser control > Reputation-based protection > Phishing protection will see a UI warning on unsafe password copy and paste, just as they currently see when they type in their password.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security and Privacy > Microsoft.

Narrator Natural Voices
We are introducing new natural voices in Chinese, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Japanese and English (United Kingdom) that allow Narrator users to comfortably browse the web, read, and write mail, and do more. Natural Narrator voices use modern (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/azure-ai-milestone-new-neural-text-to-speech-models-more-closely-mirror-natural-speech/), on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection.

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

• Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + Ctrl + N hotkey.
• Under Narrator's voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
• Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
• The new Chinese voices are Microsoft Xiaoxiao (Female) and Microsoft Yunxi (Male)
  
• The new Spanish (Spain) voices are Microsoft Elvira (Female) and Microsoft Alvaro (Male)
  
• The new Spanish (Mexico) voices are Microsoft Dalia (Female) and Microsoft Jorge (Male)
  
• The new Japanese voices are Microsoft Nanami(Female) and Microsoft Keita (Male)
  
• The new English (United Kingdom) voices are Microsoft Sonia(Female) and Microsoft Ryan (Male)
  
• To start the download of the selected voice, select Install. The new voice will download and be ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed.
• When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator's voice > Choose a voice.

Note: If your display language is not set to any of the above languages, then in step 3 you will first need to select "Choose a different language" and then select the appropriate language followed by the specific voice.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Local File Sharing Improvements
We have made some improvements to the built-in Windows share window and nearby sharing (//'https://support.microsoft.com/windows/share-things-with-nearby-devices-in-windows-0efbfe40-e3e2-581b-13f4-1a0e9936c2d9') for sharing local files from your PC.

Those improvements include:

• We have redesigned the Windows share window to better match the Windows 11 design principles.
• Everyone will now be able to email their files through Outlook directly within the Windows share window. Just click on the Outlook icon under the "Share using" section of the Windows share window.
• The Windows share window now has a search box so you can now search for contacts across Outlook to share a file and the Windows share window will now display 8-10 suggested contacts to quickly share to – including emailing yourself a file.
• Instead of a dropdown, you will see a button to turn on nearby sharing.
• For nearby sharing, you will find your own PCs at the top of discovered devices under "Nearby Share".
• Files will share faster from one PC to another using Wi-Fi Direct.

As a reminder, these experiences will work for sharing local files from the desktop, File Explorer, Photos, Snipping Tool, Xbox, and other apps that use the built-in Windows share window.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Share for the Windows share window and under Desktop Environment > Nearby Sharing for nearby sharing.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2050

[General]

• If a camera streaming issue is detected such as a camera failing to start or a closed camera shutter, a pop-up dialog will appear with the recommendation to launch the automated Get Help troubleshooter to resolve the issue.
• Urgent or important notifications (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/shell/tiles-and-notifications/adaptive-interactive-toasts?tabs=appsdk#important-notifications) that break through when do not disturb is turned on while using apps at full screen will now display a "view notification" button to view the content of the notification for privacy.
  

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• The settings for never combined mode for the taskbar (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/05/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-23466/) are showing up under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors in this build however they currently do not enable the experience. This will be fixed in a future Beta Channel flight soon.
  
• The ability to end task when right-clicking an app on the taskbar should be working correctly in this build and can be managed under Settings > System > For developers.
  

[Emoji]

• The https://www.unicode.org/review/pri435/pri435-background-emoji-candidates.pdf]Unicode%20Emoji%2015is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. Users will now be able to see, search for and insert new emoji from the emoji panel. Here are a few of our Emoji 15 designs which include more hearts, animals and one new smiley face.
  

[Task View & Desktops]

• When navigating between desktops in Task View (WIN + CTRL + left or right arrows), labels will be shown. New sliding animations will also show when you change your desktops using trackpad gestures, touch gestures, hotkeys and by clicking on the Task View flyout.

[Voice Access]

• Voice access is now available via the accessibility flyout on the Lock screen.

[Settings]

• We've added an additional energy recommendation under Settings > System > Power & battery > Energy recommendations for adjusting refresh rate to conserve energy.
• Updated the design of the lists displayed under Settings > Apps > Startup Apps and Settings > Apps > Advanced App Settings > App Execution Alias pages to be more consistent with other Settings pages.
  

Fixes in Build 22631.2050

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue which was causing the context menu (in file explorer or on the desktop) to draw in the wrong position (off screen or on the other monitor).

[Task Manager]

• Right clicking the empty space in the Details page (aka so no process is actually selected) will no longer show the option to create live kernel memory dumps.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2115 and 22631.2115 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/07/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2115-and-22631-2115/)

• Build 22631.2115 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2115 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2115

[Narrator]

• Narrator users who interact with Traditional Chinese characters are now able to do this with confidence while using Narrator and the IME candidate window in Windows. This was accomplished by creating a Traditional Chinese dictionary for detail reading. Narrator now consumes the dictionary to disambiguate each Traditional Chinese word. Users should be aware that Narrator detailed reading is only supported for the Taiwan language pack. The Hong-Kong language pack is not supported with Narrator.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.2115 & Build 22631.2115

• New! This update affects the Handwriting Software Input Panel (SIP), the Handwriting Engine, and the Handwriting Embedded Inking Control. They now support GB18030-2022 conformance level 2. Because of this, they meet the level 3 requirements.
  
• This update affects text edit controls in XAML. You cannot edit the controls again after they become read only. This occurs when you use the new Microsoft Input Method Editor for Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.
• This update affects the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain CPUs. There is inconsistent reporting of the L2 cache.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain wireless wide area network (WWAN) devices. After every restart, a dialog reappears. It asks you to switch to embedded SIM (eSIM) even when you choose "No."
• This update affects user mode printer drivers. They unload unexpectedly. This occurs when you print from multiple print queues to the same printer driver.
• This update addresses an issue that affects hybrid joined devices. You cannot sign in to them if they are not connected to the internet. This occurs when you use a Windows Hello for Business PIN or biometric credentials. This issue applies to a cloud trust deployment.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). The issue copies unsigned WDAC policies to the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) disk partition. This partition is reserved for signed policies.
• This update addresses an issue that affects The "Disabled: Script Enforcement" option might create audit events you do not need.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a printing job. An unexpected Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) mode switch can cause the print job to abruptly stop. This occurs when there is an independent hardware vendor (IHV) driver.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain display and audio devices. They are missing after your system resumes from sleep.
• This update enhances hinting for some of the letters of the Verdana Pro font family.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the MPSSV service. The issues causes your system to restart repeatedly. The stop error code is 0xEF.
• This update makes brightness settings more accurate.
• This update affects Windows Autopilot profiles. The process to download the Windows Autopilot policy is more resilient. This helps when a network connection might not be fully initialized. This update increases the retry attempts when you try to download the Windows Autopilot profile.
• This update addresses an issue that affects I/O over Server Message Block (SMB). It might fail when you use the LZ77+Huffman compression algorithm.
• This update makes Narrator announce the "Change product key" label.
• This update affects the Windows Push Notification Services (WNS). It makes the connection between the client and the WNS server more reliable.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) repository. This causes an installation error. The issue occurs when a device does not shut down properly.
• This update addresses an issue in the Windows Notification Platform. The issue affects how much power your device uses.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Defender Firewall Profile. It fails to automatically switch from a LAN that is trusted to a public network.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Widgets. They unpin from the taskbar when you do not expect it.
• This update addresses an issue that affects virtual private networks (VPN). There might be excessive Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests to the network gateway. This occurs when the VPN is on a wireless mesh network. Because of this, network performance is poor.
• This update addresses a deadlock in Internet Protocol Security (IPsec). When you configure servers with IPsec rules, they stop responding. This issue affects virtual and physical servers.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Event Forwarding Subscriptions. When you add an Event Channel to the subscription, it forwards events you do not need.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the fastfat file system driver. It stops responding because of a race condition.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2129 and 22631.2129 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2129-and-22631-2129/)

• Build 22631.2129 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2129 = New features off by default.
  

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are a NEW Windows Insider joining the Beta Channel today, you will not be offered this update to prevent the possibility of your device getting into a bad state. A very small subset of EXISTING Windows Insiders may also not receive this update for the same reason. This issue will be fixed in a newer Beta Channel update soon. Thank you for your patience!

REMINDER: Insiders who were previously on Build 22624 will automatically get moved to Build 22631 via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts.

Insiders who landed in the group with new features turned off by default (Build 22621.xxxx) can check for updates and choose to install the update that will have features rolling out (Build 22631.xxxx).

What's new in Build 22631.2129

Windows Copilot Preview
Back in May at the Build conference, we introduced Windows Copilot for Windows 11 (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2023/05/23/bringing-the-power-of-ai-to-windows-11-unlocking-a-new-era-of-productivity-for-customers-and-developers-with-windows-copilot-and-dev-home/). At the end of June, (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-23493/) we kicked off the first preview of Windows Copilot and today, we're expanding the preview to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel via a controlled feature rollout. This first preview focuses on our integrated UI experience, with additional functionality coming down the road in future previews. To use Copilot in this flight you must have Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22631.2129 or higher in the Beta Channel, and Microsoft Edge version 115.0.1901.150 or higher.

To get started, just click on the new button on the taskbar (or WIN + C) to launch Windows Copilot. Windows Copilot will use the same Microsoft account (MSA) or Azure Active Directory (AAD) account used to sign-in to Windows.

Windows Copilot will appear as a side bar docked to the right where it won't overlap with your desktop content and will run unobstructed alongside your open app windows, allowing you to interact with Windows Copilot anytime you need.

In this first preview, you can ask Windows Copilot a range of questions or to take actions such as:

• "Change to dark mode."
• "Turn on do not disturb."
• "Take a screenshot"
• "Summarize this website" (Active tab in Microsoft Edge)
• "Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon."
• "Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads."

Just click the "..." icon at the top right of the side bar in Windows Copilot to submit feedback on any issues you run into.

As we begin the rollout for the Windows Copilot Preview to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, please understand that not everyone in the Beta Channel will see it right away. We will continue to increase the rollout in the coming weeks. Windows insiders in the Beta Channel who log in and are managed by AAD (soon to be Microsoft Entra ID (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-entra-azure-ad-blog/azure-ad-is-becoming-microsoft-entra-id/ba-p/2520436)) will see Windows Copilot in a future flight.

Windows Copilot with Bing Chat generates responses that are contextual and improves your experience in Windows. You may see inline recommendations we think are relevant through ads in Bing. We'll continue to learn and listen to customer feedback. Understand what Bing does with your data by visiting Microsoft Privacy Statement (https://aka.ms/privacy). Read more about our responsible AI journey, the ethical principles that guide us, and the tooling and capabilities we've created to assure that we develop AI technology responsibly at Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/responsible-ai).

Please note that not everything shown at Build for Windows Copilot is included in this first, early preview. For example, Windows Copilot has a basic set of Windows settings plugins but no third-party plugin support yet. Over time, features will be added as we refine the Windows Copilot experience with Windows Insiders.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

Dev Drive
Dev Drive is a new form of storage volume available to improve performance for key developer workloads. Dev Drive is built upon Resilient File System (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/storage/refs/refs-overview) (ReFS) technology and includes file system optimizations and features that enable developers to better manage their performance and security profile. It has been designed to meet a developer's needs to host project source code, working folders, and package caches. It is not designed for general consumer workloads such as document libraries, installing packaged applications or non-developer tools.

To setup a Dev Drive, you can create one in free space on an existing drive or create a VHD/VHDX. This is done via Settings > System > For developers, or via the command-line. A Dev Drive must be at least 50GB or higher in size and we recommend having 8GB or higher RAM on your device.

Performance mode, a new capability of Microsoft Defender Antivirus, is designed for Dev Drive to minimize impact on developer workloads.

More details on Dev Drive, see this documentation on MS Learn (https://aka.ms/devdrive).

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Developer Platform > Dev Drive.

Narrator enhances interaction with Excel
Narrator now provides a more succinct and efficient reading experience while working in Microsoft Excel. Announcements are prioritized based on the information you need to skim a workbook and are customizable using convenient keyboard shortcuts. Review the Enhanced Narrator support in Excel documentation (https://prod.support.services.microsoft.com/en-us/office/enhanced-narrator-support-with-excel-48d63a74-a8bf-4f06-9a6e-1c7f6e3cc68d) for further information.

To enable the enhanced announcements, you need to be on the latest Windows Insider and Microsoft 365 Insiders builds and start Narrator using the keyboard shortcut Control + Windows + Enter. The updated experience will be available through the Microsoft Store, so it may take a few minutes to be available on your PC. We look forward to you trying out our new changes and would love to hear your feedback and suggestions.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

New text authoring experiences in voice access
We have added two new experiences to make text authoring easy with voice access. Users can now use "correction" commands to correct words that are misrecognized by voice access.

You can say "correct [text]" or "correct that" to correct a specific piece of text or last dictated text. The correction window appears with a list of options labelled with numbers.

You can say "click [number]" to select any option from the list. If you choose an alternate word from the window, the selected text will be replaced by the word. You can also say "spell that" to dictate the correct spelling of the text.

Users can directly use the "spell that" or "spell out" command to dictate the right spelling of non-standard words such as usernames, topics, etc.  A spelling window appears where you can dictate letters, numbers, symbols, phonetic alphabet, etc. You get suggestions as you spell out the text. You can say "click 1" to enter the text you spelled out or say "click [number]" to pick a suggestion (if any). All words and phrases dictated using spelling experience are added to Windows dictionary and show up as suggestions when you try to spell the text next time.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice Access.

Voice access is now available to use on more areas in Windows
We have added support for voice access to work right when you start your PC. You can use voice access to login to your PC and access other areas on the Lock screen. You can turn on voice access from the accessibility flyout on Lock screen or have it on automatically every time by checking the setting to "Start voice access before you sign in to your PC"  via Settings > Accessibility > Speech.

Note: If you have never tried voice access, we recommend you search for voice access in search on the taskbar and complete the initial setup before trying it first time on the lock screen.

You can follow the instructions on the voice access bar to get your focus on the password field and use your voice to dictate your password or PIN. Alternatively, you can say "show keyboard" to bring up the touch keyboard with number labels on it. You can say the numbers on the keys to enter the letters associated with it. This will mask the actual password you are entering from being heard by anyone in your vicinity.

You can also use other commands such as "show numbers" or "click [element name]" to access other elements on t.

And voice access now works for apps running with Microsoft Defender Application Guard (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-isolation/microsoft-defender-application-guard/md-app-guard-overview).

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice Access.

Passwordless experience with Windows Hello for Business
With Windows Hello for Business (WHFB), Windows provides organizations with a strong, phish-resistant credential, helping customers move to a passwordless future (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/04/how-microsoft-can-help-you-go-passwordless-this-world-password-day/). Enterprise customers can now set the EnablePasswordlessExperience policy (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/client-management/mdm/policy-csp-Authentication?WT.mc_id=Portal-fx#enablepasswordlessexperience) that promotes a user experience on AAD joined machines for core authentication scenarios without requiring a password. This new experience hides passwords from certain Windows authentication scenarios and leverages passwordless recovery mechanisms, such as WHFB PIN reset, if necessary.

Once the policy is set, it removes passwords from the user experience, both for device logon as well as in-session auth scenarios like password managers in a web browser or "Run as" admin scenarios, and User Account Control (UAC). Users will navigate through their core authentication scenarios using WHFB in place of passwords. If the user fails to sign in, recovery mechanisms such as PIN reset or web sign-in can be used to help the user recover their credentials without IT helpdesk engagement.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security and Privacy > Windows Hello PIN.

Improving the screen casting experience
Casting from your Windows PC allows you to wirelessly extend your display to another nearby PC, TV or other external displays. We are making some improvements that focus on educating people about the Cast feature, improving its discoverability, and simplifying the overall experience in Windows 11. Those improvements include:

• When doing multitasking activities on your PC such as often switching between windows to complete a task or using Snap Assist (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/snap-your-windows-885a9b1e-a983-a3b1-16cd-c531795e6241) to organise your screen space, we will provide the suggestion to Cast via a notification toast.
  
• We will now provide inline setup of a PC from within the Cast flyout in Quick Settings, with step-by-step guidance for users to enable:
• Installation of the optional Wireless Display feature.
• Discoverability of the PC to other devices, via the "Projecting to this PC" Settings page.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Display and Graphics > Wireless Display and Casting.

Presence Sensing Improvements
For PCs with presence sensors that support attention detection, we are introducing Adaptive Dimming. Now your device can intelligently dim your screen when you look away and undim when you look back. You will find these settings under Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensing here if your device supports it (https://aka.ms/PrivacySecuritySettings).

