Serious Discussion Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview builds [Mega-Thread]

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2552 (KB5031448) to the Beta Channel.

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 (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.

Turn on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.
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​

[Settings]​

• System Components currently listed in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps page, have moved to its own page under Settings > System > System Components.

New System Components Settings page.

• 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. 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.
• 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.

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2552 (Beta Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we’re releasing Windows 11 Builds 22631.2506 (KB5031455) to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11, version 23H2. (Note: This optional update is currently also rolling out to all customers on Windows 11, version 22H2 including those in Release Preview. Please see this KB article here.) This update includes the following improvements documented here in this KB article plus these additional changes for Windows 11, version 23H2:

• Under All apps in the Start menu, Windows 11 system components will now show a “system” label.

Thanks, Windows Insider Program Team

Source: Releasing Windows 11 Build 22631.2506 to the Release Preview Channel

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23575 to the Dev Channel. There will not be a SDK release for this build.

Changes and Improvements​

[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.

[caption id="attachment_176666" align="alignnone" width="346"] Grouping of recently added apps under the Recommended section of the Start menu.[/caption]

Fixes​

[General]​

• Fixed an issue which was causing certain games to fail to launch with a 0x1 error in the last 2 Dev Channel flights.

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• Fixed an issue causing some Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel using the Home edition of Windows 11 Insider Preview builds to find Copilot in Windows has disappeared from the taskbar.

[File Explorer]​

• Fixed an issue where hovering over the first picture in Gallery would make a tooltip appear that would never dismiss.
• Fixed an issue where closing File Explorer could cause an explorer.exe crash sometimes.
• Did some work to improve the performance of opening the context menu.
• Fixed an issue where the second time you opened dropdown menus in File Explorer, you wouldn't be able to scroll it with touch.

[Settings]​

• 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.

[Task Manager]​

• Fixed an issue where the dropdowns in settings would float up the screen if you scrolled.

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

Known issues​

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you'll need to use "Show grid" commands to click in the "Ask me anything" box for the first time.

About the Dev Channel​

REMINDER: The Dev Channel has been rebooted. Windows Insiders who were in the Dev Channel on 25000 series builds have been moved to the new Canary Channel. Going forward, the Dev Channel will receive 23000 series builds. Insiders who were moved to the Canary Channel and want to move back to the Dev Channel can follow these instructions to do a clean installation of Windows 11 and then re-join the Dev Channel to receive 23000 series builds. The Dev Channel receives builds that represent long lead work from our engineers with features and experiences that may never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. It is important to remember that the builds we release to the Dev Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and the features included may change over time, be removed, or replaced in Insider builds or may never be released beyond Windows Insiders to general customers. For more information, please read this blog post about how we plan to use the Dev Channel to incubate new ideas, work on long lead items, and control the states of individual features. In some cases, features and experiences may go out to the Canary Channel first before going out to the Dev Channel however the Dev Channel will provide better platform stability. As we get closer to shipping, some features and experiences will also make their way to the Beta Channel when they are ready. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23575 (Dev Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23580 to the Dev Channel.

Changes and Improvements​

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• Starting with Build 23580 in the Dev Channel, users with local accounts will be able to access Copilot in Windows for a limited number of queries before needing to sign in.

[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.

[Emoji]​

• [ADDED] We are temporarily disabling the update of our color font format to COLRv1 (first introduced in Build 23506) that displayed richer emoji with a 3D like appearance to fix some bugs. We plan to re-enable this in a future Dev Channel flight.

Fixes​

[File Explorer]​

• Fixed an issue where using mouse back and forward buttons didn't react when hovering over the Recommended Files section of Home.
• Fixed an issue where Gallery would stop displaying correctly if you applied Group By to all folders.

[Desktops]​

• Fixed an issue that made the desktop tooltips in Task view hard to read in contrast themes.
• Fixed an issue that was causing taskbar icons to disappear after switching desktops.

[Search on the Taskbar]​

• Fixed an issue where if your taskbar was close to being full of icons and you used the search box, clicking the search box would open search and then it would immediately close.

[Windows Spotlight]​

• Fixed an issue which was resulting in Windows Spotlight wallpapers not showing correctly in the desktop thumbnail in Task View.

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

Known issues​

[Taskbar]​

• [NEW] The purple Chat button may show up again on the taskbar after updating to this build. This is unintentional. We're working to resolve an issue where the button is incorrectly showing again.

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you'll need to use "Show grid" commands to click in the "Ask me anything" box for the first time.