Wake on Approach, Lock on Leave, Adaptive Dimming are all powered by Presence Sensing in Windows and now can be enabled via the OOBE (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/customize-oobe-in-windows-11) ("out of box experience") setup process when choosing your privacy settings for your device. This will give more control of the presence sensing features and app access to presence information when setting up a new device with a compatible sensor.

As a reminder, app developers with devices with compatible presence sensors can target apps to request and read user presence information after requesting a human presence capability. Learn more about the API here (https://learn.microsoft.com/uwp/api/windows.devices.sensors.humanpresencesensor?view=winrt-22621).

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Sensors.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2129

[Start menu]

• For people logged into a Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise editions with an AAD account (soon to be Microsoft Entra ID (https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcommunity.microsoft.com%2Ft5%2Fmicrosoft-entra-azure-ad-blog%2Fazure-ad-is-becoming-microsoft-entra-id%2Fba-p%2F2520436&data=05%7C01%7Cbleblanc%40microsoft.com%7C93d1c22f9b364c09759208db8eb28f13%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C638260669819693902%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9oL0cIubGkXDcVMe1dq4nELjPe0YIZSi8UPuzCLe%2Fxw%3D&reserved=0)), we are providing a richer preview when hovering over files such as Word documents under Recommended on the Start menu. For this initial release, thumbnails will not be available for all files and a later update will enable the experience for more files and for MSA users. Additionally, when right-clicking on cloud file recommendations, there is now an option to quickly share these files.
  

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Notifications will now show as a bell in the system tray and when new notifications come through, the bell will colorize based on your system accent color. When there are no notifications and the clock is visible, the bell will be empty. Notification counts are no longer shown.
• The updated API for pinning as mentioned here in this blog post (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2023/03/17/a-principled-approach-to-app-pinning-and-app-defaults-in-windows/) are now included in this build for preview.
  

• [ADDED] As noted in our Beta Channel flight here (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/07/21/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2050-and-22631-2050/), the settings for never combined mode for the taskbar were showing up under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors but do not enable the experience. We have temporarily removed the settings for this to fix the issue. The feature will be coming to a Beta Channel flight soon.
  

[Task Manager]

• We've updated the Task Manager settings page to match the design principles of Windows 11. The design has a similar look and feel to the Settings in Windows 11 and provides a cleaner UI separating categories into different sections. We will also be enabling this in the Dev Channel soon.

[Settings]

• We are improving the user experience when changing time zones, including cases of low confidence in location data. It displays a non-dismissible notification for accepting or rejecting the change and prompts the user for confirmation before adjusting the time zone.
• We are also improving the user experience while changing the time zone via Settings > Time & language > Date & time. If location settings are disabled, a warning is now shown to the user, urging them to enable location settings to ensure accurate time zone adjustments. This warning provides helpful information to the user, helping them understand why their time zone may not be correct and guiding them towards resolving the issue.
  

Fixes in Build 22631.2129

[File Explorer]

• The keyboard shortcuts to set focus to the search box (CTRL + F, CTRL + E, F3) should work now.
• Fixed an issue where the dropdown in the address bar could appear totally blank.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue that was causing quick settings not to open when selecting the network, volume, and battery icons in the system tray.
• Fixed a few issues causing explorer.exe crashes and leading to taskbar reliability issues.

[Notifications]

• Fixed an issue causing Insiders to unexpectedly see a notification suggesting you turn off notifications for an app named NotifyiconGeneratedAumid_*.

[Input]

• Fixed a high hitting ctfmon.exe crash in the last two flights, which could impact the ability to type.

[Task View & Desktops]

• Adjusted the desktops switching animation to ease into the animation a little more.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where some of the app icons in the Startup Apps section of Task Manager were very tiny.
• Fixed an issue where the selection color wasn't displaying correctly if you were using a contrast theme.
• Fixed an issue where focus wasn't getting set correctly to search if the Task Manager window was small enough that search was collapsed to an icon.
• Fixed alignment of Task Manager icon and name in the title bar.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2191 and 22631.2191 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2191-and-22631-2191/)

• Build 22631.2191 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2191 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22631.2191

HDR Background Support
You can now set JXR files to be your desktop background and if you have an HDR display, they will render in full HDR.

First – make sure your device has an HDR display or is connected to a HDR display that supports HDR. You can check this by going to Settings > System > Display and checking the HDR toggle.

Next, download an HDR .JXR file to your device. Then right-click on your desktop, choose "Personalize" and then "Background", and under "Personalize your background" – go and select the .JXR file you downloaded to your device.

You can download example .JXR files here (https://aka.ms/hdr-backgrounds-wip) to try this experience out on your HDR-capable device/display.

The background should load on your display. If you have multiple displays attached to your device, the background will show as HDR or SDR depending on each display's capabilities. When using external displays attached to your device, we recommend running the HDR Calibration app (//'https://www.microsoft.com/store/productid/9N7F2SM5D1LR?ocid=pdpshare') for best picture quality. Please note that for this build, there may be some issues with the HDR version of the desktop background not correctly display on some laptops with HDR.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Background and Wallpaper.

Narrator Natural Voices in French, Portuguese, English (India), German and Korea
We are introducing new natural voices in French, Portuguese, English (India), German and Korean that allow Narrator users to comfortably browse the web, read, and write mail, and do more. Natural Narrator voices use modern (https://nam06.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fresearch%2Fblog%2Fazure-ai-milestone-new-neural-text-to-speech-models-more-closely-mirror-natural-speech%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cbleblanc%40microsoft.com%7Cccc0f0afe1294990ad1008db92b4225a%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C638265074632178921%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xEo5Cvx4AX02W4Caql4gTCpkuGOKZxWlv0Na5vLwutw%3D&reserved=0), on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection.

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

• Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + Ctrl + N hotkey.
• Under Narrator's voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
• Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
• The new French voices are Microsoft Denise (Female) and Microsoft Henri (Male)
  
• The new Portuguese voices are Microsoft Francisca (Female) and Microsoft Antonio (Male)
  
• The new English (India) voices are Microsoft Neerja (Female) and Microsoft Prabhat (Male)
  
• The new German voices are Microsoft Katja (Female) and Microsoft Conrad (Male)
  
• The new Korean voices are Microsoft SunHi (Female) and Microsoft InJoon (Male)
  
• To start the download of the selected voice, select Install. The new voice will download and be ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed.
• When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator's voice > Choose a voice.

Note: If your display language is not set to any of the above languages, then in step 3 you will first need to select "Choose a different language" and then select the appropriate language followed by the specific voice.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2191

[Windows 365]

• Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels can participate in the public preview of Windows 365 Switch. Windows 365 Switch provides the ability to easily move between a Windows 365 Cloud PC and the local desktop using the same familiar keyboard commands, as well as a mouse-click or a swipe gesture through Task View on the Windows 11 taskbar. Please read this blog post for all the details on how to participate (https://microsoft.sharepoint.com/:w:/t/WindowsInsiderProgram/EWzuOzm3lzNImY9K2MQs1aYBm3W6UW2PrNEbRIe6dN8V-A?e=pkyjsz).
  

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• REMINDER:As noted in our Beta Channel flight here (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/07/21/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2050-and-22631-2050/), the settings for never combined mode for the taskbar were showing up under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors but do not enable the experience. We have temporarily removed the settings for this to fix the issue. The feature will be coming to a Beta Channel flight soon.
  

[File Explorer]

• We've added "Share" to the context menu in File Explorer in addition to having the share icon at the top of the context menu.
• Added more fields to show in the Details pane, including image dimensions for pictures, number of pages for .docx, space used and free information for drives, and many others.

[Windows Spotlight]

• After doing an OS update, in certain cases such as using the default Windows 11 background or a solid color – Windows Spotlight may be enabled for you. If you decide you don't want Windows Spotlight enabled, you can turn it off and in future OS updates it should not be enabled for you again unless you choose to re-enable the experience.

Fixes in Build 22631.2191

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to crash when navigating to Home, as well as some other issues causing crashes.
• Fixed a memory leak in File Explorer with the latest updates which could cause explorer.exe crashes and other issues over prolonged usage.
• Fixed an issue where after refreshing Home, actions to pin and unpin favorite files might not work.
• Fixed an issue where the tooltip would get stuck on the screen when you scrolled Home with touch.
• Fixed an issue where collapsing and expanding the sections of Home didn't always work.
• Fixed an issue where Home and Gallery could get stuck in the wrong colors if they were open when changing between light and dark mode.
• Fixed an issue where thumbnails in Gallery might not load after changing the view to a smaller icon size (for example, medium to small).
• Made some small adjustments to the size of elements, including reducing the size of the text.
• The ALT + D, CTRL + L, and F4 keyboard shortcuts should work now to set focus to the address bar.
• Fixed an issue where typing drive letters, %localappdata%, and certain other things in the address bar wasn't causing suggested paths to appear in a dropdown.
• Fixed an issue where the icons displayed in the tabs in File Explorer could become out of sync with the current folder after navigating.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to show "Working on it" in an empty folder.
• Fixed an issue where the image in the Details pane might get blurry after resizing the File Explorer window.
• Fixed an issue where the design of the details pane was displaying from left to right instead of right to left when using Hebrew or Arabic display languages.
• Fixed an issue where the text box for naming newly created files or folders on the desktop was showing in the wrong position (far away or way too close) relative to the thumbnail.
• Fixed an issue where ALT + P and Shift + Alt + P keyboard shortcuts weren't working when focus was set to one of the images in Gallery.
• Fixed an issue where right clicking items in the navigation pane wouldn't open a context menu after you changed folders.
• Fixed an issue which was causing explorer.exe to crash when trying to access an FTP address.
• Fixed an issue where selecting the dropdown arrows in the address bar was opening a blank menu.

[Dynamic Lighting]

• Fixed an issue where devices might show as empty squares in Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2199 and 22631.2199 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/18/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2199-and-22631-2199-beta-channel/)

• Build 22631.2199 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2199 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22631.2199

Native support for reading additional archive file formats
As announced at the Build conference back in May (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2023/05/23/bringing-the-power-of-ai-to-windows-11-unlocking-a-new-era-of-productivity-for-customers-and-developers-with-windows-copilot-and-dev-home/), this build adds native support for reading additional archive file formats using the libarchive open-source project (https://github.com/libarchive/libarchive) such as:

• .tar
• .tar.gz
• .tar.bz2
• .tar.zst
• .tar.xz
• .tgz
• .tbz2
• .tzst
• .txz
• .rar
• .7z
• And more!

Please note that encrypted archives are currently not supported.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File Explorer.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2199

[Start menu]

• For files that do not have rich thumbnail previews that can be provided, it will no longer show a blank preview area. This is part of the work for rich thumbnail previews (tooltips) for cloud files on Start that began rolling out with Build 22631.2129 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2129-and-22631-2129/).
  

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• You can now turn on never combined mode on the taskbar by right-clicking on the taskbar, choosing "Taskbar settings" and under "Taskbar behaviors" simply adjusting "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels" to never. And we provide a separate setting for turning this on for other taskbars (multiple monitor scenarios for example).

[Narrator]
We have made the following improvements for Narrator:

• Changed default verbosity level from 2 to 3 which will now announce "Immediate Context Name and Type". The Control context type like "list" or "toolbar" will allow users to better understand the focused control – same default as JAWS and NVDA.
• Narrator users are unblocked for typing Traditional Chinese characters in Windows by addition of Traditional Chinese dictionary for detailed reading.

We have made the following improvements for Narrator with Braille:

• When navigating to any attachment in Outlook with scan mode, narrator announces the & of the attachment, the same is now reflected on braille display.
• Navigate to different headings in Scan Mode using down arrow, or 'Space + 4' key in Braille device, now navigating to heading is reflected in Braille.
• When navigating a list with items , whenever Narrator announces index with the menu item name, Braille display also reflects the same index values as "1 of 4".

[Settings]

• The end task feature under System > For Developers no longer requires Developer Mode to be enabled first before it can be used.

Fixes in Build 22631.2199

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue causing app icons in the taskbar to not be able to move, and start overlapping once you tried to do this, in the previous flight.
• Fixed an issue causing the safely remove hardware icon to not appear when expected in the system tray.
• Fixed an issue where the End Task feature wasn't working if you tried it when there were multiple windows open of that app.
• Fixed an issue where using End Task on certain apps would cause other unrelated apps to close.

[File Explorer]

• We've done some work to improve the performance of archive functionality during compression on Windows.

[Input]

• Fixed an issue causing typing with the Japanese and Chinese IMEs to not work correctly after the latest flights for some Insiders.

[Narrator]

• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not reading various list items in a combo box on various web pages when navigating with up and down arrow.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was incorrectly announcing combo boxes as read-only even when users could actually select different values from the combo box list items.
• Addressed the issue where Narrator was not announcing the checked and unchecked status of radio buttons but was announcing selected for every item.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing older information while navigating in date/time picker using arrow keys.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was incorrectly reading contents of previous cell and the current cell when navigating in a table using right and left arrow keys.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator is incorrectly reading older Window title even after navigating to inner control.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator is reading entire paragraph when up arrow is invoked in online word document.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was incorrectly reading out last word of previous paragraph when a new paragraph started with a punctuation mark.
• Fixed a bug where Narrator was not announcing the character being deleted when using backspace key in some text fields on the web.
• Fixed an issue in narrator where while entering any number in CVV edit field, Narrator should only announce as "hidden", instead of "CVV edit, hidden new line selected".
• Fixed an issue where Narrator is not able to detect different headings on some web pages in scan mode while using "h" key to navigate.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator scan mode arrow navigation skipped first item in container.
• Fixed an issue, where Narrator is skipping the first item after navigating via landmark using "d" key in scan mode.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator focus did not move past the first check box if there was a list of check boxes when using up and down arrow key in scan mode.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not activating combo box when navigating using up and down arrow and using enter/spacebar to activate it in scan mode.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator would collapse the combo boxes in scan mode when navigating with up and down arrows.
• Fixed an issue where navigation commands are not executed as expected in a dialog box when you enter the dialog the second time.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator find was not working consistently on web pages when using Narrator key + Ctrl + F key combination.

[HDR Wallpaper]

• Fixed an issue where your HDR wallpaper might appear washed out although HDR was enabled.
• Fixed an issue where it wasn't possible to select .JXL files for your wallpaper slideshow.

[Task Manager]

• Updated the summary view for the Performance page (that you see when double clicking the graphs in the navigation pane) to make the window smaller.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.2199 & Build 22631.2199

• New! This update adds new functionality that affects app defaults. To learn more, see A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2023/03/17/a-principled-approach-to-app-pinning-and-app-defaults-in-windows/).
  
• This update addresses an issue that causes Windows to fail. This occurs when you use BitLocker on a storage medium that has a large sector size.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop sessions. Sometimes you receive a wrong error message when you try to sign in to a session.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the search icon. When you select it, the Search app does not open. This occurs after a machine has been asleep.
• This update addresses an issue that affects It does not correctly identify the search box on the taskbar and search highlights within the search box.
• This update adds a new API for D3D12 Independent Devices. You can use it to create multiple D3D12 devices on the same adapter. To learn more, see D3D12 Independent Devices (https://microsoft.github.io/DirectX-Specs/d3d/IndependentDevices.html).
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects disk partitions. The system might stop working. This occurs after you delete a disk partition and add the space from the deleted partition to an existing BitLocker partition.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Start menu icons. They are missing after you sign in for the first time.
• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Israel.
• This update improves the reliability of the Search app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects print jobs that are sent to a virtual print queue. They fail without an error.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the search box size. Its size is reduced in tablet posture mode on Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Book devices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the TAB key. Using it to browse search results requires additional actions.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Group Policy Service. It will not wait for 30 seconds, which is the default wait time, for the network to be available. Because of this, policies are not correctly processed.
• This update addresses an issue that affects settings. They do not sync even if you turn on the toggle on the Windows Backup page in the Settings app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP). The Windows LAPS "BackupDirectory" policy setting was not being reported. This occurs when the setting is set to 1, which is "Back up to AAD."
• This update addresses an issue that causes high CPU use. This occurs when you enable the "fBlockNonDomain policy."
• The update addresses an issue that affects those who use Windows Update for Business. After you are asked to change your password at sign in, the change operation fails. Then you cannot sign in. The error code is 0xc000006d.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a WS_EX_LAYERED window. The window might render with the wrong dimensions or at the wrong position. This occurs when you scale the display screen.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2262 and 22631.2262 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2262-and-22631-2262-beta-channel/)


IMPORTANT: Due to the bug in the previous Beta Channel flight (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/18/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2199-and-22631-2199-beta-channel/), the "Check for updates" button does not appear as expected under Settings > Windows Update. As a workaround to get this update immediately, you can open Windows Terminal (or the Run dialog) and enter the USOClient StartInteractiveScan command which will perform the same function as clicking the "Check for updates" button in Windows Update. Note that running the command will not display any output. To confirm that the operation was successful, you can run the command while the Windows Update settings page is open. You should see your device checking for updates. Once you're on this new build, the "Check for updates" button will appear again as expected. Without doing this workaround, this new build will install automatically on its own over the next day or two. Also see this forum post (https://aka.ms/2262LCUCheck).

• Build 22631.2262 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2262 = New features off by default.
  

What's new in Build 22631.2262

Introducing the new Settings homepage
We're introducing a new homepage in Settings that offers you a dynamic and personalized experience. It provides an overview of your device, quick access to key settings, and helps manage your Microsoft account.

We created interactive cards that represent various device and account related settings, grouped by commonly accessed functions. Each card is optimized to offer the most relevant information and controls at your fingertips. In this release, you'll see up to seven cards, with more coming soon.

Here's an overview of each card:

• Recommended settings: This card adapts to your specific usage patterns, providing timely and relevant settings options. It's designed to streamline your settings management and save you time.
  
• Cloud storage: Gives you an overview of your cloud storage use and lets you know when you're nearing capacity.
  
• Account recovery: Helps keep your Microsoft account more secure by helping you add additional recovery info so you never get locked out of your account, even if you forget your password.
  
• Personalization: Brings customization to the forefront by offering one-click access to update your background theme or change your color mode.
  
• Microsoft 365: Provides a quick glimpse of your subscription status and benefits, along with the ability to take some key actions right in Settings instead of going to the web.
  
• Xbox: Similar to the Microsoft 365 card, you'll be able to view your subscription status and manage the subscription from the Settings app.
  
• Bluetooth Devices: To simplify your Bluetooth device management experience, we've brought this to the forefront so you can quickly access and connect to your favorite Bluetooth-enabled devices.
  

You can take swift actions directly from this page with just a click, making device and account management seamless and efficient. What sets the homepage apart even further is that it's more than just a landing page—it evolves and learns with you. As you use your device, it'll adjust to provide the most relevant and useful information based on your usage and preferences.

NOTE: This experience will only be available on Windows 11 Home and Pro editions and not on devices managed by organizations.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Settings > Settings Homepage.

Backup and Restore improvements
Building on the app restore (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2022/05/24/microsoft-store-grows-with-the-developer-community/) feature we announced last year, we are introducing additional backup and restore capabilities in this build to make moving to a new PC easier than ever and to help app developers retain users across this new PC transition. The goal of these changes is to land users on a desktop that feels familiar to them and get them back to productivity within minutes on their new PC.

• Windows Backup app – we're introducing this new app to quickly get your current PC backed up and ready to move to a new PC.
• App pins – your Store apps from your prior PC will be pinned where you left them, both on taskbar and in the Start menu.
• Settings – Settings from your previous device will restore to your new PC to help you get back into the flow as quickly as possible.

Once you're backed up either via the new Windows Backup app or by visiting Accounts/Windows Backup in settings, you can try out the new restore during the out-of-box- experience (OOBE) when setting up a new PC or by resetting an existing PC (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/push-button-reset-overview?view=windows-11) with this build.

Users will see pins for their desktop app restored on the taskbar and Start Menu, including desktop apps that were not installed from the Microsoft Store.

Desktop apps that are available in the Microsoft Store can be restored by clicking on the app pin to get started.  For apps that aren't available in the Microsoft Store, you'll be directed to the web to download the installer.

NOTE: An easy way for Insiders to try this experience out is by running the Windows Backup app on a PC running this build and choosing "Reset this PC" under Settings > System > Recovery and then going through OOBE for the new restore experience.

For developers, review the developer best practices (https://aka.ms/AppRestore) to learn more about how to provide the best restore experience for your app. Note that in this build not all settings and app types are supported, including Android apps. Backing up a Work or School account is also not supported.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Install and Update > Backup and Restore.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2262

[File Explorer]

• Made some changes which should noticeably help improve the performance of the "calculating" phase when sending a large number of files at once in File Explorer to the recycle bin.

[Cast]

• Building off the Cast improvements introduced with Build 22631.2129 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2129-and-22631-2129/), we have updated the Cast flyout in Quick Settings with additional support for you in case you face any trouble discovering nearby displays, fixing connections, and more.
  

[Dynamic Lighting]

• You can now instantly sync your Windows accent color with the devices around you with the "Match my Windows accent color" toggle under "Effects" for Dynamic Lighting via Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting.
• We have added the ability to choose a custom color to light up your devices with.

Fixes in Build 22631.2262

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue where after upgrading the Bluetooth icon in the system tray might not display in the system tray after upgrade even though your PC supported Bluetooth and the Bluetooth options were shown in Settings.
• Fixed an issue where the new bell icon might be very difficult to see in some cases because it was using a dark outline when your taskbar was dark.
• Fixed an issue where the titles were missing from taskbar previews when turning on tablet-optimized taskbar while using uncombined taskbar.
• Fixed an issue where app icons on the taskbar would become empty (with no icon) in recent Insider builds after switching between desktops.
• Fixed an issue where if the taskbar was set to uncombined it would still show animations even if they'd been turned off.
• Disabled the setting for uncombining taskbar buttons on other screens by default when no secondary monitors are connected.
• Fixed an issue where using drag to rearrange icons in the overflow area wasn't working well when the taskbar was set to uncombined.
• Fixed an issue where uncombined taskbar's app indicators weren't shown correctly after it showed something was being downloaded.
• Fixed an issue where the hidden icons flyout might close unexpectedly when using keyboard navigation to move focus between icons.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where in some cases, the context menu background in File Explorer appeared transparent. This also impacted the command bar dropdown menus.
• Fixed an issue where the context menu and dropdown menus in File Explorer weren't working with touch.
• Fixed an issue which was causing the search box in File Explorer to not work well with IMEs.
• Fixed a white flash in dark mode when switching between Home and Gallery.
• Fixed an issue impacted File Explorer reliability.
• Fixed an issue where "Automatically type into the Search Box" wasn't working when File Explorer was open to Home.
• Fixed an issue where pasting using the context menu in the address bar wasn't working (or other context menu actions in the address bar).
• Added a little more space between Home in the navigation page and the bottom of the command bar.

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where typing with the Japanese and Chinese IMEs may not have performed as expected in certain apps in the last few flights when you had selected the option to use the previous version of the IME. If you are continuing to experience issues with this build installed, please file feedback.
• Fixed an issue where when inking into a text field, if you were writing in Chinese, certain characters were being perceived as taps and not working.
• Fixed an issue where inking into a text field while magnifier was running was not working well as the ink was offset.

[HDR Wallpapers]

• Fixed an issue which could cause sporadic explorer.exe crashes when using an HDR wallpaper.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where Task Manager was crashing when using the reset to default button in Settings.
• Did some work to help improve the performance when switching between different pages in Task Manager.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue which could cause sporadic explorer.exe crashes when using an HDR wallpaper.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.2262 & Build 22631.2262

• We fixed the issue causing the "Check for updates" button to not appear as expected under Settings > Windows Update. After updating to this build, the "Check for updates" button should appear as expected. If you are on the previous Beta Channel flight, you can manually check for updates by opening Windows Terminal (or the Run dialog) and entering the USOClient StartInteractiveScan command which will perform the same function as clicking the "Check for updates" button in Windows Update. Note that running the command will not display any output. To confirm that the operation was successful, you can run the command while the Windows Update settings page is open. You should see your device checking for updates.
• Fixed an issue where removing a monitor while connected to a Cloud PC could result in a black screen with only a mouse visible in recent builds.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2265 and 22631.2265 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/31/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2265-and-22631-2265-beta-channel/)

Note: An issue with this update not being available to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel is being investigated. The issue has been resolved.

Build 22631.2265 = New features rolling out.
Build 22621.2265 = New features off by default.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2265

[Emoji]

• With the update of our color font format to COLRv1 (https://learn.microsoft.com/typography/opentype/spec/colr#colr-version-1-rendering-algorithm), Windows is now able to display richer emoji with a 3D like appearance with support coming soon to some apps and browsers. These emoji use gradients to bring the design style that our customers have been asking for. The new emoji will bring more expression to your communications.
  

[Settings]

• The new Settings homepage which began rolling out with last week's Beta Channel flight (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/24/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2262-and-22631-2262-beta-channel/) should now be available to all Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel.
  

Fixes in Build 22631.2265

[General]

• Fixed an issue causing explorer.exe to crash on the login screen when attempting to enter safe mode.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue which was causing apps in the taskbar to appear cut off without a rounded corner on the end when you had a lot of app windows open and the taskbar was set to not combine.
• Fixed an explorer.exe crash impacting taskbar appearing correctly after powering on your device.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed a few crashes impacting File Explorer launch reliability.
• Did some work to help improve File Explorer launch performance in certain scenarios.
• Fixed an issue where the icons on the desktop may all go blank.
• Fixed an issue where using the Reset Folders button in Folder Options could cause explorer.exe to crash.
• Fixed an issue where if you tried to copy and paste a file out of a compressed folder and into a OneDrive folder might fail with an error code.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to crash when navigating to Gallery if you had a large number of images.
• Fixed an issue where saving files to OneDrive locations in File Explorer could take a very long time, making it seem like the app you were saving from had become unresponsive, in the latest Insider builds.
• Fixed an issue where "Automatically type into the Search Box" wasn't working when File Explorer was open to Home.
• Fixed an issue where the chevrons in the File Explorer address bar were pointing in the wrong direction if your display language was set to Arabic or Hebrew.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue which was causing some labels to be missing across various places in Settings in the last couple flights.
• Did some work to help improve the performance of opening Settings for Insiders with the new Home page.

[Dev Drive]

• Fixed an issue where Dev Drives might not auto-mount after upgrading to a new build, causing apps that tried to access them to not work.
• Improved error messages if Dev Drives fail to format.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where if you did a search and then cleared it, the view would still be filtered.
• Fixed an issue which was causing sporadic crashes when using Task Manager, including when ending tasks.
• Fixed an issue where the search icon could become overlapped with the Task Manager text in the title bar.
• Fixed an issue where it wasn't possible to move the Task Manager window with touch or pen.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2271 and 22631.2271 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/09/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2271-and-22631-2271-beta-channel/)

• Build 22631.2271 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2271 = New features off by default.
  

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2271

[Windows Ink]

• The Windows Ink improvements introduced with Build 22631.2050 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/07/21/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2050-and-22631-2050/) that enabled inking directly onto edit fields is being temporarily disabled for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel while we fix some bugs impacting the usability of this experience.
  

Fixes in Build 22631.2271

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where the progress wheel in the tab would get stuck showing that File Explorer was loading a folder when the loading had already finished.
• Fixed an issue where rapidly opening two File Explorer windows might make explorer.exe crash.
• Fixed an issue which could make explorer.exe crash when navigating away from Home.
• Fixed an issue where trying to open Gallery after new images had been added might result in a crash.
• Made a few more fixes to help improve File Explorer launch performance, including fixing a leak which would impact performance over time.
• Fixed an issue where File Explorer sorting changes wouldn't persist in folders after you navigated away and back.
• Fixed an issue which could cause the icons in File Explorer tabs to be incorrect.

[Windows Copilot]

• Fixed an issue that was causing the Windows Copilot icon in the taskbar to be flipped backwards for right-to-left languages.

[Input]

• Fixed a high hitting tabtip.exe crash that may have impacted the ability to type in the last couple flights.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue where switching search to be an icon in Taskbar Settings could cause explorer.exe to crash.

[Dev Drive]

• Fixed an issue where it wasn't possible to paste a folder path to mount into the dialog when creating a new Dev Drive.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue that could cause Task Manager to crash when using the end task option in the Details page recent builds.

[HDR Wallpaper]

• Fixed a sporadic explorer.exe crash related to the use of an HDR wallpaper.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue where trying to take window mode screenshots was taking screenshots of the entire screen instead of the app in focus for some Insiders.

Microsoft Store Update
Windows Insiders in all channels running version 22308.1401.x.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

New Game Pass page: Explore and subscribe to PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate through our new dedicated page. With the new experience, you can learn about Game Pass benefits, such as exclusive games, deals, free perks, EA Play, and more. It's also easier to discover, jump in, and play your next favorite game, including Day One games, new games on Game Pass, Bethesda games, and more.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

New Updates for Snipping Tool and Notepad for Windows Insiders (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/31/new-updates-for-snipping-tool-and-notepad-for-windows-insiders/)

Snipping Tool (version 11.2307.44.0)

With this update to Snipping Tool, we are introducing the combined capture bar, making it easier to switch between capturing screenshots and screen recordings without having to open the app. Use the Print Screen or Win + Shift + S keyboard shortcuts to open the capture bar for snipping, where you will continue to find the familiar snipping modes or try the new Win + Shift + R keyboard shortcut to open the capture bar for recording.

We are also improving the screen recording experience based on your feedback by introducing support for optionally recording your PC audio and voice overs using a microphone. New app settings let you configure the default audio recording settings for new screen recordings, and if you have multiple recording devices, you can select your preferred recording device before you start recording.

We are aware of an issue where some users might unexpectedly see a pop-up dialog when taking a screenshot asking you to "Select an app to open this 'ms-screenclip' link". If you encounter this dialog, please select "Snipping Tool".

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool (https://aka.ms/snippingtoolfeedback).

Notepad (version 11.2307.22.0)

With this update, Notepad will start automatically saving your session state allowing you to close Notepad without any interrupting dialogs and then pick up where you left off when you return. Notepad will automatically restore previously open tabs as well as unsaved content and edits across those open tabs. Saved session state does not impact any of your files, though, and it is still your choice whether to save or discard unsaved changes to files anytime you close a tab. You can turn this feature off in app settings if you would prefer to have a fresh start every time you open Notepad.

We are aware of an issue where some users might unexpectedly see a pop-up dialog when taking a screenshot asking you to "Select an app to open this 'ms-screenclip' link". If you encounter this dialog, please select "Snipping Tool".

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool (https://aka.ms/snippingtoolfeedback).

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.2338 and 22631.2338 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/09/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2338-and-22631-2338-beta-channel/)

• Build 22631.2338 = New features rolling out.
  
• Build 22621.2338 = New features off by default.
  

New Widget: Focus Session
We are beginning to roll out a new Focus Session widget as part of a Clock app update (version 11.2306.22.0 and higher) via the Microsoft Store to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. With this new widget, you will be able to quickly start and stop focus sessions on your device.
[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Clock App.

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.2338

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Beginning to roll out with this build, Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free (https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/teams-for-home). Microsoft Teams – Free is pinned by default to the taskbar and can be unpinned like other apps on the taskbar.
  

Fixes in Build 22631.2338

[General]

• Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders to see untranslated text in some areas across the system, including in File Explorer and Settings. If you're continuing to see issues with translations, please file feedback.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue where dragging app icons in the taskbar may sometimes lead to an explorer.exe crash.
• Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders to see labels in their taskbar unexpectedly.
• Fixed an issue causing Task Manager to not launch for some Insiders.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue for dark mode users, where you would see a white flash when opening File Explorer.
• Fixed an issue where after changing between dark and light mode, the icons in the command bar and context menu might become very difficult to see.
• We made some more improvements to help with the performance of loading Home. Also fixed a memory leak related to Home that would grow each time Home was refreshed or accessed.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue where Settings wasn't launching in safe mode for some Insiders.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where the dialog when collecting a process memory dump erroneously said it was collecting a kernel memory dump.

[Dynamic Lighting]

• Fixed an issue where you may not see the notification on first update to a build with dynamic lighting, letting you know that dynamic lighting is enabled.