Microsoft Store Update​

Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels running version 22310.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out: Customize the install location of your games: When downloading games like Starfield, Halo Infinite, or Forza Motorsport, you will now be able to specify the installation drive. For example, when clicking the install button from Starfield's page, you'll be greeted with a new dialog providing you a chance to select a drive. You can change your default drive from the Microsoft Store's settings page. Also in the settings page, you can specify the folder location of your games within that drive. These settings are synchronized with the Xbox app on PC to ensure a consistent gaming experience. [caption id="attachment_176672" align="alignnone" width="384"] Game installation options in the Microsoft Store.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

For developers​

You can download the latest Windows Insider SDK at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK which include:

• .NET TFM packages for use in .NET apps as described at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk
• C++ packages for Win32 headers and libs per architecture
• BuildTools package when you just need tools like MakeAppx.exe, MakePri.exe, and SignTool.exe

These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. SDK flights are now published for both the Canary and Dev Channels, so be sure to choose the right version for your Insider Channel. Remember to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to make sure your app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks, as OS version checks are unreliable and will not work as expected in all cases.

About the Dev Channel​

REMINDER: The Dev Channel has been rebooted. Windows Insiders who were in the Dev Channel on 25000 series builds have been moved to the new Canary Channel. Going forward, the Dev Channel will receive 23000 series builds. Insiders who were moved to the Canary Channel and want to move back to the Dev Channel can follow these instructions to do a clean installation of Windows 11 and then re-join the Dev Channel to receive 23000 series builds. The Dev Channel receives builds that represent long lead work from our engineers with features and experiences that may never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. It is important to remember that the builds we release to the Dev Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and the features included may change over time, be removed, or replaced in Insider builds or may never be released beyond Windows Insiders to general customers. For more information, please read this blog post about how we plan to use the Dev Channel to incubate new ideas, work on long lead items, and control the states of individual features. In some cases, features and experiences may go out to the Canary Channel first before going out to the Dev Channel however the Dev Channel will provide better platform stability. As we get closer to shipping, some features and experiences will also make their way to the Beta Channel when they are ready. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23580 (Dev Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25987 to the Canary Channel. REMINDER: As builds released to the Canary Channel are “hot off the presses,” we will offer limited documentation for builds flighted to the Canary Channel including documenting only the most significant and highly impactful known issues. Please note that we will not publish a blog post for every flight – only when new features are available in a build.

What’s new in Build 25987​

Changes and Improvements​

[General]​

• During setup (OOBE), when you need to connect to a network and there's no Wi-Fi drivers, you'll be given an option to press an "Install Drivers" button to install drivers you have previously downloaded. You will see this change using the ISO for Build 25977 provided here for download and higher.
• Starting with this build, the Windows Maps and Movies and TV apps will no longer be installed after doing a clean install of the OS. The Windows Maps and Movies and TV apps will not be removed on upgrade for Insiders in the Canary Channel and continue to be available and updated via the Microsoft Store.

[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.

[File Explorer]​

• PNG files now support viewing and editing metadata – for example, if you’d like to set a star rating in Properties, edit the description, or add keywords.

Fixes for known issues​

• Fixed an issue causing File Explorer to crash in Windows Sandbox when using a non-English display language.

Known issues​

• [REMINDER] Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.
• [NEW] There are blank options showing on the Personalization and Privacy & Security settings pages where if clicked on will crash Settings.
• [NEW] We’re investigating reports that attempting to reboot into safe mode hangs on the boot logo.

Microsoft Store Update​

Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels running version 22310.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out: Customize the install location of your games: When downloading games like Starfield, Halo Infinite, or Forza Motorsport, you will now be able to specify the installation drive. For example, when clicking the install button from Starfield's page, you'll be greeted with a new dialog providing you a chance to select a drive. You can change your default drive from the Microsoft Store's settings page. Also in the settings page, you can specify the folder location of your games within that drive. These settings are synchronized with the Xbox app on PC to ensure a consistent gaming experience. [caption id="attachment_176672" align="alignnone" width="384"] Game installation options in the Microsoft Store.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

For developers​

You can download the latest Windows Insider SDK at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK which include:

• .NET TFM packages for use in .NET apps as described at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk
• C++ packages for Win32 headers and libs per architecture
• BuildTools package when you just need tools like MakeAppx.exe, MakePri.exe, and SignTool.exe

These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. SDK flights are now published for both the Canary and Dev Channels, so be sure to choose the right version for your Insider Channel. Remember to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to make sure your app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks, as OS version checks are unreliable and will not work as expected in all cases.

About the Canary Channel​

The Canary Channel is the place to preview platform changes that require longer-lead time before getting released to customers. Some examples of this include major changes to the Windows kernel, new APIs, etc. Builds that we release to the Canary Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and some of the changes we try out in the Canary Channel will never ship, and others could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready. The builds that will be flighted to the Canary Channel are “hot off the presses,” flighting very soon after they are built, which means very little validation and documentation will be done before they are offered to Insiders. These builds could include major issues that could result in not being able to use your PC correctly or even in some rare cases require you to reinstall Windows. We will offer limited documentation for the Canary Channel, but we will not publish a blog post for every flight – only when new features are available in a build. Our Canary Channel won’t receive daily builds; however, we may ramp up releasing builds more frequently in the future. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25987 (Canary Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2700 (KB5031452) to the Beta Channel. 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 (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. [caption id="attachment_176587" align="alignnone" width="758"] Turn on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.[/caption] 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.