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.2338 & Build 22631.2338

• The Camera app, Cortana, Photos app, and People app can be uninstalled.
• New! This update completes the work to comply with the GB18030-2022 requirements. It removes and remaps characters for Microsoft Wubi input and Microsoft Pinyin U-mode input. You can no longer enter character codepoints that are not supported. All the required codepoints are up to date.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects sleep mode. After you resume from sleep, a blank window appears that has the title "Windows Input Experience."
• This update affects the Key Distribution Center (KDC) and user security identifiers (SID). KDC now reads the user SID from the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) of a certificate. Because of this, mobile device management (MDM) providers can use offline templates to fill in the user SID. To learn more, see KB5014754 (//'https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5014754-certificate-based-authentication-changes-on-windows-domain-controllers-ad2c23b0-15d8-4340-a468-4d4f3b188f16').
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects IMEPad. It stops working. This occurs when you enter end-user-defined characters (EUDC).
• This update addresses an issue that affects authentication. Using a smart card to join or rejoin a computer to an Active Directory domain might fail. This occurs after you install Windows updates dated October 2022 or later. For more details, see KB5020276 (//'https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5020276-netjoin-domain-join-hardening-changes-2b65a0f3-1f4c-42ef-ac0f-1caaf421baf8').
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Excel. It stops responding when you try to share a file as a PDF in Microsoft Outlook.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Apps. The display of some elements is not aligned correctly.
• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Greenland.
• This update addresses an issue that affects account lockout event 4625. The format of the event is wrong in the ForwardedEvents log. This occurs when an account name is in the user principal name (UPN) format.
• This update addresses an issue that affects XPath queries on FileHash and other binary fields. It stops them from matching values in event records.
• This update changes the spelling of Ukraine's capital from Kiev to Kyiv.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). AppID Tagging policies might greatly increase how long it takes your device to start up.
• This update addresses an issue that affects events that have a TAB character. The events do not render, or you cannot forward them.
• This update addresses an issue that might make Windows stop responding. This might occur if you use Microsoft OneDrive files that are compressed by NTFS.
• This update addresses an issue that might cause a user-mode memory leak. It might occur when you call CopyFile() or MoveFile().
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects an Application Virtualization (App-V) environment. Copy operations within it stop working. This occurs after you install the April 2023 update.
• This update addresses an issue that affects some USB printers. Microsoft Defender stops them from printing.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Print to PDF. It uses the metadata for the name you sign in with as the author of a printed PDF. It should use the display name instead.
• This update addresses an issue that is related to changes in the forwarding of events.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). It has a handle leak. Because of this, the system runs out of memory.
• This update removes a blank menu item from the Sticky Keys menu. This issue occurs after you install KB5029351.
• This update addresses an issue that affects application compatibility. It is related to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2419 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/10/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2419-beta-channel/)

81ce-6f6dad2cd384]an enablement package[/URL] to ALL Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel – we no longer will have a build number split and everyone in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build. Instead, we will be enabling new features via Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delivering-continuous-innovation-in-windows-11-b0aa0a27-ea9a-4365-9224-cb155e517f12) to Insiders in the Beta Channel on Build 22635, the revision number incremented with each weekly update (the .2419 is the revision number for example with today's flight and this is what will increment with future flights). It should not be assumed that this build number will be used beyond the Beta Channel.

For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes gradually rolling out to everyone in the Beta Channel. Please note that for today's flight to the Beta Channel, there are no new features or improvements rolling out specifically for Insiders who have turned on the toggle.

One more thing...

To celebrate the 9-year anniversary of the Windows Insider Program this month, we are releasing two new special desktop backgrounds for you to download and use with Insider Preview builds. Download the light theme version here (https://aka.ms/WIP9thAnniWallpaperL) and download the dark theme version here (https://aka.ms/WIP9thAnniWallpaperD). Thank you for being Windows Insiders! All Insiders will receive the below 9-year anniversary badge in Feedback Hub!

New features gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

Windows Ink Improvements
In Build 22631.2271 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/09/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2271-and-22631-2271-beta-channel/), the new Windows Ink experience allowing users to ink directly onto edit fields was disabled in the Beta Channel to allow for additional bug fixes. Today, we are re-enabling this feature with an update that includes a number of fixes and we are excited for you to try it out. As before, the experience supports English (U.S.) only and can be managed via Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Pen & Windows Ink under "Shell Handwriting".

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback before pushing it out to everyone.] 

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Input and Language > Pen input.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Copilot in Windows**]

• Copilot in Windows now shows the new icon on the taskbar.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• Fixed an issue where explorer.exe was crashing for Insiders in the previous flight when you tried to open File Explorer by using Open File Location in an app.
• This update addresses an issue that causes delays when you sign in. This occurs when a tablet pen is connected to your device.
• This update addresses an issue that affects iCloud Calendar and Contacts. Outlooks fails to properly sync them when you use the iCloud for Windows app. To resume syncing, follow the steps in this Apple Support article (https://support.apple.com/HT203521).
  

Microsoft Store Update
Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels running version 22309.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

Visual refresh of Windows license pages: We've improved the look and feel of Windows license pages in the Microsoft Store to be consistent with Windows 11. The pages provide comparison tables between Windows editions to help make it easier to choose what license is best for you.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2483 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/10/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2483-beta-channel/)

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel. Please note that for today's flight to the Beta Channel, there are no new features or improvements rolling out specifically for Insiders who have turned on the toggle.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Emoji]

• We are temporarily disabling the update of our color font format to COLRv1 (https://learn.microsoft.com/typography/opentype/spec/colr#colr-version-1-rendering-algorithm) (first introduced in Build 22631.2265 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/31/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2265-and-22631-2265-beta-channel/)) that displayed richer emoji with a 3D like appearance to fix some bugs. We plan to re-enable this in a future Beta Channel flight.
  

[Other]

• In the European Economic Area (EEA), Windows will now require consent to share data between Windows and other signed-in Microsoft services. You will see some Windows features start to check for consent now, with more being added in future builds. Without consent to share data between Windows and other signed-in Microsoft services, some functionality in Windows features may be unavailable, for example certain types of file recommendations under "Recommended" on the Start menu.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• Fixed an issue which was causing search to crash on launch for some Insiders in the previous flight.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2486 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/10/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2486-beta-channel/)

Changes in Beta Channel builds will now be released in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel. Please note that for today's flight to the Beta Channel, there are no new features or improvements rolling out specifically for Insiders who have turned on the toggle.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Start menu]

• Under All apps in the Start menu, Windows 11 system components will now show a "system" label.
• The Xbox Game Bar will now show as just Game Bar under the Start menu and also under Settings > System > Apps > Installed apps. This change will come through a Game Bar update via the Microsoft Store.

[Casting]

• The improved screen casting experience introduced with Build 22631.2129 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-2129-and-22631-2129/) has been temporarily disabled to fix some bugs. We plan to re-enable this in a future Beta Channel flight.
  

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• Fixed an issue causing Start menu to crash on launch if the display language was set to Czech or Slovak.
• Fixed an issue where the search icon in the taskbar wasn't appearing correctly for people using search icon and label.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2552 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/10/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2552-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Settings]

• System Components currently listed in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps page, have moved to its own page under Settings > System > System Components.
  
• Xbox Game Bar is now Game Bar under Settings > Gaming.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• New! This update adds new customization options for Dynamic Lighting OEMs. You can now customize OS images for new PCs. This includes setting up Dynamic Lighting defaults.
  
• This update supports the currency change in Croatia from the Kuna to the Euro.
• This update addresses an issue that affects cellular settings. The name of the mobile operator is wrong.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs after you run a Push-button reset (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/how-push-button-reset-features-work?view=windows-11). You cannot set up Windows Hello facial recognition. This affects devices that have Windows Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) turned on.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects fontdrvhost.exe. It stops responding when you use Compact Font Format version 2 (CFF2) fonts.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Mixed Reality. Microsoft Store stops responding when you try to access it using Windows Mixed Reality headsets.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Widgets notification badge. It is in the wrong position on the taskbar.
• This update addresses an issue that affects PowerShell versions greater than 7.3.1. It might block scripts and not let them run in Constrained Language Mode. This occurs when you turn on a WDAC policy.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Automatically Hide the Taskbar setting. You cannot set it using the SHAppBarMessage()
  
• This update changes the English name of the former Republic of Turkey. The new, official name is the Republic of Türkiye.
• This update addresses an issue that affects devices on which you have defined Windows Information Protection (WIP) policies and set up a proxy. A stop error occurs. This happens on devices that use Microsoft Defender Application Guard. In the past, WIP was known as enterprise data protection (EDP).
• This update addresses a memory leak in ctfmon.exe.
  
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you use Universal Print to add a printer using its location. When you browse the tree view structure, the tree nodes do not work as you expect.
• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in To learn more, see Interim guidance for Syria DST changes 2022 (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/daylight-saving-time-time-zone/interim-guidance-for-syria-dst-changes-2022/ba-p/3911223).
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Device Management (DM) client. The sync session takes longer than you expect for the enrollment status page (ESP).
• This update addresses an issue that affects touchscreens. They do not work properly when you use more than one display.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Firewall Profile. When you are on a domain authenticated network, it detects a public domain. This is wrong.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Outlook. It stops responding. This occurs when you print to an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer that has a slow response time.
• This update addresses a memory leak in TextInputHost.exe.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects robocopy. The /efsraw switch stops it from copying data properly.
  
• This update addresses an error that occurs when you print using v4 print drivers.
• This update improves the performance of the search box experience.
• This update addresses a Firewall configuration service provider (CSP) issue. It stops a device from syncing.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that blocks external connections. This occurs when you set up a Kubernetes load balanced service and turn on session affinity.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Dynamic Lighting. The default provider is not applied as expected. This occurs when you set it up using Unattend files.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It stops responding. This occurs when you use Microsoft OneDrive.
• This update addresses an issue which could cause explorer.exe to crash when snapping or moving windows which were part of snap groups.
• This update addresses an issue which causes File Explorer to go unresponsive when using the option to browse for an app from the Open With dialog. The hang occurred if you tried to use the search box in the window while an IME was active.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2700 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2700-beta-channel/)

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel. Please note that for today's flight to the Beta Channel, there are no new features or improvements rolling out specifically for Insiders who have turned on the toggle.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing the setting to turn off using drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop to not work at all recently.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2771 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2771-beta-channel/)

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

Natural Voices Previews in Narrator
We are introducing previews for natural voices of 10 new locales launched in September 2023. As a reminder, those natural voices include Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Japanese, English (UK), French, Portuguese, English (India), German and Korean.

These previews will allow the users to listen to the natural voices before downloading the voice model. Natural Narrator voices use modern (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/azure-ai-milestone-new-neural-text-to-speech-models-more-closely-mirror-natural-speech/), on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection. Please note to listen to the previews, an internet connection is required.

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

• Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + CTRL + N hotkey.
• Under Narrator's voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
• Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
• The preview will play automatically once you navigate through the list.
• If you like the preview , click on "Download and Install". The new voice will be downloaded and ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed.
• When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator's voice > Choose a voice.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Enhanced image consumption experience in Narrator 
We are improving the image consumption experience with Narrator. There are two major changes:

• We have introduced a new keyboard command for navigating between the images/graphics on a screen/page. Now, you can use the keys "G" or "Shift + G" to navigate forward or backwards between images in Scan mode (Narrator key + spacebar).
• Recognition of text in images, including handwriting, is improved along with improvements to overall image descriptions. You can try the enhanced experience by navigating to the image and pressing Narrator key + CTRL + D key combination when the focus is on an image. This feature requires an active internet connection, and the setting to get Image Descriptions must be enabled in Narrator Settings.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Narrator]

• In Microsoft Word, Narrator will now announce the presence of a draft comment, a resolved comment, a bookmark, or the availability of accessibility suggestions when reading text in the document.

[Windows Share]

• We have significantly improved nearby share transfer speed for users on same network. Before these changes, users had to be on the same private network but now users just have to be on the same network, which could be public or private. You can quickly turn on nearby share via Quick Settings and simply right-click on a local file in File Explorer, choose "Share", and choose to share to a device listed under Nearby Share in the Windows share window.
• The Windows share window will now only show apps under "Share using" that are tied to the account you are signed into Windows with – either Microsoft account (MSA) or Microsoft Entra ID (previously Azure Active Directory). If you are signed in with an MSA, you will see Microsoft Teams (free) instead of Microsoft Teams (work or school) and not both for example.
• If you're signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts will appear in the Windows share window to quickly share to.

[Nearby Sharing]

• If you turn on nearby sharing via quick settings or directly in Settings and you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, it will turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on so nearby sharing will work as expected. If you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it will also turn off nearby sharing.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Narrator]

• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not correctly announcing the selected item in combo boxes when users try to change the combo box value using key combination Control + up or down arrow.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing old dialog names even after users navigate to new dialog on few web pages.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was not reading Role of a control in tables on the web while using table navigation commands CTRL + ALT + Arrow keys.
• Fixed an issue in Microsoft Excel where Narrator was not consistently reading any item in the auto-complete list that comes when writing a formula.
• Addressed an issue where Narrator was not announcing the selected state of menu items in few applications such as device manager.
• Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing both the unselected value and the newly selected value in elements such as date fields or any elements that are formatted as tables.

[Magnifier]

• Fixed an issue in Magnifier settings page where the text below "voice speed" slider was not following the color contrast guidelines.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue where Home was unexpectedly showing some users that there was NaN% storage left.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue which was causing the share window to crash for some Insiders recently.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Copilot in Windows**]

• We're beginning to roll out the ability to use Copilot in Windows with ALT + TAB. Using the ALT + TAB hotkey now displays the thumbnail preview for Copilot in Windows among the other thumbnail previews of open windows, which you can switch between by pressing Tab. This change does not change the ALT + TAB experience in Windows 11. Copilot only shows in ALT + TAB if Copilot is invoked from the taskbar.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• We fixed the issue that was causing Snipping Tool to crash when taking a capture on Arm devices.
• This update addresses an issue that stops File Explorer from opening.
• Fixed an issue where Settings Home might show a prompt to sign into your Microsoft account, and fail to sign in if you tried to use it, even though Settings itself showed you were already signed in.

Snipping Tool Update
We are rolling out Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel improving HDR display support. Screenshots and screen recording on displays with HDR enabled should be able to better display colors.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool (https://aka.ms/snippingtoolfeedback).

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2776 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/28/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2776-beta-channel/)

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Windows Share]

• If you're signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, in addition to being able to share to your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts, you can also now share directly to specific Microsoft Teams Channels and groups chats as well directly within the Windows share window.

[Windows Ink]

• We are expanding the ability to use digital handwriting (inking) in some edit boxes for Windows Ink to the following languages and locales: Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (United Kingdom), French (Canada), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Japanese (Japan), Korean (Korea)Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Mexico), and Spanish (Spain). This also includes more accurate recognition technology, gestures to delete, select, join, and split words and also gesture to insert a new line.

[Task Manager]

• We improved process grouping in the processes page for Task Manager.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Desktops]

• Fixed an issue that made the desktop tooltips in Task view hard to read in contrast themes.
• Fixed an issue where when dragging and dropping windows in Task View to different desktops, it might unexpectedly place the window in the background of other windows.

[Live captions]

• Fixed an issue that was causing live captions to sometimes show the same line of text twice.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Settings]

• This update starts the roll out of account-related notifications for Microsoft accounts on the Settings homepage. A Microsoft account connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account backs up all your data and helps you manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature displays notifications across the Start menu and Settings. You can manage Settings notifications in Settings > Privacy & security > General.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2841 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/12/04/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2841-beta-channel/)

(Turn on the toggle in Settings > Windows Update to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[General]

• Steps Recorder will not receive further updates (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/whats-new/deprecated-features) and is planned for removal in a future Windows release. Starting in this build, Steps Recorder (PSR.exe) will display a new banner notification to guide users towards alternative options. We encourage our users to explore other options in Windows 11 such as Snipping tool, Xbox Game bar or Microsoft Clipchamp. For more, see this article (https://aka.ms/psrdep).
  

[Nearby Sharing]

• If you turn on nearby sharing via quick settings or directly in Settings and you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, it will turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on so nearby sharing will work as expected. If you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it will also turn off nearby sharing.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Task Manager]

• Did some work to help improve the performance when expanding the navigation pane in Task Manager.
• Fixed an issue which was causing a Task Manager crash when changing Always on Top mode.
• Fixed an issue where the dropdowns in settings would float up the screen if you scrolled.

New features gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

New widgets board settings
We've updated the widget settings experience, providing more ways for users to customize their widgets board experience.  One of the new settings enables you to just show widgets on your widgets board and another makes it easier for you to discover how to personalize your feed content.

The new settings experience also allows you to select the account you want to use for your Microsoft Start powered widgets and feeds. This means you are no longer limited to using the account you used to sign into Windows to drive those experiences, just like your other app powered widgets. You can easily manage the account used by Microsoft Start by navigating to 'Microsoft Start' settings under the 'Personalize your content' section in your widgets board settings. This change allows you to further personalize the experience to your preferences. The new settings experience is not limited by region.

[We are beginning to roll this out to Windows Insiders in the Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels today, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders just yet as we plan to monitor feedback before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Settings]

• Optional features previously listed under Settings > Apps has moved to its own page under Settings > System.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• New! You can use Copilot in Windows with ALT + Tab. When you press ALT +Tab, the thumbnail preview for Copilot in Windows appears among other thumbnail previews of open windows. You can switch between them using the Tab keystroke.
  
• New! You can use Copilot in Windows across multiple displays. Press the Copilot in Windows taskbar button on the taskbar of the display where you want Copilot in Windows to appear. To show Copilot in Windows on the last display that it was on, press WIN + C. If you use a keyboard, press WIN + T to put the keyboard focus on the taskbar. Then go to the Copilot in Windows button to open it on any display.
  
• New! In the coming weeks, you might see Windows Spotlight set as the default background. This might occur when your background is set to an inbox Windows image.
  
• This update addresses an issue that might affect the cursor when you write in Japanese. The cursor might move to an unexpected place.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. The options in the left pane show the wrong state.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop web authentication. This issue might stop you from connecting to sovereign cloud endpoints.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Settings. It stops responding after you turn off Device Encryption.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the cursor. Its movement lags in some screen capture scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. When you do not expect them, they appear in the foreground.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Sandbox. If the locale of your machine is not US English, File Explorer stops responding.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. When you press Shift + F10, the shortcut (context) menu does not open.
• This update affects the shortcut (context) menu. Its performance is now better when you open it on the desktop and in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that affects .RAR files. They display as if they are empty in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs when you have multiple IE mode tabs open.
• This update addresses an issue that affects IE mode. A webpage stops working as expected when there is an open modal dialog.
• This update addresses an issue that causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs if you press the left arrow key when an empty text box has the focus and caret (cursor) browsing is on.
• This update addresses an issue that affects 32-bit GDI based applications. They stop responding. This occurs when they run on 64-bit Windows OSs that use more than 2 GB of memory.
• This update addresses an issue that affects apps that you download from Microsoft Store. They stop responding and will not update.
• This update addresses an issue that affects hardware that uses the PresentAt feature. Power use grows when you play a video in full screen.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Copilot in Windows icon on the taskbar. It does not show as active when Copilot in Windows is open.
• This update improves how fast Copilot in Windows opens from the taskbar.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Trusted Sites Zone logon policy. You cannot manage it using mobile device management (MDM).
• This update affects Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE). It enables Conditional Access (CA) scenarios.
• This update affects the Netherlands time zone. It adds the recent man-made landmass outside of Rotterdam to the shape files.
• This update addresses a leak in volatile notifications. This might stop you from signing in to your machine.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) decoder. It does not work well on some websites that set the wrong input sampling rate.
• This update addresses an issue that affects remote direct memory access (RDMA) performance counters. They did not return networking data on VMs in the right way.
• This update addresses an issue that stops you from reconnecting to an existing Remote Desktop session. Instead, you get a new one.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows LAPS. Its PasswordExpirationProtectionEnabled policy fails to turn on the setting.
• This update addresses app cursor issues. The cursor changes from a hand to a cursor when it should not, or the cursor disappears. These issues occur when apps use the WebView2Standalone XAML control.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect Microsoft OneNote. When you use a pen right-click to open it, that might fail.
• This update affects Dynamic Lighting. It reduces the amount of power it uses on your device.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain PCs. It stops them from downloading speech recognition packages.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2850 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/12/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2850-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Windows Share]

• The Windows share window now supports sharing with WhatsApp under the "Share using" section. If you don't have WhatsApp installed, you can choose to install it from Windows share window directly. Over time, we plan to try this experience out with other apps as well.

Microsoft Store Update
Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel (also Canary and Dev too) running version 22311.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

Install as you browse: Introducing another quick way to get your favorite products: you can now install directly while browsing. Simply browse through the Store's Home, Apps, or Games pages and hover over a product and click the install button. There are now fewer clicks to dive into new apps.

Improving discoverability of instant games: A few months ago, the Microsoft Store introduced games that you can play without downloading. We're making it easier to discover these games by having a dedicated page you can browse.

Performance while browsing: We've made performance improvements in the Microsoft Store that will make it smoother for you to browse and scroll through various pages.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2915 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/12/14/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2915-beta-channel/)

This will be the last Beta Channel flight until January 2024.

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package. For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, the rollouts will increase to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

Extended languages, multi-display support, and custom commands for voice access

Extended language support: We have extended voice access to support other languages such as French (France), French (Canada), German, Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Mexico).

When voice access is turned on for the first time, you will be prompted to download a speech model to enable on-device recognition of voice data. In case voice access does not find a speech model matching your display language, you can still choose to proceed ahead to use voice access in English (United States).

You can always switch to a different language by navigating to Settings > Language on the voice access bar.

Multi-display support: You can now use all voice access features on multiple displays, including number and grid overlays which were previously unavailable on any display other than the primary one.

The grid overlay feature has been further developed to allow you to not only interact with the screen you are currently using, but also quickly switch to another display. You can also use the drag and drop feature to move files, apps, and documents from one display to another.

After invoking the grid overlay, use to quickly shift to focus to another display. You can use either the alphabet or NATO phonetic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet) in your command; for example, "B" or "Bravo" would both be valid as shown in the above screenshot.

You can also use the accelerated command "mouse grid .." to quickly move your mouse to a specific point on a specific display. In this case we used "mousegrid A 114" as shown in the above screenshot.

Voice shortcuts: We are introducing voice shortcuts or custom commands to enable you to create your very own command. This is currently available if you use voice access in English.

Creating commands that map to single action, such as opening a URL, or a series of actions performed in sequence, is easy. To get started, say "what can I say" and click on the "Voice shortcuts" tab on the left panel, or use the command "show voice shortcuts" to directly launch the voice shortcuts page. Then, click on the Create Command button to begin the process.

Create a command by using either voice or any other input modality. Give it a name, select one or multiple actions, fill in the necessary information and then click "Create". Your command is now ready to be used.

You can view all the voice shortcuts you have created either from the command help page or by using the command "show voice shortcuts".

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice Access.

Improving discoverability of screen casting in Windows 11

Casting from your Windows PC allows you to wirelessly extend your display to another nearby PC, TV, or other external displays. We are introducing improvements that focus on educating users about the Cast feature and improving its discoverability in Windows 11. Those improvements include:

• When doing multitasking activities on your PC such as often switching between windows to complete a task or using Snap Assist (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/snap-your-windows-885a9b1e-a983-a3b1-16cd-c531795e6241) to organize your screen space, we will provide the suggestion to Cast via a notification toast.
  
• We have updated the Cast flyout in Quick Settings with additional support for you in case you face any trouble discovering nearby displays, fixing connections, and more.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Display and Graphics > Wireless Display and Casting.

New features and improvements for Windows 365 Boot
The following improvements are beginning to roll out for Windows 365 Boot (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-365/enterprise/windows-365-boot-overview). (Local PC and Cloud PC should be on the same Beta Channel build.) Also check out this month's Windows Insider webcast on-demand here (https://www.youtube.com/live/xU_dsSBvKrE?si=6RCbjtY40P2BRijn) featuring the Windows 365 team!

Dedicated mode for Windows 365 Boot: We are now launching a new mode for Windows 365 Boot – dedicated mode. You can now boot to your Windows 365 Cloud PC from your designated company-owned device. You will be able to seamlessly login to your Windows 365 Cloud PC from Windows 11 login screen using password-less authentication methods like Windows Hello for Business. The new dedicated mode also comes with fast account switcher experience to effortlessly switch profiles to login in, personalized experience with your username and password, display picture on lock and login screen, remember your username, etc. The feature will begin to get enabled for Windows 365 customers via a private preview in early 2024.

Customized company logo and name for Windows 365 Boot: In shared mode, organizations can now customize the login page to include their company branding from Intune. The feature will begin to get enabled for Windows 365 customers via a private preview in early 2024.

Fail fast mechanism for Windows 365 Boot: You no longer need to wait for the sign in process to the Cloud PC to complete only to find out Windows 365 Boot failed due to network issues or incomplete setup. The smart logic proactively informs users to resolve network issues or complete app setup so users can experience a smooth login to their Cloud PC.

Manage local PC settings through Windows 365 Boot: With this feature, it is now easier for you to access and manage sound, display, and other device specific settings of their local PC directly from your Cloud PC in under Windows 365 Boot.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Windows 365.

New features and improvements for Windows 365 Switch

The following improvements are beginning to roll out for Windows 365 Switch (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-365/enterprise/windows-365-switch-overview). (Local PC and Cloud PC should be on the same build.) Also check out this month's Windows Insider webcast on-demand here (https://www.youtube.com/live/xU_dsSBvKrE?si=6RCbjtY40P2BRijn) featuring the Windows 365 team!

Improved disconnect experience for Windows 365 Switch: You can now disconnect from their Cloud PC directly from their local PC. This can be done by going to Local PC > Task view > Right click on the Cloud PC button > Disconnect. We have also added tooltips on disconnect and sign-out options in the Cloud PC Start menu so that you can differentiate between these functionalities.

Desktop indicators to differentiate between Cloud PC and local PC for Windows 365 Switch: You will now see the term "Cloud PC" and "Local PC" on the desktop indicator when you switch between your respective PCs.

Gracefully handling increased connection time for Windows 365 Switch to Frontline Cloud PC: You will now see updates regarding the Cloud PC connection status and the connection timeout indicator while waiting on the connection screen. In case there is an error, you will now be able to copy the correlation ID using the new copy button in the error screen for quicker resolution.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Desktop Environment > Switch to Cloud PC (From Task view).

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[General]

• Windows 11 is transitioning from Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) to voice access. WSR is being deprecated (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/whats-new/deprecated-features). A dialog will pop up when WSR is opened directing you to try voice access and we have also added a banner under Settings > Accessibility > Speech as well. Voice access, our new assistive technology in Windows 11, uses on-device speech recognition, enabling control of your PC and authoring text without an internet connection. It will support multiple languages and custom commands in a future update (these features are now available for Windows Insiders to try in the Beta Channel as noted above). We recommend WSR users try and start using voice access today.
  

[Nearby Sharing]

• We are introducing the ability to quickly give your device a more friendly name to identify sharing to and from with nearby share under Settings > System > Nearby sharing.

[Narrator]

• Narrator users can now use voice access to open applications, dictate text and interact with elements on the screen using their voice. Narrator users can use voice access to give Narrator commands using their voice . For e.g., "speak faster", "read next line", etc. To get started, search for "voice access" in Windows search and set it up.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Task Manager]

• When creating a dump file for a process, the dump file location should be selectable now, so you can copy it out.

[Desktops]

• Made some improvements to help address an issue where the background could be seen jumping when switching between desktops.

Notepad Update
We are rolling out an update for Notepad (version 11.2311.33.0) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel that introduces the following improvements:

Edit with Notepad: Easily access Notepad for file modifications directly from File Explorer. Just right-click on any file or multiple files in File Explorer to find the [Edit with Notepad] option in the context menu, a quick and streamlined way to open and edit files in Notepad.

Character Count: Keep track of your document's length with the new character count display in the status bar.  When text is selected, the status bar shows the character count for both the selected text and the entire document. If no text is selected, the character count for the entire document is displayed, ensuring you always have a clear view of your document's length.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Notepad (http://aka.ms/notepadfeedback).

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2921 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/01/04/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2921-beta-channel/)

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[General]

• This update includes a handful of fixes to improve overall reliability.

[Input]

• Fixed a high hitting tabtip.exe crash which was impacting the ability for some Windows Insiders to input text.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3061 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/01/11/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3061-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Windows Share]

• For Microsoft Edge and other browsers that invoke the Windows share window, the Windows share window now supports the ability to share URLs directly to WhatsApp, Gmail, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. In Microsoft Edge, you can invoke the Windows share window by clicking the share icon at the top right in the toolbar and choosing the Windows share options.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• This update includes a handful of fixes to improve overall reliability.

New features for everyone in the Beta Channel

Richer weather experience on the lock screen
We are introducing a richer weather experience to your lock screen. This includes dynamic, interactive weather updates. So, as you hover over the weather experience on your lock screen, you will see more information. When you tap or click on the weather card and sign in, Microsoft Edge opens with the full forecast in MSN Weather. If you already use Weather under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Lock screen status, there is nothing for you to do. Also, this new experience will be on by default. Should you not want to see this experience, you can change your lock screen status to "None."  This rich weather experience is available when you lock your screen no matter which personalization option you select (Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow).

[We are beginning to roll this out starting with EN-US only, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Lock screen.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Settings]

• We're beginning to update references to Azure Active Directory (AAD) to Microsoft Entra ID in Settings.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• This update addresses an issue that affects the spellchecker.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the ActiveX scroll bar. It does not work in IE mode.

Microsoft Store Update
Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel running version 22312.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

Launch Instant Arcade games while browsing: In recent months, we announced Instant Arcade where you can play some games without the need to download them. Now, you'll be able to launch these games directly while browsing or in search results. Simply hover over the instant arcade game and click the Play Now button.

Notifications for app installations: When you initiate a download from the Microsoft Store, we'll send you a notification when your app is installed and ready to use. This can be toggled off in the store's settings page.

Performance improvements when installing from search or browsing: We made things a little faster when you install products from the search results page or while browsing. Animations are smoother and more seamless.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3066 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/01/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3066-beta-channel/)

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Input]

• Fixed a tabtip.exe crash which could impact the ability to input text.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where dragging the Task Manager window wouldn't work if your mouse was on the search box.

[Narrator]

• Fixed a crash when you tried to add natural voices for Narrator in Settings.

[Voice Access]

• Fixed an issue which was causing voice access to crash when setting up new languages.

New features for everyone in the Beta Channel

USB 80Gbps
We are excited to announce support for the latest generation USB standard, USB 80Gbps, in this build of Windows. USB 80Gbps support will initially launch on select devices based on the Intel Core 14th Gen HX-series mobile processors, such as the new Razer Blade 18 (https://press.razer.com/product-news/ces-2024-razer-blades/).

This is the first major version update of the USB4®standard and increases performance to 80Gbps from 40Gbps. It enables the next generation of high-performance displays, storage, and connectivity. It is fully backwards compatible with peripherals built for older generations of USB and Thunderbolt™ and works alongside all other USB Type-C features.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Buses.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3130 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/01/25/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3130-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Snap Layouts]

• We will show suggestions in Snap Layouts (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/snap-your-windows-885a9b1e-a983-a3b1-16cd-c531795e6241) that help you instantly snap multiple app windows together. When hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button on an app (or WIN + Z) to launch the layout box, you will see app icons displayed in various layout options to help recommend the best layout option that works best.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue from the previous flight causing the Recommended section in Start menu to be blank for some Insiders.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[General]

• Starting with today's Beta Channel flight, Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who have turned on the toggle to unenroll their device under Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and "Stop getting preview builds" with begin receiving an in-place upgrade that removes their device from flighting. This in-place upgrade will install Windows 11, version 23H2 with the most recent servicing updates available to retail customers. Please note that unenrolling a device from flighting in the Beta Channel will result in a loss of some features that are not yet available for retail customers. However, your personal data will still be there. Going forward, choosing to unenroll a device through this process will provide an in-place upgrade to opt-out of flighting in the Beta Channel. Note you will need to update to Build 22635.3130 (and higher) in the Beta Channel first for this experience to light up.

[Widgets]

• The new settings experience for Widgets that began rolling out in early December to the Beta Channel that also introduced the ability to further customize the widgets board experience is beginning to rollout again after being disabled briefly.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• The update addresses a known issue that affects the color font format for COLRv1. It now renders properly. Windows uses this format to display emoji with a 3D-like appearance.
• This update affects Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot systems. It adds a renewed signing certificate to the Secure Boot DB variable. You can now opt for this change.
• This update addresses an issue that affects RemoteApp windows. In certain cases, they persist on client devices after you close them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) in the Group Policy editor. HTML preview rendering fails.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a Bluetooth phone call. It stops the audio from routing through the PC when you answer the call on your PC.
• This update addresses an issue to make video calls more reliable.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Access Point Name (APN) profiles. It stops you from automatically configuring APN profiles for cellular enabled devices. This occurs when you run the "netsh mbn show readyinfo *" command.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio earbuds. They lose sound when you stream music.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the LocalUsersAndGroups CSP. It stops processing group memberships if it cannot find a group.
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain types of 7-Zip files. They appear as empty in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). A caching issue occurs. The issue causes CurrentTimeZone to change to the wrong value.
  