Known issues​

[General]​

• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where Snipping Tool may crash when taking a capture on Arm devices.

About the Beta Channel​

The Beta Channel is the place we preview experiences that are closer to what we will ship to our general customers. 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. However, this does not mean every feature we try out in the Beta Channel will ship. We encourage Insiders to read this blog post that outlines the ways we’ll try things out with Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels. *Getting new features: 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. **Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• Want to learn how we made Windows 11? Check out the Inside Windows 11 website to hear and meet our makers from Engineering, Design and Research to share their insights and unique perspectives throughout this journey.
• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2700 (Beta Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25992 to the Canary Channel. REMINDER: As builds released to the Canary Channel are “hot off the presses,” we will offer limited documentation for builds flighted to the Canary Channel including documenting only the most significant and highly impactful known issues. Please note that we will not publish a blog post for every flight – only when new features are available in a build.

What’s new in Build 25992​

SMB Changes​

Starting with this build (Build 25992), we are introducing the following Server Message Block (SMB) protocol changes. SMB firewall rule changes: Creating SMB shares changes a longtime Windows Defender Firewall default behavior. Previously, creating a share automatically configured the firewall to enable the rules in the “File and Printer Sharing” group for the given firewall profiles. Now, Windows automatically configures the new “File and Printer Sharing (Restrictive)” group, which no longer contains inbound NetBIOS ports 137-139. We plan future updates for this rule to also remove inbound ICMP, LLMNR, and Spooler Service ports and restrict down to the SMB sharing-necessary ports only. This change enforces a higher degree of default of network security as well as bringing SMB firewall rules closer to the Windows Server “File Server” role behavior. Administrators can still configure the “File and Printer Sharing” group if necessary as well as modify this new firewall group. For more information on this change, review SMB firewall rule changes in Windows Insider. For more information on SMB network security, review Secure SMB Traffic in Windows Server. SMB NTLM blocking exception list: The new SMB NTLM blocking feature first announced in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25951 now supports specifying exception lists for NTLM usage. This allows an administrator to configure a general block on NTLM usage while still allowing clients to use NTLM for specific servers that do not support Kerberos, either because they are not Active Directory domain joined or are a third party without Kerberos support. For more information on this change, review SMB NTLM blocking now supported in Windows Insider. SMB alternative client and server ports: The SMB client now supports connecting to an SMB server over TCP, QUIC, or RDMA using alternative network ports to the hardcoded defaults. Previously, SMB only supported TCP/445, QUIC/443, and RDMA iWARP/5445. In addition, the SMB over QUIC server in Windows Server also supports endpoints configured with different ports than 443 (this option will be part of a separate Windows Server Insider Preview release). Windows Server does not support configuring alternative SMB server TCP ports, but third parties such as Samba do. You can specify an alternative SMB client port using the NET USE command and New-SmbMapping PowerShell cmdlet. You can also completely disable this feature with a group policy. For more information on using this option, review SMB alternative ports now supported in Windows Insiders. For more information on configuring non-standard SMB server ports in third parties, consult their product documentation. SMB over QUIC client access control certificate changes: The SMB over QUIC client access control feature first announced in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25977 now supports using certificates with subject alternative names and not just a single subject. This means the client access control feature now supports using a Microsoft AD Certificate Authority and multiple endpoint names, just like the currently released version of SMB over QUIC. You can now evaluate the feature using the recommended options and not require self-signed test certificates. For more information on this change, review SMB over QUIC client access control now supported in Windows Insider. For more information on SMB over QUIC, review SMB over QUIC.

Changes and Improvements​

[File Explorer]​

• Did some work which should help noticeably improve the performance of opening large .zip files in File Explorer.
• [ADDED] We've added support for creating 7-zip and TAR archives in addition to ZIP.

[caption id="attachment_176680" align="alignnone" width="428"] Compress files into 7-zip and TAR archives in addition to ZIP.[/caption]

[Snap Layouts]​

• [ADDED] We will show suggestions in Snap Layouts 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.

[caption id="attachment_176375" align="alignnone" width="292"] Suggestions in Snap Layouts.[/caption]

Fixes for known issues​

• We fixed the issue causing blank options to show on the Personalization and Privacy & Security settings pages, where if clicked on it would crash Settings.
• Fixed an issue causing the context menu to draw off screen when invoked using touch or pen on the side of your desktop.
• 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.
• If you were experiencing Quick Settings crashes and WIN + A not working in the previous flight, that should be resolved now.
• Fixed an issue that was causing taskbar icons to disappear after switching desktops.

Known issues​

• [REMINDER] Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where attempting to reboot into safe mode hangs on the boot logo.
• [NEW] Attempting to navigate to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad on this build will crash Settings.