• This update addresses an issue that stops WMI from working. This occurs in certain scenarios with mobile device management (MDM) providers, such as Microsoft Intune.
• This update addresses an issue that causes your device to stop responding. This is intermittent and occurs after you install a print support app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Active Directory. Bind requests to IPv6 addresses fail. This occurs when the requestor is not joined to a domain.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) Post Authentication Actions (PAA). The actions occur at restart instead of at the end of the grace period.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Group Policy Folder Redirection in a multi-forest deployment. The issue stops you from choosing a group account from the target domain. Because of this, you cannot apply advanced folder redirection settings to that domain. This issue occurs when the target domain has a one-way trust with the domain of the admin user. This issue affects all Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE), Hardened Forests (HF) or Privileged Access Management (PAM) deployments.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the OpenType font driver. On a certain architecture, the issue might affect how text renders for third-party applications.
• This update addresses an issue that stops search from working on the Start menu for some users. The issue occurs because of a deadlock.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you change the keyboard language. The change fails to apply to RemoteApps in some scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the File Explorer Gallery. It stops you from closing a tooltip.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the display of a smart card icon. The icon does not appear when you sign in. This occurs when there are multiple certificates on the smart card.
• This update addresses an issue that causes your device to shut down after 60 seconds. This occurs when you use a smart card to authenticate on a remote system.
• This update addresses a known issue that affects BitLocker data-only encryption. A mobile device management (MDM) service, such as Microsoft Intune, might not get the right data. This occurs when you use the FixedDrivesEncryptionType (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/client-management/mdm/bitlocker-csp#fixeddrivesencryptiontype) or SystemDrivesEncryptionType (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/client-management/mdm/bitlocker-csp#systemdrivesencryptiontype) policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/client-management/mdm/bitlocker-csp)
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Trusted Platform Modules (TPM). On certain devices, they did not initialize correctly. Because of this, TPM-based scenarios stopped working.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a remote desktop client. It might connect to a wrong instance of a user's session. This occurs if a user has multiple sessions on the host.
• This update makes Windows more reliable during power transitions. This reduces the risk of a stop error.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3139 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/01/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3139-beta-channel/)

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• This update includes a handful of fixes to improve overall reliability.
• Fixed a dwm.exe crash impacting some Insiders in the previous flight.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue impacting Task Manager reliability on the last few builds.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3140 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3140-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Copilot in Windows]

• We are making a change where the Copilot icon is shown on the right side of the system tray on the taskbar to make the entry point to Copilot more clear and easily accessible by being closer to where the Copilot pane opens. As part of this change, we have defaulted the "show the desktop" behavior for the far-right corner of the taskbar to off and this can be re-enabled in the taskbar behaviors section under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar (you can simply right-click on the taskbar to get to this). This is just beginning to roll out to Insiders in the Beta Channel so not every will see this change right away.

[Start menu]

• We're trying out grouping recently added apps on your PC into a folder under the Recommended section of Start with some Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. Note that this is rolling out so not all Insiders in the Beta Channel will see this right away.
• For people logged into Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise editions with a Microsoft Entra ID account, we are trying out the ability to view and join upcoming Microsoft Teams meetings directly from the Start menu. The next online Teams meeting will show up as a Recommended item 5 minutes before it begins, clicking the meeting recommendation will open the join meeting flow in Teams. Note that this is rolling out so not all Insiders in the Beta Channel will see this right away.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3209 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/16/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3209-beta-channel/)

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel.

New features for everyone in the Beta Channel

Instantly access new photos and screenshots from your mobile device
We are also beginning to gradually roll out the ability to effortlessly access and edit your most recent photos and screenshots from your Android mobile device in Snipping Tool on your PC. With this feature, you'll receive instant notifications on your PC whenever a new photo or screenshot is captured on your Android device.

To enable this experience, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices and choose "Manage devices" and allow your PC to access your Android phone.

Please note that as part of this change, we have renamed the Phone Link settings page under Settings > Bluetooth & devices to Mobile devices.

Your PC will get a Cross Device Experience Host update in the Microsoft Store that is required for this experience to work. This new experience replaces the remote capture with Phone Link experience that was announced back in September. (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/09/14/new-updates-for-snipping-tool-and-phone-link-begin-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/)

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Linked devices.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• This update addresses an issue that affects the CrashOnAuditFail registry value. When you set it to one (1), only admins can sign in to a machine that has stopped working. After you install this update, standard users can sign in to the machine.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects an embedded SIM (eSIM) When you delete it, you do not get a notification.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop virtual machines. At random, they restart. This occurs because of an access violation in lsass.exe.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Edge. The UI is wrong for Internet Options Data Settings.
• This update addresses an issue that affects long-edge fed printers. The alignment of stapling or hole punch locations is wrong.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a machine that is used as a remote desktop session host. You get stop error RDR_FILE_SYSTEM (0x27). This occurs when you start up all users from the machine.
• This update addresses an issue that makes the troubleshooting process fail. This occurs when you use the Get Help app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Settings Home page. It randomly stops responding when you go to the page.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop Web Authentication. You might not be able to connect to sovereign cloud endpoints.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Steps Recorder. Some of the UI and steps are not localized to Chinese.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Notepad. It does not open for the standard user account. This occurs when you use Command Prompt to open it based on file type association.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects 8 Zip archives. It stops you from opening them by double-clicking them in File Explorer.
• This update affects games you install on a secondary drive. Now, they remain installed on the drive.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Certificate Authority snap-in. You cannot select the "Delta CRL" option. This stops you from using the GUI to publish Delta CRLs.
• This update addresses an issue that stops a system from going to sleep. This occurs when you connect an external device to the system.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the download of device metadata. Downloads from the Windows Metadata and Internet Services (WMIS) over HTTPS are now more secure.
• This update addresses an issue that affects networking. A device fails to make the automatic switch from cellular to Wi-Fi when it can use Wi-Fi.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator announcements. They are slow when you use Natural Voices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects explorer.exe. It might stop responding. This occurs when you restart or shut down a PC that has a controller accessory attached to it.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3212 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3212-beta-channel/)

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue which was causing the taskbar to sometimes be very slow to appear sometimes after booting up and logging in for the first time.

[Search]

• Fixed an issue where if your taskbar was close to being full of app icons, when you tried to open search it would just open and immediately close.

New features rolling out for everyone in the Beta Channel

New notification badging for Widgets
We're beginning to roll out a new badging experience for Widgets. Widgets badges will notify you when you miss an important notification on your taskbar. Below is an example of a notification badge for Widgets that shows that there are three missed notifications.

When you open the Widgets board you can see details for the notifications you missed in the top left corner of the board.

[We are beginning to roll this out to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel today, so the experience isn't available to all Insiders just yet.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment  > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Widgets]

• We've made improvements to Widgets so that the icons on the taskbar no longer appear pixelated or fuzzy.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3276 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/04/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3276-beta-channel/)

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Nearby Sharing]

• Fixed an issue where devices with long names weren't shown in nearby sharing.
• Fixed an issue where device names may unexpectedly show "????" instead of the name.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue impacting Task Manager reliability.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Copilot in Windows]

• We are trying out a new hover experience for Copilot in Windows. When you move your mouse cursor over the Copilot icon on the taskbar, it will open the Copilot pane. The Copilot pane will close unless interacted with after it opens. This will begin rolling out slowly over the next few weeks to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Search]

• Fixed an issue where the search highlights icon in the taskbar could get out of sync with the search highlights for the day.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3286 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3286-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Copilot in Windows]
We are beginning to try out a new experience for Copilot in Windows that helps showcase the ways that Copilot can accelerate and enhance your work. This experience will show when you copy text – since Copilot supports helpful actions that you can take with text content. In this scenario, the Copilot icon will change appearance and animate to indicate that Copilot can help (there are several different treatments so you may notice a different visual effect). When you hover your mouse over the Copilot icon, it will provide a menu of actions that you can take, such as summarizing or explaining the copied text. If you select an action on the menu, it will launch Copilot with the action ready-to-go. We will also support the ability to launch Copilot if you start dragging an image – just drag the image file onto the Copilot icon in the taskbar, and Copilot will open. You can then drop the image into the text box in Copilot and type an action that you would like to take on the image content.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Nearby Sharing]

• Fixed an issue causing Settings to crash for some Insiders when going to System > Nearby Sharing.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Search]

• Fixed the issue causing an increase of explorer.exe crashes for Insiders in the Beta Channel in the last two flights.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3350 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3350-beta-channel/)

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue where uncombined taskbar icons were cutting off the title instead of adjusting 0with the title length.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Start menu]

• We are beginning to try out a change where we will show your most frequently used app under the Recommended section in the Start menu. This will apply for most frequently used apps that are not already pinned to the Start menu (or taskbar).

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• Fixed an issue in File Explorer where hovering over the first picture in Gallery would make a tooltip appear that would never dismiss.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3420 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3420-beta-channel/)

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

New position for the Widgets entry-point on left-aligned taskbars
We're beginning to roll out a new position for the Widgets entry-point on left-aligned taskbars. The taskbar entry-point will move to the left of the systems tray and will be wider so you can see richer content from Widgets on your taskbar. When you launch the Widgets board, it will fly out from the right side instead of the left side.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• In response to feedback from Windows Insiders, drag-and-drop files with your mouse functionality between breadcrumbs is now available in the File Explorer Address Bar. We are beginning to roll this out today, so not all Insiders in the Beta Channel will see it right away.

[Windows Share]

• Users will be able to now generate QR codes for URLs and cloud file links through the Windows share window to seamlessly share webpages and files across their devices. To try this out in Microsoft Edge, just click the share button in the Edge toolbar and choose "Windows share options".
• To prevent accidentally closing the Windows share window, clicking outside the Windows share window will no longer close it. To close the Windows share window, just press the close button at the top right corner.

[Windows Backup]

• If you have both Personalization and Other Windows settings toggled on under Settings > Accounts > Windows backup, many of your sound settings (including chosen sound scheme) will be backed up which can be restored via the Windows Backup app.
  
• We're beginning to roll out the ability to sign-in with your Microsoft account (MSA) directly within the Windows Backup app to save backups to your account.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue causing File Explorer to crash on launch for a small number of Insiders in the previous flight.

[Multiple Desktops]

• Fixed an issue where the option to set a different wallpaper on each desktop wasn't working.

[Search]

• Fixed an issue which could potentially result in no app results showing in search anymore.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where Task Manager was holding onto process handles sometimes, leading to processes not stopping when you closed apps if you'd had Task Manager open.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel
[Copilot in Windows*]

• You can ask Copilot in Windows (in preview) for help ten times when you sign in to Windows using a local account. After that, you must sign in using a Microsoft account (MSA) or a Microsoft Entra ID (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-entra-blog/azure-ad-is-becoming-microsoft-entra-id/ba-p/2520436) account (formerly Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)). To sign in, use the link in the dialog that appears in Copilot in Windows. If you do not sign in, some Copilot features might not work. To learn more, see Welcome to Copilot in Windows (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/welcome-to-copilot-in-windows-675708af-8c16-4675-afeb-85a5a476ccb0) and Manage Copilot in Windows (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/client-management/manage-windows-copilot).
  

[Lock screen]

• This update adds Weather and more to your lock screen. Stay informed and efficient with dynamic updates that bring finance, traffic, and sports to your Lock screen, alongside weather. The card design has been improved with acrylic blur, card size, spacing, and font optimizations.To turn on this feature, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. To learn more, see Personalize your lock screen (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/personalize-your-lock-screen-81dab9b0-35cf-887c-84a0-6de8ef72bea0?preview=true). Note this feature might not be available to all users because it will roll out gradually.
  

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• New! This update affects Windows Hello for Business. IT admins can now use mobile device management (MDM) to turn off the prompt that appears when users sign in to an Entra-joined machine. To do this, they can turn on the "DisablePostLogonProvisioning" policy setting. After a user signs in, provisioning is off for Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices.
  
• New! This update improves the Remote Desktop Session Host. You can now set up its "clipboard redirection" policy to work in a single direction from the local computer to the remote computer. You can also reverse that order.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels The app labels in the taskbar sometimes do not have the correct length, which cuts off the label text. This occurs when this setting is set to "When taskbar is full" or "Never."
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects certain Neural Processing Units (NPU). They do not show in Task Manager.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a network resource. You cannot access it from a Remote Desktop session. This occurs when you turn on the Remote Credential Guard feature and the client is Windows 11, version 22H2 or higher.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). It prevents a stop error that occurs when you apply more than 32 policies.
• This update addresses a deadlock issue in CloudAP. It occurs when different users sign in and sign out at the same time on virtual machines.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Group Policy service. It fails after you use exe to apply an audit policy to the system.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Settings app. It stops responding when you use it to remove Bluetooth devices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Notepad. It fails to print to certain Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printers when you use a print support app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects dsamain.exe. When the Knowledge Consistency Checker (KCC) runs evaluations, it stops responding.
  
• This update addresses an issue that stops some apps and features from being available. This occurs after you upgrade to Windows 11.
• This update affects MSIX applications. It helps their UI to localize correctly for all languages when you upgrade your OS.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) PowerShell module. It does not load.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the existing AppLocker rule collection enforcement mode. It is not overwritten when rules merge with a collection that has no rules. This occurs when the enforcement mode is set to "Not Configured."
• This update addresses an issue that affects Transport Layer Security (TLS), version 1.3. It causes Azure App Services to fail. This occurs when the web server attempts to connect to a third-party Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard and the candidate window for the Japanese and Chinese Input Method Editors (IME). They do not show after you come out of Modern Standby. To learn more, see Microsoft Japanese IME (https://support.microsoft.com/windows/microsoft-japanese-ime-da40471d-6b91-4042-ae8b-713a96476916) and What is Modern Standby (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/modern-standby).
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects some wireless headphones. Bluetooth connections are not stable. This occurs on devices that have firmware from April 2023 and later.
• This update addresses an issue that affects USB audio. It fails on some processors. This occurs after you pause, play, or resume from sleep.
• This update supports DST changes in To learn more, see Interim guidance for Kazakhstan time zone changes 2024 (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/daylight-saving-time-time-zone/interim-guidance-for-kazakhstan-time-zone-changes-2024/ba-p/4048963).
  
• This update supports DST changes in To learn more, see Interim guidance for Samoa DST changes 2021 (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/daylight-saving-time-time-zone/interim-guidance-for-samoa-dst-changes-2021/ba-p/4048965').
  
• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Greenland. To learn more, see Greenland 2023 time zone update now available (//'https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/daylight-saving-time-time-zone/greenland-2023-time-zone-update-now-available/ba-p/3937743).
  
• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in To learn more, see Interim guidance for DST changes announced by Palestinian Authority for 2024, 2025 (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/daylight-saving-time-time-zone/interim-guidance-for-dst-changes-announced-by-palestinian/ba-p/4048966).
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects Secure Launch. It does not run on some processors.
• This update addresses a reliability issue. It affects a Virtual Remote App product when you use a custom shell to open it.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Containers that you create or deploy. Their status does not progress past "ContainerCreating."
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the COM+ component. Some applications that depend on it stop responding.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the time service. You can configure it using mobile device management (MDM) or a Group Policy Object (GPO). But the Windows Settings app does not match what you have configured.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you use LoadImage() to load a top-down bitmap. If the bitmap has a negative height, the image does not load and the function returns NULL.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3430 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/04/05/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3430-beta-channel/)

REMINDER: All Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be on the same build (Build 22635.xxxx) via an enablement package (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5003791-update-to-windows-10-version-21h2-by-using-an-enablement-package-8bc077be-18d7-4aac-81ce-6f6dad2cd384). For Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle (shown in the image below) to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

Going forward, we will document changes in Beta Channel builds in two buckets: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes available to everyone in the Beta Channel.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Copilot in Windows*]

• Starting with Build 22635.3286 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3286-beta-channel/), we began rolling out a new experience for Copilot in Windows that helps showcase the ways that Copilot can accelerate and enhance your work. We're making an improvement to this experience. Now when you copy both text or image files, the Copilot icon will change appearance and animate to indicate that Copilot can help. When you hover your mouse over the Copilot icon, it will provide a menu of actions that you can take, such as creating a similar image or analyzing an image. If you select an action on the menu, it will launch Copilot with the action ready-to-go.
  

[Windows Share]

• We are beginning to roll out again the ability to share directly to specific Microsoft Teams Channels and group chats directly within the Windows share window if you're signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID. This originally rolled out with Build 22635.2776 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/28/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-2776-beta-channel/) but was temporarily disabled to fix some issues.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3495 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/04/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3495-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

• Building on top of recent improvements like grouping recently installed apps (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3140-beta-channel/) and showing your frequently used apps (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3350-beta-channel/), we are now trying out recommendations to help you discover great apps from the Microsoft Store under Recommended on the Start menu. This will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the U.S. and will not apply to commercial devices (devices managed by organizations). This can be turned off by going to Settings > Personalization > Start and turning off the toggle for "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more". As a reminder, we regularly try out new experiences and concepts that may never get released with Windows Insiders to get feedback. Should you see this experience on the Start menu, let us know what you think. We are beginning to roll this out to a small set of Insiders in the Beta Channel at first.
  

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

• Building on top of recent improvements like grouping recently installed apps (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3140-beta-channel/) and showing your frequently used apps (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/13/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3350-beta-channel/), we are now trying out recommendations to help you discover great apps from the Microsoft Store under Recommended on the Start menu. This will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the U.S. and will not apply to commercial devices (devices managed by organizations). This can be turned off by going to Settings > Personalization > Start and turning off the toggle for "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more". As a reminder, we regularly try out new experiences and concepts that may never get released with Windows Insiders to get feedback. Should you see this experience on the Start menu, let us know what you think. We are beginning to roll this out to a small set of Insiders in the Beta Channel at first.
  