Snipping Tool Update​

We are rolling out Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels 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.

For developers​

You can download the latest Windows Insider SDK at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK which include:

• .NET TFM packages for use in .NET apps as described at ms/windowsinsidersdk
• C++ packages for Win32 headers and libs per architecture
• BuildTools package when you just need tools like MakeAppx.exe, MakePri.exe, and SignTool.exe

These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. SDK flights are now published for both the Canary and Dev Channels, so be sure to choose the right version for your Insider Channel. Remember to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to make sure your app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks, as OS version checks are unreliable and will not work as expected in all cases.

About the Canary Channel​

The Canary Channel is the place to preview platform changes that require longer-lead time before getting released to customers. Some examples of this include major changes to the Windows kernel, new APIs, etc. Builds that we release to the Canary Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and some of the changes we try out in the Canary Channel will never ship, and others could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready. The builds that will be flighted to the Canary Channel are “hot off the presses,” flighting very soon after they are built, which means very little validation and documentation will be done before they are offered to Insiders. These builds could include major issues that could result in not being able to use your PC correctly or even in some rare cases require you to reinstall Windows. We will offer limited documentation for the Canary Channel, but we will not publish a blog post for every flight – only when new features are available in a build. Our Canary Channel won’t receive daily builds; however, we may ramp up releasing builds more frequently in the future. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25992 (Canary Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23585 to the Dev Channel.

Changes and Improvements​

[General]​

• The Camera app, Cortana, Photos app, and People app, and Remote Desktop (MSTSC) client can be uninstalled.

Fixes​

[General]​

• Fixed a few issues leading to explorer.exe crashes.

[File Explorer]​

• Fixed an issue causing the context menu to draw off screen when invoked using touch or pen on the side of your desktop.

[Taskbar]​

• Fixed the issue causing the purple Chat button to show up again on the taskbar after updating to Build 23580.

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

Known issues​

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you'll need to use "Show grid" commands to click in the "Ask me anything" box for the first time.

Snipping Tool Update​

We are rolling out Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels 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.

For developers​

You can download the latest Windows Insider SDK at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK which include:

• .NET TFM packages for use in .NET apps as described at ms/windowsinsidersdk
• C++ packages for Win32 headers and libs per architecture
• BuildTools package when you just need tools like MakeAppx.exe, MakePri.exe, and SignTool.exe

These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. SDK flights are now published for both the Canary and Dev Channels, so be sure to choose the right version for your Insider Channel. Remember to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to make sure your app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks, as OS version checks are unreliable and will not work as expected in all cases.

About the Dev Channel​

REMINDER: The Dev Channel has been rebooted. Windows Insiders who were in the Dev Channel on 25000 series builds have been moved to the new Canary Channel. Going forward, the Dev Channel will receive 23000 series builds. Insiders who were moved to the Canary Channel and want to move back to the Dev Channel can follow these instructions to do a clean installation of Windows 11 and then re-join the Dev Channel to receive 23000 series builds. The Dev Channel receives builds that represent long lead work from our engineers with features and experiences that may never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. It is important to remember that the builds we release to the Dev Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and the features included may change over time, be removed, or replaced in Insider builds or may never be released beyond Windows Insiders to general customers. For more information, please read this blog post about how we plan to use the Dev Channel to incubate new ideas, work on long lead items, and control the states of individual features. In some cases, features and experiences may go out to the Canary Channel first before going out to the Dev Channel however the Dev Channel will provide better platform stability. As we get closer to shipping, some features and experiences will also make their way to the Beta Channel when they are ready. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23585 (Dev Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23590 to the Dev Channel. We are releasing ISOs for this build – they can be downloaded here.

What’s new in Build 23590​

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, 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:

1. Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + CTRL + N hotkey.
2. Under Narrator’s voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
3. Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
4. The preview will play automatically once you navigate through the list.
5. 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.
6. 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.

[caption id="attachment_176692" align="alignnone" width="647"] When you click on a natural voice for Narrator in Settings, a preview will play automatically.[/caption] 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​

[General]​

• Steps Recorder will not receive further updates 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.

[Windows Share]​

• 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

[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.

Fixes​

[File Explorer]​

• Fixed an issue causing File Explorer to crash on launch for some Insiders in the last few builds if you were using a non-default regional sorting option.
• Fixed an issue which was causing opening the context menu on the desktop to crash explorer.exe in the last couple flights for some Insiders.
• Fixed an issue which was causing explorer.exe to crash sometimes when entering paths into the address bar.

[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.
• 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 the Experimental Features section of Narrator Settings didn’t have text.

[Windows Share]​

• Fixed an issue which was causing the share window to crash in the last couple builds.

NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

Known issues​

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, you'll need to use "Show grid" commands to click in the "Ask me anything" box for the first time.