[Desktop Spotlight]
We are beginning to try out some adjustments for Windows Spotlight experience on the desktop to make it easier for Spotlight users to engage with this feature to change images, like or not like an image etc. In addition, these changes will make the Spotlight icon behave like other desktop icons. There will be several different treatments these adjustments that Insiders will notice.

With Treatment 1, if a user right-clicks on the Windows Spotlight icon it will launch Spotlight experience in full screen mode, while double clicking will open the landing page for the image on desktop.

With Treatment 2, if a user right-clicks on the Windows Spotlight icon it will launch the Spotlight experience without any change to the desktop set up, while double clicking launches the Spotlight experience in full screen mode.

[Settings]

• We are introducing a new Linked devices page under Settings > Accounts that allows you to manage PCs and Xbox consoles that you are signed in to with your Microsoft account. This settings page will only show on the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 and if you're signed into Windows with your Microsoft account.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Copilot in Windows*]

• We are beginning to roll out an updated Copilot in Windows experience that adds the ability to switch between the existing "docked" behavior that attaches Copilot to the side of your desktop, and a new mode where it acts like a normal application window which you can resize and move around your screen. As part of this change, we're also introducing some under-the-hood improvements as well. This experience is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders in BOTH the Dev and Beta Channels. As always, please report any issues you experience to us via Feedback Hub.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3500 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/04/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3500-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

• This update starts the roll out of the new account manager on Start menu. When you sign in with a Microsoft account, the new design gives you a quick glanceable view of your account benefits and makes it easy to manage account settings.

[Windows Share]

• If your Microsoft account uses a Gmail address, you can now send email to yourself from Windows share window and receive it in your Gmail account.

[Settings]

• To ensure you don't lose access to your Microsoft account, we're beginning to roll out a new banner with a "Add now" button under Settings > Account for adding a recovery email address if you haven't added one for your Microsoft account yet. This will only show if you are signed in with a Microsoft account.
  
• We are introducing a new Game Pass recommendation card on the Settings homepage. The Game Pass recommendation card on Settings Homepage will be shown to you if you actively play games on your PC. As a reminder – the Settings homepage will be shown only on the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 and if you're signed into Windows with your Microsoft account.

New features rolling out for everyone in the Beta Channel

Widgets Board Improvements
We are introducing a new navigation bar on the left allowing you to switch between a dedicated widgets dashboard and other integrated dashboards like Discover. As part of this change, we are introducing the ability for developers to send notifications to the taskbar button with their custom dashboards for the Widgets board. Developers can check out this documentation (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-app-sdk/api/winrt/microsoft.windows.widgets.feeds.providers?view=windows-app-sdk-1.5) on how to implement this capability with their Widgets dashboards. To manage notifications from multiple dashboards, Widgets is also providing more granular control over what content shows on the Widgets button on the taskbar. You can go to Widgets Settings > Notifications and enable or disable taskbar notifications from individual dashboards. NOTE: These changes are only initially available to Windows Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA).

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Widgets.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Widgets]

• We are making some improvements to the Widgets button on the taskbar so that the icons on the taskbar are clearer and we are rolling out a larger set of animated icons too.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3566 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/04/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3566-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• In response to feedback, we are now showing the "show desktop" button by default and users can still manage this by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing "Taskbar settings" (which opens Settings > Personalization > Taskbar directly).

[File Explorer]

• Dragging-and-dropping files with your mouse between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer Address Bar that began rolling out with Build 22635.3420 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/03/29/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3420-beta-channel/) is now available to all Insiders in the Beta Channel.
  

Fixes and Improvements for everyone in the Beta Channel

• New! This update improves the Widgets icons on the taskbar. They are no longer pixelated or fuzzy. This update also starts the rollout of a larger set of animated icons.
  
• New! This update affects Widgets on the lock screen. They are more reliable and have improved quality. This update also supports more visuals and a more customized experience for you.
  
• This update fixes an issue which was causing Settings to crash when copying out text in the last few flights.
• This update addresses an issue that affects universal printers. The system creates duplicate print queues for them.
• This update adds support for Arm64 .msi files using a Group Policy Object (GPO). You can now use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to add Arm64 .msi files. You can also use a GPO to install these files on Arm64 machines.
• This update affects hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). It accepts drivers that are now compatible.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you elevate from a normal user to an Administrator to run an application. When you use a PIN to sign in, the app will not run.
• This update affects Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2). Intermittent name resolution fails in a split DNS setup.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the netstat -c It fails to perform effective port exhaustion troubleshooting.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects a low latency network. The speed of data on the network degrades significantly. This occurs when you turn on timestamps for a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). A memory leak occurs when it retrieves mappings.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
  
• This update affects the touch keyboard. It makes the Japanese 106 keyboard layout appear as expected when you sign in.
• This update adds a new mobile device management (MDM) policy called "AllowScreenRecorder." It affects the Snipping Tool. IT admins can use this policy to turn off screen recording in the app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) hardware offload. A stop error occurs on PCs that support it.
• This update addresses a memory allocation issue in the Host Networking Service (HNS). The issue causes high memory consumption. It also affects service and pod deployment and scaling.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the container networking Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It returns the wrong Virtual Subnet ID (VSID) for external ports.
• This update affects media allocations. It improves their memory granularity for some hardware setups. This lowers overcommitment. Also, performance is more efficient.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an accelerator backing store management path. A memory leak occurs that affects some devices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). Its Post Authentication Actions (PAA) do not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occur at restart.
• This update addresses a race condition that might stop a machine from starting up. This occurs when you set up a bootloader to start up multiple OSes.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS). A high load might make the system unresponsive. Also, signing in might be slow.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Settings. It stops responding when you dismiss a flyout menu.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Protected Process Light (PPL) protections. You can bypass them.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3570 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/05/03/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3570-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[File Explorer]

• We're rolling out the ability to duplicate a tab by right-clicking on a tab in File Explorer.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Fixed a memory leak when interacting with archive folders in File Explorer.
• Fixed a few issues impacting File Explorer reliability.
• Made a change to help fix an issue which could cause the spacing between your desktop icons to become extremely wide.
• Fixed a timing issue where if you start a search from Home in File Explorer, it may unexpectedly show no results the first time you tried.
• Did some work to help address an issue where the address bar dropdown might appear unexpectedly while you were using File Explorer.

[Task Manager]

• Updated the units (from MHz to MT/s) for DDR speed.
• Fixed an issue where the Safely Remove Hardware option for ejecting USB devices wouldn't work if Task Manager was open.
• Did some work to ensure Task Manager releases process handles quickly when terminating processes.
• Made some more improvements to help with Task Manager reliability.
• We have improved the performance when changing the sort order.
• Made multiple improvements to overall accessibility of Task Manager, including improving keyboard focus, tab navigation, text scaling, names of items read out by screen readers, and more.
• We made it a little easier to resize Task Manager when trying to resize by grabbing the top of the window.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[Copilot in Windows**]

• Over the last few months, we've been trying out different experiences for Copilot in Windows (Preview) with Windows Insiders across the Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels. Some of these experiences include the ability for Copilot in Windows to act like a normal application window and the taskbar icon animating to indicate that Copilot can help when you copy text or images. We have decided to pause the rollouts of these experiences to further refine them based on user feedback. Copilot in Windows will continue to work as expected while we continue to evolve new ideas with Windows Insiders.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Start menu]

• We fixed the issue causing a component related to upgrading and restoring data from Windows Backup called "Global.WindowsMigration" to incorrectly show under the Start menu > All apps.

[Copilot in Windows**]

• We are rolling out a fix for the issue causing Copilot to auto-launch unexpectedly for Windows Insiders in the Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels after restarting their PCs. This issue was unrelated to the auto-launching experience we tried out with Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels in early February (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/02/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26052-canary-and-dev-channels/) which we stopped rolling out in March.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3575 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/05/10/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3575-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Windows Share]

• We are rolling out the ability to copy files from the Windows share window. Just click the new copy button.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[General]

• We believe we have fixed the issue causing the sign-in dialog to persistently show in Microsoft Family Safety when trying to sign-in for customers in Europe.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We are beginning to roll out a fix where you will see search box if the taskbar auto-hides when the setting for search on the taskbar is set to "Search box".

[File Explorer]

• Made a fix to help address an issue where the address bar dropdown would appear unexpectedly on its own, because focus moved unexpectedly to the address bar.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3640 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/05/17/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3640-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• We've added support for creating 7-zip and TAR archives in addition to ZIP via the context menu in File Explorer. We have also added a new compression wizard that lets you choose even more formats and specify even more details. You can compress individual files with gzip/bzip2 (and more,) or add multiple files to archives in different tar formats with different types of compression. You can also change the compression level and what types of data are stored in each archive.

[Emoji]

• We're adding support for Emoji 15.1 (https://blog.unicode.org/2023/01/whats-new-in-emoji-151.html) which introduces a small number of brand-new emoji such as head shaking horizontally and vertically, phoenix, lime, brown mushroom and broken chain. Other changes for Emoji 15.1 include Unicode's decision to revert family combinations to symbol-like shapes. Windows has chosen to stay with our existing style that use people in family combinations. We are also supporting the new directionality updates for person/man/woman walking, kneeling, with cane, running, manual wheelchair and motorized wheelchair. You can now select right facing or the original left facing orientation for these emoji.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Fixed a few accessibility issues in the Common File Dialog.

[Input]

• Fixed an underlying ctfmon.exe crash which could impact the ability to input text.

[Windowing]

• Fixed an issue related to showing tabs in Alt + Tab, which could lead to frequent explorer.exe crashes if you had a very large number of tabs.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Start menu]

• We fixed an issue believed to be the underlying cause for Start menu crashing on launch or the All apps list not displaying in the previous Beta Channel flight.

[Other]

• This update addresses an issue that might affect domain controllers (DC). NTLM authentication traffic might increase.
• This update addresses an issue that might affect Virtual Secure Mode (VSM) scenarios. They might fail. These scenarios include VPN, Windows Hello, Credential Guard, and Key Guard.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3646 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/05/23/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3646-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Other]

• New! This update adds PC Manager (https://pcmanager.microsoft.com/) to devices in China.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It takes up to two minutes to start when you pin a folder that is on a network share to Quick Access. This occurs when you upgrade from Windows 11, version 21H2 to Windows 11, version 22H2.
• This update addresses an issue that affects TWAIN drivers. They might stop responding when you use them in a virtual environment.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It stops responding when you swipe from a screen edge. This issue occurs after you turn off edge swiping.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the display of a smart card icon. It does not appear when you sign in. This occurs when there are multiple certificates on the smart card.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a folder context menu. When you choose the command that removes items, the command adds items instead. This occurs when a third-party service implements a sync feature.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a server after you remove it from a domain. The Get-LocalGroupMember cmdlet returns an exception. This occurs if the local groups contain domain members.
  
• This update affects the Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) AmsiUtil It helps to detect the bypass of the AMSI scan. This update also addresses some long-term issues that expose your device to threats.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects printers. They do not work as you expect when you use AppContainer or use them in a restricted environment.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the out-of-box experience (OOBE). It fails to complete. This occurs when you turn on the "Prevent the use of security questions for local accounts" policy.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Host Networking Service (HNS). When the service restarts, load balancer policies are not brought back in the right way.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Enhanced Fast Reconnect. It fails. This occurs when you use it with third-party remote desktop protocol (RDP) providers.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio They do not show the option to connect or disconnect.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an IPP-over-USB printer. After you delete it, it still appears as not available in Control Panel.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Unified Write Filter (UWF) Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) API calls. Calls to shut down or restart the system throw an access denied exception.
• This update addresses an issue that distorts parts of the screen. This occurs when you use a Chromium-based browser to play a video.
• This update brings Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Share button on USB controllers. It might not work with Game Bar.
• This update addresses an issue that displays a hidden window. Its title bar has no content and no client area. This occurs when you share your screen using certain apps.
• This update addresses an issue that affects handwriting panels and touch keyboards. They do not appear when you use a pen.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an app that supports encrypted email. The app asks you to enter your credentials each time you open an encrypted email. This occurs even after you have entered your PIN at least once.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3720 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/06/07/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3720-beta-channel/)

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

Narrator users can now use voice access to dictate text hands-free
Narrator users can start using voice access in Windows 11 (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/get-started-with-voice-access-bd2aa2dc-46c2-486c-93ae-3d75f7d053a4) to dictate text with voice and hear what is dictated. In addition, you can also use voice access to give Narrator commands. For example, "Turn on Narrator," "speak faster," "read selection," "read next line," etc.

To know the entire list of Narrator commands supported with voice access, click help icon (?) on the voice access bar, select "View all commands" and choose "Narrator commands."

What will work:

• Start and set up voice access which includes downloading a speech model.
• Read a list of voice access commands and Narrator commands from voice access help menu.
• Changing voice access microphone state.
• Dictating text with voice and hearing back what was dictated.

Tips:

• If you don't use headphones for listening to the screen reader, the audio output from the screen reader may get picked up by voice access microphone, leading to unwanted behavior.

FEEDBACK: Send us feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Auto Restart for Voice Access & New Voice Access Command for Windows Search
We are introducing auto restart for voice access in Windows 11 (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/get-started-with-voice-access-bd2aa2dc-46c2-486c-93ae-3d75f7d053a4). This feature ensures that voice access will automatically restart if it encounters any issues so that individuals with limited mobility can get back to using voice access as quickly as possible. Customers will no longer need to rely on alternative assistive technologies or assistance from others to reactivate voice access. Should voice access automatically restart due to a crash, we are making it easier to report those crashes once voice access restarts so the team can investigate and work on fixes.

We are introducing a new command for searching directly with Windows search. Users can now say the command Search "Entity"; Search Windows for "Entity"; or Search for "Entity" to search for their desired application or file in Windows ("Entity" is replaced with whatever application or file you want to search.)

FEEDBACK: Send us feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice access.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Search on the Taskbar]

• We are beginning to roll out the ability to share local files directly from within the search results shown in the search box on the taskbar.

[Windows Share]

• If you are in China and turn on nearby sharing, you will receive a notification asking to allow turning on Wi-Fi and or Bluetooth should these settings be off as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are required to be enabled for nearby sharing to work.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where when pressing WIN + E, a screen reader might unexpectedly say a pane had focus, or focus may not be set within File Explorer at all.
• Fixed an issue which was causing CTRL + F to sometimes not start a search in File Explorer.
• Fixed an issue where keyboard focus might get lost sometimes when doing Shift + Tab in File Explorer.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3785 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/06/14/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3785-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

• When right-clicking on apps pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will be shown for apps that have them such as PowerPoint.

[Desktop Spotlight]

• We are trying out some new adjustments to the Windows Spotlight experience on the desktop to make it easier for Spotlight users to engage with this feature to change images, like or not like an image etc. There will be several changes that Insiders will notice including the following:

     Treatment 1:  Spotlight experience in full screen mode, while double-clicking will open the Bing landing page for the image on desktop.
     Treatment 2:  if a user right-clicks on the Windows Spotlight icon it will launch the Spotlight experience, while double-clicking will open Windows Spotlight experience in full screen mode. A single click on the Spotlight icon will open the Bing landing page for the image on desktop.

[Windows Share]

• We are rolling out the ability to easily share content to an Android device from Windows share window. The feature requires you to pair your Android device to your Windows PC using the Link to Windows app on Android and Phone Link on your PC.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue causing the taskbar to not appear for a small number of Insiders in the last couple flights.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue causing screen readers to not announce when you were opening or navigating items in the breadcrumb flyouts of the open or save dialog.
• Fixed an issue causing screen readers to not announce anything when opening or navigating items in the column header flyout in File Explorer.

[Start menu]

• Fixed the issue from the last flight where if you clicked your profile icon on the Start menu and chose "Change account settings", it would not open account settings

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Other]

• This update addresses an issue that might stop your system from resuming from hibernate. This occurs after you turn on BitLocker.
• This update addresses an issue that affects exe. It leaks memory. This occurs during a Local Security Authority (Domain Policy) Remote Protocol (LSARPC) call.
  
• This update addresses an issue that affects exe. It stops responding. This occurs after you install the April 2024 security updates on Windows servers.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3858 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/06/28/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3858-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• The preview thumbnail title in the taskbar, ALT + Tab and Task View for File Explorer windows will now indicate if that window includes multiple tabs.

[Windows Share]

• We're rolling out some minor UI changes to simplify the Windows share window which removes the search box.

[For Developers]

• Updated the logic for the "End Task" option in the taskbar so that it no longer shows a Not Responding dialog to give confirmation before ending the task.

[Other]

• Updated the Run dialog to now follow text scaling (Settings > Accessibility > Text size).