For developers​

You can download the latest Windows Insider SDK at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK which include:

• .NET TFM packages for use in .NET apps as described at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk
• C++ packages for Win32 headers and libs per architecture
• BuildTools package when you just need tools like MakeAppx.exe, MakePri.exe, and SignTool.exe

These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. SDK flights are now published for both the Canary and Dev Channels, so be sure to choose the right version for your Insider Channel. Remember to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to make sure your app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks, as OS version checks are unreliable and will not work as expected in all cases.

About the Dev Channel​

REMINDER: The Dev Channel has been rebooted. Windows Insiders who were in the Dev Channel on 25000 series builds have been moved to the new Canary Channel. Going forward, the Dev Channel will receive 23000 series builds. Insiders who were moved to the Canary Channel and want to move back to the Dev Channel can follow these instructions to do a clean installation of Windows 11 and then re-join the Dev Channel to receive 23000 series builds. The Dev Channel receives builds that represent long lead work from our engineers with features and experiences that may never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. It is important to remember that the builds we release to the Dev Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and the features included may change over time, be removed, or replaced in Insider builds or may never be released beyond Windows Insiders to general customers. For more information, please read this blog post about how we plan to use the Dev Channel to incubate new ideas, work on long lead items, and control the states of individual features. In some cases, features and experiences may go out to the Canary Channel first before going out to the Dev Channel however the Dev Channel will provide better platform stability. As we get closer to shipping, some features and experiences will also make their way to the Beta Channel when they are ready. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23590 (Dev Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25997 to the Canary Channel. We are releasing ISOs for this build – they can be downloaded here. REMINDER: As builds released to the Canary Channel are “hot off the presses,” we will offer limited documentation for builds flighted to the Canary Channel including documenting only the most significant and highly impactful known issues. Please note that we will not publish a blog post for every flight – only when new features are available in a build.

Changes and Improvements​

[Windows Share]​

• 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.

[Settings]​

• We are beginning to roll out a new option under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Phone Link to disable Phone Link all together in Windows 11. This setting will prevent Phone Link from communicating with your mobile devices.

Fixes for known issues​

• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see the latest builds unexpectedly fail to install with 0x80004005.
• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see an increase in bugchecks after upgrading to the previous build.
• Fixed an issue where the context menu in File Explorer, as well as the command bar dropdowns, might go transparent sometimes.

Known issues​

• [REMINDER] Some popular games may not work correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where attempting to reboot into safe mode hangs on the boot logo.
• Attempting to navigate to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad on this build will crash Settings.

For developers​

You can download the latest Windows Insider SDK at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK which include:

• .NET TFM packages for use in .NET apps as described at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk
• C++ packages for Win32 headers and libs per architecture
• BuildTools package when you just need tools like MakeAppx.exe, MakePri.exe, and SignTool.exe

These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. SDK flights are now published for both the Canary and Dev Channels, so be sure to choose the right version for your Insider Channel. Remember to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to make sure your app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks, as OS version checks are unreliable and will not work as expected in all cases.

About the Canary Channel​

The Canary Channel is the place to preview platform changes that require longer-lead time before getting released to customers. Some examples of this include major changes to the Windows kernel, new APIs, etc. Builds that we release to the Canary Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows and some of the changes we try out in the Canary Channel will never ship, and others could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready. The builds that will be flighted to the Canary Channel are “hot off the presses,” flighting very soon after they are built, which means very little validation and documentation will be done before they are offered to Insiders. These builds could include major issues that could result in not being able to use your PC correctly or even in some rare cases require you to reinstall Windows. We will offer limited documentation for the Canary Channel, but we will not publish a blog post for every flight – only when new features are available in a build. Our Canary Channel won’t receive daily builds; however, we may ramp up releasing builds more frequently in the future. The desktop watermark you see at the lower right corner of your desktop is normal for these pre-release builds. *Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25997 (Canary Channel)

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement! Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23590 brings previews for natural voices in Narrator, enhanced image consumption experience, and various fixes and improvements. Developers can also download the latest Windows Insider SDK. Remember, the Dev Channel is for testing and may include features that may never be released to the general public.

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement! Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25997 is now available in the Canary Channel. This build includes changes to Windows Share and Settings, as well as fixes for known issues. Remember to provide feedback on any game-related issues. Developers can download the latest Windows Insider SDK and NuGet packages. The Canary Channel is a place to preview platform changes, but be aware that builds may have major issues.

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.3754 (KB5032278) to the Release Preview Channel for those Insiders who are on Windows 10, version 22H2. Coming soon – we will be introducing Copilot in Windows (in preview)1 for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home and Pro editions2. The Copilot in Windows button will appear on the right side of the taskbar. When you select it, Copilot in Windows appears at the right on your screen. It will not overlap with desktop content or block open app windows. [caption id="attachment_176696" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Copilot in Windows for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home and Pro editions.[/caption] After installing today’s November 2023 non-security preview update (KB5032278), Windows Insiders in Release Preview with eligible devices3 running Windows 10, version 22H2 who are interested in experiencing Copilot in Windows as soon as possible when we begin rolling it out in the near future, can choose to do so by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and turning on ”Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and Check for updates4,5. This will be a phased launch via controlled feature rollout (CFR) over the coming months. Windows 10 Pro edition devices on version 22H2 that are managed by organizations will not be included in the initial rollout of Copilot in Windows. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education edition devices on version 22H2 will also not be included in the initial rollout of Copilot in Windows. When we begin rolling Copilot in Windows (in preview) for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home and Pro editions, we will publish a follow-up blog post to this one. Today’s November 2023 non-security preview update includes the following improvements:

• New!If you use Home or Pro consumer devices or non-managed business devices, you can get some of the newest experiences as soon as they are ready. To do so, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Set the Get the latest updates as soon as they are available toggle to on. Note that this toggle is not turned on for devices that your IT department manages unless IT configures a new policy.

• 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.
• New! The news & interests feature on your device is now larger! This will help you use the feature more effectively and show the content you care about most on a larger scale.
• New! This update adds Windows Update opt-in notifications to the screen when you sign in.
• This update affects the Netherlands time zone. It adds the recent man-made landmass outside of Rotterdam to the shape files.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Trusted Sites Zone logon policy. You cannot manage it using mobile device management (MDM).
• 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 IE mode. A webpage stops working as expected when there is an open modal dialog.
• This update addresses app cursor issues. These issues occur when apps use the WebView2Standalone XAML control.
• 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 fontdrvhost.exe. It stops responding when you use Compact Font Format version 2 (CFF2) fonts.
• This update addresses an issue that affects non-admin processes. Game performance goes down, and the video stutters.
• This update addresses an issue that affects protected content. It stops cross-process windows from being created. Because of this update, you can keep using out-of-process hosting for things like WebView2 under protected, top-level windows.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the cursor. Its movement lags in some screen capture scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the touch keyboard. It might not appear during the out-of-box experience (OOBE).
• This update affects Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE). It enables Conditional Access (CA) scenarios.
• This update addresses a localization issue for Great Britain English (EN-GB) locales. The error message for invalid characters in a new Windows Hello PIN is wrong.
• 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 Windows LAPS. Its PasswordExpirationProtectionEnabled policy fails to turn on the setting.

Thanks, The Windows Insider Program Team 1 Copilot is currently available in preview in select global markets. It is our intention to add additional markets over time. 2 Devices running Home and Pro (non-managed) on Windows 10, version 22H2. 3 [UPDATED] Devices require > 4GB RAM and Display adapter that supports +720p resolution. If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application incompatibility, we may put a safeguard hold in place and not offer Copilot in Windows (in preview) until that issue is resolved. 4 Device may need to reboot to enable new features. 5 Note the toggle won't be enabled for managed devices (those that are managed by Windows Update for Business or WSUS). 6 Screenshot of Copilot on Windows 10 above is simulated, subject to change. Feature availability and rollout timing varies by market and device.

Source: Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.3754 to Release Preview Channel

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2771 (KB5032283) to the Beta Channel. 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 (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. [caption id="attachment_176587" align="alignnone" width="626"] Turn on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.[/caption] 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 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, 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:

1. Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + CTRL + N hotkey.
2. Under Narrator’s voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
3. Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.
4. The preview will play automatically once you navigate through the list.
5. 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.
6. 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.

[caption id="attachment_176692" align="alignnone" width="565"] When you click on a natural voice for Narrator in Settings, a preview will play automatically.[/caption] 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.

[caption id="attachment_176699" align="alignnone" width="484"] Copilot in ALT + TAB.[/caption]

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.

About the Beta Channel​

The Beta Channel is the place we preview experiences that are closer to what we will ship to our general customers. 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. However, this does not mean every feature we try out in the Beta Channel will ship. We encourage Insiders to read this blog post that outlines the ways we’ll try things out with Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels. *Getting new features: 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. **Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• Want to learn how we made Windows 11? Check out the Inside Windows 11 website to hear and meet our makers from Engineering, Design and Research to share their insights and unique perspectives throughout this journey.
• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2771 (Beta Channel)

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2771 (KB5032283) in the Beta Channel. This build brings several new features, improvements, and fixes that will be gradually rolled out to Windows Insiders.

One of the new features being rolled out is the introduction of previews for natural voices in Narrator. These natural voices include Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Japanese, English (UK), French, Portuguese, English (India), German, and Korean. Users can listen to the natural voices before downloading the voice model. To use a natural voice, users can open Narrator Settings and select the voice they want to install.

Another improvement in Narrator is the enhanced image consumption experience. Users can now navigate between images/graphics on a screen/page using the keys "G" or "Shift + G" in Scan mode. Additionally, the recognition of text in images, including handwriting, has been improved, and overall image descriptions have been enhanced.