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Addressed several accessibility issues where File Explorer, Common File Dialog (CFD), and Browse/Shortcuts Dialogs did not respond appropriately to your text size / scaling preferences. Including, but not limited to, fixed an issue where file name was getting clipped in the CFD and the Browse/ Shortcuts dialog.
• Addressed several accessibility issues in File Explorer impacting screen reader users, related to content being read out correctly, and also keyboard focus not going to the correct place. Some examples include, keyboard focus getting lost sometimes when using Shift + Tab, and Narrator stuttering during the search process
• Fixed an issue causing some people to see a thin line between the tab and address bar in File Explorer.
• Fixed an issue impacting File Explorer reliability for a small number of people.
• Fixed an issue where the OneDrive icon in the address bar was blurry sometimes for some people.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Voice Typing]

• Fixed an issue believed to be the underlying cause of some Insiders seeing errors when attempting to use Voice Typing in certain languages such as Chinese with recent flights.

[Taskbar]

• Updated the app icon flashing in the taskbar to be a bit easier to see.

[Other]

• You can now use OneDrive as a RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop.
• This update improves the Virtual Filtering Platform (VFP) within Windows nodes. Now, VFP has more support for packet drop collection. This will make it easier to troubleshoot issues.
• Fixed an issue where Group Policy would fail to detect when a network's speed is slow (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/ask-the-directory-services-team/group-policy-slow-link-detection-using-windows-vista-and-later/ba-p/397210). Instead, it assumed that a fast link was present.
  
• Fixed an issue causing a deadlock which could stop you from signing in to Azure Virtual Desktop sessions.
• Fixed an issue occurring when using Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) and Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA). When you used them with SMBdirect in your networks, the networks would fail, and you would lose the ability to manage clusters.
• Fixed and issue where a firewall profile might drop from domain to public. This would occur when multiple interfaces existed, and you added or removed an interface.
• Fixed an issue where GPUs did not enter the idle state that stops them from consuming power.
• Fixed an issue where when using Snipping Tool to record videos on some PCs, the audio would have distortions.
• This update adds the registry key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM ForceDisableModeChangeAnimation (REG_DWORD). When you set its value to 1 (or a non-zero number), it turns off the display mode change animation. If the value is 0 or the key does not exist, the animation is set to on.
  
• This update brings Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
• Fixed an issue occurring in the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) driver. This issue could lead to high system CPU usage. It also reduced throughput under a heavy load. This update boosts network packet processing in WFP. This helps to stop performance from degrading. This update also adds batch processing to reduce CPU load.
• Fixed an issue where the Input Method Editor (IME) candidate list might fail to show or showed in the wrong position.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3930 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3930-beta-channel/)

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

Shared Content in File Explorer Home
File Explorer will now provide you with quick access to files that have been shared with you. If you are signed into Windows with your Microsoft account, you will be able to view files that have been shared with your account, such as email, Teams chat, etc. If you are a commercial customer who is signed-in with your Microsoft Entra ID account, you will additionally be able to view files that they have shared with others. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the 'Shared' tab item.

You will also be able to view a broader set of file types in their Recent, Favorites, and Shared sections on the homepage. For example, if you've recently opened/edited files in Designer, Loop, Power BI, Forms, etc. these files will now be available in your Recent list.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files Folders and Online Storage > File Explorer.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We are trying out a more simplified system tray to highlight the date/time in a shortened form and to show the notifications bell icon based on DND status. Without the notification bell icon, you can get to your notifications by clicking the date and time to Notification Center. You can revert to the long form of the date/time and bell icon visuals by toggling the values in the Settings via Settings > Date and Time under "Show time and day in the system tray" and Settings > System > Notifications under "Notifications". These settings are also accessible through the context menu shown by right clicking the system tray clock/bell icon button.
• We've updated the previews that show when you mouse-over/hover over apps on the taskbar. We have also improved the animations for when these previews show on the taskbar based on Insider feedback.
• Updated the taskbar to now support first letter navigation, so when keyboard focus is set to the taskbar (WIN + T), you can press a letter, and it will jump to the open or pinned app whose name starts with that letter. Pressing the letter multiple times will jump to the subsequent app which starts with that letter, if there are multiple apps for that letter. For those using uncombined taskbar, rather than app name, the first letter navigation will use window name. Along with this, pressing Home and End will now move keyboard focus to the first and last (respectively) items in the taskbar.

[Windows Studio Effects]

• Windows Studio Effects (https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/ai/studio-effects/) delivers AI-based camera and audio enhancements on devices equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Today, you can access Studio Effects in Quick Settings from the system tray of the taskbar. To further streamline your experience, an icon will now appear in the system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera. Simply click on this icon to launch the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings. Additionally, hovering over the icon will display a tooltip indicating which application is utilizing the camera.
  

[Windows Share]

• We are updating the UI in the Windows share window for sharing content to an Android device that began rolling out with Build 22635.3785 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/06/14/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3785-beta-channel/). The option is also move to be under "Nearby Share" in the Windows share window. The feature requires you to pair your Android device to your Windows PC using the Link to Windows app on Android and Phone Link on your PC.
  

[Narrator]

• We have made several changes to improve the performance of Narrator scan mode. This is expected to make scan mode responses much quicker, especially while using Microsoft Edge, and reading through large documents. To try out scan mode, turn on Narrator first (Win key + Ctrl + Enter), and then turn scan mode ON by pressing Caps Lock + Spacebar during a Narrator session.

[Other]

• Updated System Info (msinfo32) to now follow your text size preference under Settings > Accessibility > Text Size.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue where the All apps list wasn't being read out by screen readers in recent flights.
• Fixed an issue causing some apps to not be sorted correctly in the All apps list when using certain display languages.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue where keyboard focus might get lost when using Shift + Tab to move through the taskbar.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We fixed the issue causing you not to be able to view or interact with the taskbar after you install KB5039302 (//'https://support.microsoft.com/help/5039302'). This issue occurs on devices that run the Windows N edition. This edition is like other editions but lacks most media-related tools. The issue also occurs if you turn off "Media Features" from the Control Panel.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3936 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/22/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3936-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• We are trying out updated designs for the "Open with" dialog where the group headers are removed, among a few other changes.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We have temporarily disabled the more simplified system tray with shortened date/time change that began rolling out with Build 22635.3930 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3930-beta-channel/) to address several issues. We will begin re-enabling this on a future flight. If you saw this change previously, it will likely disappear after updating to this build today.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Input]

• Fixed an issue causing text suggestions for the hardware keyboard to not work properly in recent builds (selecting one unexpectedly concatenated).
• Fixed a few high hitting ctfmon.exe crashes, which could impact the ability to input text.
• Fixed an issue which could cause certain mice and keyboards to not work in safe mode.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4000 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4000-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• We're beginning to try out showing jump lists when you hover your mouse cursor over apps on the taskbar that have jump lists and are inactive. Should you see this experience, let us know what you think via Feedback Hub.

[Voice Access]

• We are making improvements for the spelling and corrections experience in voice access. You will now be able to use the experience for the entirety of voice access session. The spelling experience will now enable you to dictate the characters at a faster speed and offer more editing flexibility inside the experience with dictation commands, namely selection, deletion and text navigation commands.

[Widgets]

• We are rolling out an update to the Widgets Board to improve security and the APIs for creating widgets and feeds for users in EEA regions. As part of this update, the Microsoft Start Experiences app will power the Microsoft Start widget and feed experiences. Also, as part of this update, some existing widgets will be removed and others will be modified, temporarily affecting their functionality. This update sets the foundation for new widgets and other features in development, set to roll out soon.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• Fix and underlying issue causing the Notification Center to get stuck and not open sometimes for some Insiders with the latest builds. This is also believed to be the same underlying cause as some Insiders finding that the Add a Device dialog didn't appear when trying to add Bluetooth devices in Settings.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

[File Explorer]

• Fixed some issues causing Narrator to not work as expected when navigating through the Recent, Favorites, and Shared tab items for Insiders with the recent updates to Home in File Explorer.
• Fixed an issue causing the context menu in Home or Gallery to open in the wrong position when using Arabic or Hebrew display languages.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/02/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4005-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• Fixed an issue which was causing sporadic explorer.exe for some Insiders while using your PC in the latest flights.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel

• Updates released to the Beta Channel are based off Windows 11, version 23H2.
  
• Features and experiences included in these builds may never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features may change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
  
• Many features in the Beta Channel are rolled out using Control Feature Rollout technology (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delivering-continuous-innovation-in-windows-11-b0aa0a27-ea9a-4365-9224-cb155e517f12), starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time as we monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
  
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders may not be fully localized and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, please report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.
• Because the Dev and Beta Channels represent parallel development paths from our engineers, there may be cases where features and experiences show up in the Beta Channel first.
• Check out Flight Hub (https://aka.ms/flighthub) for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.
  
• Copilot in Windows is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders across our global markets. Customers in the European Economic Area will be able to download the Copilot in Windows experience as an app from the Microsoft Store (https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NHT9RB2F4HD).
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/09/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4010-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• The more simplified system tray with shortened date/time change that began rolling out with Build 22635.3930 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3930-beta-channel/) is now beginning to roll out again to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel after temporarily disabling (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/22/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3936-beta-channel/) the experience to address some issues.
  
• For Insiders in the Beta Channel who have the experience where we show jump lists when you hover your mouse cursor over apps on the taskbar that have jump lists that began rolling out with Build 22635.4000 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4000-beta-channel/), there is a setting to turn this off should you want to via Settings > Personalization > Taskbar under "Taskbar behaviors".

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar]

• Fixed a recent issue where if you pressed the Shift key when you right clicked on an app icon on the taskbar, it was opening another instance of the app rather than opening the expected menu. As part of this fix, we also fixed an issue where if you pressed the Shift key when right-clicking on an app icon on the taskbar would sometimes crash explorer.exe.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where the dropdown at the top of the GPU section of Performance wasn't showing in dark mode when dark mode was enabled.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4076-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Windows Studio Effects]

• The improvement introduced with Build 22635.3930 (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/07/12/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3930-beta-channel/) that introduces a Studio Effects icon in the system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera has temporarily been disabled with this build. We plan to re-enable this feature in a future flight.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where keyboard focus might get lost on selection of an unselected tab item.

[Voice Access]

• Fixed an issue where Voice Access commands weren't working for non-English supported languages (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/voice-access-command-list-dac0f091-87ce-454d-8d57-bef38d3d8563).
  

[Input]

• Fixed an issue causing the emoji panel to close when trying to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue in Registry Editor where when editing a DWORD or QWORD if you pasted in a HEX value into the text box and saved it, the value saved might not be the one you had entered (for example, pasting 0x1 would become 0x411).

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

• [NetAdapterCx module] A system stops responding when large amounts of data travel over Wi-Fi. This issue occurs on devices that have certain wireless network cards.
  
• [Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b)] This update adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
  
• [Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)]
  
  • When you apply WDAC Application ID policies, some apps might fail.
  • A memory leak occurs that might exhaust system memory as time goes by. This issue occurs when you provision a device.
• [Group Policy Preferences Item Level Targeting (ILT) and Local Users and Groups] You cannot choose a group from the target domain for ILT. Also, you cannot choose an account from Local Users and Groups. The forest does not appear. This issue occurs when you deploy multiple forests, and the target domain has a one-way trust with the domain of the admin. This issue affects Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE), Hardened Forests (HF), or Privileged Access Management (PAM) deployments.
  
• [Autopilot] Using it to provision Surface Laptop SE devices fails.
  
• [FrameShutdownDelay] The browser ignores its value in the "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" registry key.
  
• [Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCPIP)] The issue causes high CPU usage and loss of packets. It also affects TCP connection success rates.
  
• [Cache manager] It might stop responding. This occurs when you use Hyperthreading on Windows Server 2022.
  
• [Print Support App] When you use the app with a USB device, the app stops responding and does not print. This issue also limits the functions of the user interface.
  
• [Universal Print clients] They fail to communicate with the Universal Print service. This affects printing functions. This issue occurs when you turn on Web Proxy Auto Discovery (WPAD).
  
• [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] This update removes this registry key. For more information refer to KB5020276—Netjoin: Domain join hardening changes (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5020276-netjoin-domain-join-hardening-changes-2b65a0f3-1f4c-42ef-ac0f-1caaf421baf8).
  
• [Windows Backup] Backup sometimes fails. This occurs when a device has an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) system partition (ESP).
  
• [PowerShell and VBScript] The issue stops you from using Windows Update Agent (WUA) APIs in your scripts.
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/26/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4082-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Notifications]

• If desired, there's now an option to turn off the suggestions to disable notifications (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/06/15/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22621-1900-and-22631-1900/) from certain apps. You can now press the "..." within the notification to disable the notification, as you can with other notifications, or you can go to the list of notification senders in Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there (called "Notification Suggestions" in the list). Note – this entry will only appear in the senders list after you have received one.
  

[Lock screen]

• We have updated the Lock screen so that the media controls will now show at the lower bottom center of the Lock screen now when media is being played.

[Settings]

• We've designed the settings page for Delivery Optimization under Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization to match the Windows 11 design principles.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue causing explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar in the latest flights.

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue causing the Start menu to crash on launch in the last few flights for some Insiders.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue causing a memory leak after receiving certain notifications.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel
[Other]

• [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] This update removes this registry key. For more information refer to KB5020276—Netjoin: Domain join hardening changes (https://support.microsoft.com/topic/kb5020276-netjoin-domain-join-hardening-changes-2b65a0f3-1f4c-42ef-ac0f-1caaf421baf8).
  

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/30/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4145-beta-channel/)

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]                                             

• For new PCs or new user accounts on managed commercial devices (PCs running Windows 11 Enterprise, Education, or Pro logged in with an Entra ID (or domain), the Microsoft 365 app will be pinned to the taskbar for quick access to Copilot for Microsoft 365 (https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot/meet-copilot).
  

[Input]

• We have updated Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mouse to now include the option to turn off enhanced mouse pointer precision for those that would prefer to not use it and have added a new option for changing mouse scrolling direction.
• We have updated Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch to have a new section for touch screen edge gestures, where you can choose if you would like to disable the left or right screen edge touch gesture.

[Desktop Spotlight]
We are trying out some adjustments to the Windows Spotlight experience on the desktop to include hotspots when users right-click on the Windows Spotlight icon. In addition, these changes will include two different UX treatments that Insiders will notice.

There is no change to the interaction model where right click opens the experience in full screen and double clicking launches the Bing landing page. When in full screen, you will now see two hotspots which will be animated to aid discovery, and which will reveal additional information on hover. Clicking on a hotspot will close the full screen experience and launch the Bing landing page.

[Windows Share]

• We're adding the ability to share content to Notepad and Clipchamp directly from the Windows share window.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue causing File Explorer to crash when navigating to Home for some Insiders with the two flights. This also led File Explorer to crash on launch if it opened directly to Home.
• Fixed an issue causing explorer.exe to crash when interacting with archive files in the last few flights.

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue where the text might be unreadable in the section of the Start menu with Phone Link features shown on the side (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/06/21/previewing-for-accessing-phone-link-features-from-the-start-menu-with-windows-insiders/).
  

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Other]
This update includes fixes for the following issues:

• [File Explorer] The navigation pane does not update when you browse folders that are in a shell namespace extension.
  
• [Hibernate stop error] Your laptop stops responding after you resume it from hibernate. This occurs if you have closed and opened the lid many times.
  
• [Windows Hello for Business] PIN reset does not work when you select the "I forgot my PIN' link on the credentials screen.
  
• Your system might stop responding when it accesses symbolic links.
• [Bluetooth] External devices lose their connection when you deploy certain Bluetooth policies.
  
• [Microsoft Entra single sign-on (SSO)] The SSO notice that the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires prompts too often. This occurs when you authenticate using a certificate. To learn more, see Upcoming changes to Windows single sign-on (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/upcoming-changes-to-windows-single-sign-on/ba-p/4008151).
  
• [Unified Write Filter (UWF) and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)] An SCCM task to re-enable UWF fails because of a deadlock in UWF. This stops the device from restarting when you expect it.
  
• [Country and Operator Settings Asset] This update brings COSA profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
  
• [Input Method Editor (IME)] When a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might occur when you close that window.
  
• You might not be able to decrypt a BitLocker data drive. This occurs when you move that drive from a newer version of Windows to an older version.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145 (Beta Channel) (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/08/30/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-4145-beta-channel/) Update

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Start menu]

• [ADDED 9/3] Based on feedback, we've made some updates to the new account manager on the Start menu (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/04/19/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-22635-3500-beta-channel/) making the sign out option directly visible, and adding a list of signed in users under "..." so it's faster to switch accounts.
  

[Input]

• [ADDED 9/3] We're beginning to roll out a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that supports the ability to use your Xbox controller to navigate and type. This includes button accelerators (example: X button for backspace, Y button for spacebar) additionally the keyboard keys have been vertically aligned for better controller navigation patterns.