There are also changes and improvements being rolled out to the Beta Channel for features like Windows Share and Nearby Sharing. Windows Share now shows only the apps tied to the account you are signed into, and Nearby Sharing will automatically turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if they are off.

Several fixes have also been included in this build, addressing issues in Narrator, Magnifier, Settings, and other areas of the operating system.

Lastly, the announcement mentions that Copilot in Windows is now available in ALT + TAB. Users can switch between Copilot and other open windows by pressing Tab while holding the ALT key.

Overall, this build introduces new features, improvements, and fixes that will enhance the user experience in Windows 11. Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel can gradually receive these updates by turning on the toggle in Settings > Windows Update.

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the information about the release of Windows 10 Build 19045.3754 (KB5032278) to the Release Preview Channel. It's great to hear that Microsoft will be introducing Copilot in Windows (in preview) for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home and Pro editions.

Copilot in Windows appears as a button on the right side of the taskbar and provides AI assistance without overlapping with desktop content or blocking open app windows. It's worth noting that the rollout of Copilot in Windows will be phased and controlled, with a follow-up blog post expected when it begins.

In addition to the introduction of Copilot in Windows, this update includes several improvements. Some notable highlights are:

1. The ability to get the latest updates as soon as they are available for Home or Pro consumer devices or non-managed business devices by toggling on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available" option in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

2. New functionality that affects app defaults, which you can learn more about in the blog post "A principled approach to app pinning and app defaults in Windows."

3. The news & interests feature on your device is now larger, allowing for a more effective use and display of the content you care about.

4. Windows Update opt-in notifications will now appear on the screen when you sign in.

5. Various bug fixes and improvements related to time zones, IE mode, app cursor issues, fontdrvhost.exe, game performance, protected content, touch keyboard, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, localization issues, and more.

Thank you again for sharing this update, and we appreciate the detailed information you provided.

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we’re releasing Windows 11 Builds 22621.2787 and 22631.2787 (KB5032288) to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11, version 22H2 (Build 22621) and version 23H2 (Build 22631). This update includes the following features and improvements:

• On Windows 11, version 23H2 – this update previews changes in Windows to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Economic Area.
• 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. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow.
• 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. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow.
• 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.
• New! You can ask Copilot in Windows for help ten times when you sign in to Windows using a local account. After that, you must sign in using a verified account. These include a Microsoft account (MSA) and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Note that the name for Azure AD will change to Microsoft Entra ID.
• This update affects the shortcut (context) menu. Its performance is 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 affects apps that you download from Microsoft store. They stop responding and will not update.
• This update affects the Netherlands time zone. It adds the recent man-made landmass outside of Rotterdam to the shape files.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Trusted Sites Zone logon policy. You cannot manage it using mobile device management (MDM).
• 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 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 causes IE mode to stop responding. This occurs when you have multiple IE mode tabs open.
• 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 affects 32-bit GDI based applications. They stop responding. This occurs when they run on 64-bit Windows OSs that use more than 2GB of memory.

• This update affects Dynamic Lighting. It reduces the amount of power it uses on your device.
• 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 might affect Microsoft OneNote. When you use a pen right-click to open it, that might fail.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the cursor. Its movement lags in some screen capture scenarios.
• 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 hardware that uses the PresentAt feature. Power use grows when you play a video in full screen.
• This update affects feature management. You can now prefetch velocity configs for more than one OS version. Doing that will not harm other versions. After you upgrade and your machine restarts, only the correct velocity config for the current OS version is applied.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Systems Settings application. It stops responding after you turn off Device Encryption.
• This update affects Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE). It enables Conditional Access (CA) scenarios.
• This update addresses an issue that stops you from reconnecting to an existing cloud session. Instead, you get a new one.
• This update improves how fast Copilot in Windows opens from the taskbar.
• 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 File Explorer. When you press Shift + F10, the shortcut (context) menu does not open.
• 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 the Widgets notification badge. It is in the wrong position on the taskbar.
• 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 addresses an issue that affects Windows LAPS. Its PasswordExpirationProtectionEnabled policy fails to turn on the setting.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Sandbox. If the locale of your machine is not US English, File Explorer stops responding.

Thanks, Windows Insider Program Team

Source: Releasing Windows 11 Builds 22621.2787 and 22631.2787 to the Release Preview Channel

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the details of the Windows 11 Builds 22621.2787 and 22631.2787 (KB5032288) release in the Release Preview Channel. This update brings several features and improvements to Windows 11. Let's take a closer look at the key highlights:

1. On Windows 11, version 23H2, this update previews changes in Windows to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Economic Area. This ensures that Windows meets the regulatory requirements in that region.

2. The introduction of Copilot in Windows across multiple displays is a new feature. You can press the Copilot in Windows taskbar button on the desired display to open it. Additionally, you can use ALT + TAB to switch between Copilot in Windows and other open windows.

3. Windows Spotlight may be set as the default background in the coming weeks if your current background is set to an inbox Windows image.

4. When signing in to Windows using a local account, you can ask Copilot in Windows for help ten times. After that, signing in with a verified account such as a Microsoft account (MSA) or Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is required. Note that Azure AD will be renamed Microsoft Entra ID.

5. Several issues have been addressed, including improvements to the performance of the shortcut (context) menu on the desktop and in File Explorer, fixing the display of .RAR files as empty in File Explorer, resolving app responsiveness and update issues from the Microsoft Store, and fixing various issues related to IE mode.

6. Other improvements include fixes for cursor issues, Dynamic Lighting power usage reduction, cursor movement in Japanese writing scenarios, Microsoft OneNote pen right-click opening, and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) decoder issues on certain websites.

7. Feature management has been enhanced to allow prefetching velocity configs for multiple OS versions without affecting other versions. This ensures that the correct velocity config is applied after upgrading.

8. Various fixes have been made to address issues with System Settings application, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE), cloud session reconnection, Copilot in Windows opening speed, volatile notifications leak, File Explorer shortcut menu, unexpected File Explorer windows, Widgets notification badge position, Copilot in Windows taskbar icon, Windows LAPS policy, and Windows Sandbox behavior with non-US English locales.

These are the key highlights of the Windows 11 Builds 22621.2787 and 22631.2787 release. For more details and additional fixes, please refer to the official source provided.

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.3757 (KB5032278) to the Release Preview Channel for those Insiders who are on Windows 10, version 22H2. With this update, we are beginning to roll out Copilot in Windows (in preview)1 for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home and Pro editions2. Windows Insiders in Release Preview with eligible devices3 running Windows 10, version 22H2 who are interested in experiencing Copilot in Windows as soon as possible can choose to do so by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and turning on ”Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and Check for updates4,5. Windows Insiders on eligible devices in the Release Preview Channel who already did this with last week’s update should see Copilot in Windows shortly. As a reminder, this will be a phased launch via controlled feature rollout (CFR) over the coming months. [caption id="attachment_176696" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Copilot in Windows for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home and Pro editions.[/caption] The Copilot in Windows button will appear on the right side of the taskbar in Windows 10. When you select it, Copilot in Windows appears at the right on your screen. It will not overlap with desktop content or block open app windows. Windows 10 Pro edition devices on version 22H2 that are managed by organizations will not be included in this initial rollout of Copilot in Windows. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education edition devices on version 22H2 will also not be included in this initial rollout of Copilot in Windows. To prepare for Copilot in Windows on Windows 10, IT administrators can click here to learn how they can manage Copilot in Windows for their organization.

Known issues​

• Copilot in Windows isn’t currently supported when your taskbar is located vertically on the right or left of your screen. To access Copilot in Windows 10, make sure your taskbar is positioned horizontally on the top or bottom of your screen.
• You may see some instability after clicking Refresh button in Copilot experience. Subsequently clicking links inside the Copilot experience, closing Microsoft Edge or Copilot may cause Copilot and Microsoft Edge to crash.
• Copilot is not currently supported on multi-monitor setups. The icon will only appear on the primary monitor and taskbar.

Thanks, The Windows Insider Program Team 1 Copilot is currently available in preview in select global markets. It is our intention to add additional markets over time. 2 Devices running Home and Pro (non-managed) on Windows 10, version 22H2. 3 Devices require > 4GB RAM and Display adapter that supports +720p resolution. If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application incompatibility, we may put a safeguard hold in place and not offer Copilot in Windows (in preview) until that issue is resolved. 4 Device may need to reboot to enable new features. 5 Note the toggle won't be enabled for managed devices (those that are managed by Windows Update for Business or WSUS). 6 Screenshot of Copilot on Windows 10 above is simulated, subject to change. Feature availability and rollout timing varies by market and device.

Source: Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.3757 to Release Preview Channel

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2776 (KB5032292) to the Beta Channel. 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 (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. [caption id="attachment_176587" align="alignnone" width="715"] Turn on the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available to get new features rolled out to you.[/caption] 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.

About the Beta Channel​

The Beta Channel is the place we preview experiences that are closer to what we will ship to our general customers. 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. However, this does not mean every feature we try out in the Beta Channel will ship. We encourage Insiders to read this blog post that outlines the ways we’ll try things out with Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels. *Getting new features: 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. **Availability of Copilot in Windows: Copilot in Windows in preview is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows preview include North America, United Kingdom and parts of Asia and South America. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.

Important Insider Links​

• Want to learn how we made Windows 11? Check out the Inside Windows 11 website to hear and meet our makers from Engineering, Design and Research to share their insights and unique perspectives throughout this journey.
• You can check out our Windows Insider Program documentation here.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Thanks, Amanda & Brandon

Source: Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2776 (Beta Channel)