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

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26002 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 26002​

Energy Saver​

Starting with this build (Build 26002), we are introducing energy saver, which extends and enhances battery saver. It is an easy way to extend battery life and reduce energy use by trading off some system performance. It can be toggled on and off via Quick Settings in the system tray or configured to run automatically whenever the device reaches a certain battery percentage. While optimized to extend battery life, energy saver will be available when PCs are plugged in (this includes desktop PCs) for those aiming to conserve energy all the time. [caption id="attachment_176728" align="alignnone" width="582"] Energy saver in Settings.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_176729" align="alignnone" width="318"] Energy saver in Quick Settings.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Power & Battery > Energy saver.

Changes and Improvements​

[Taskbar & System Tray]​

• We’re trying out a change that improves the overall performance and responsiveness of Quick Settings in the system tray.
• We're making it easier to manage VPN in Quick Settings. If you have a single VPN, a new split toggle lets you turn it on and off with a single click. If you have multiple VPNs, we've made some changes to the list to reduce the time it takes to start a connection.
• We are beginning to roll out a new refresh button on the Wi-Fi Quick Settings flyout so you can now refresh the list of wireless networks available. There is also indication of scan progress to help you find nearby networks if the first scan does not reveal the one you are looking for.

[caption id="attachment_176733" align="alignnone" width="357"] New refresh button on the Wi-Fi Quick Settings flyout.[/caption]

[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.

[Settings]​

• Removed colored backplates from app icons in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, as well as Settings > System > Notifications. This is an early implementation with more fixes on the way in future flights.

Fixes for known issues​

• Fixed an issue which was causing installation of some apps, including Phone Link, to fail with error 0x87AF0813 in the previous flight.
• Fixed an underlying issue in recent Canary Channel builds where the Microsoft Store was getting stuck when trying to check for and install app updates.
• Fixed an issue causing Settings to crash when navigating to Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to crash on launch for people using a non-default regional sorting option.

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] After Build 26002 is done downloading and is ready to restart to finish the installation, the restart button is missing from the Windows Update Settings page. You can reboot by clicking the Windows Update icon in the system tray or open Start and reboot from the power button there. After installing Build 26002, Windows Update settings page may not load correctly, but if you close Settings and re-open (or reboot) and navigate to the Windows Update settings page it should load again.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue where attempting to reboot into safe mode hangs on the boot logo.

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 26002 (Canary Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23595 to the Dev Channel.

Changes and Improvements​

[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).

[caption id="attachment_176732" align="alignnone" width="447"] The Copilot on the right side of the system tray on the taskbar.[/caption]

• We are beginning to re-rollout the change previously documented with Build 23570 that introduces support for Copilot in Windows to be used across multiple monitors. Simply press the Copilot button on the taskbar on whichever monitor you want Copilot to show on or use the WIN + C shortcut to show Copilot on the last monitor that it was visible on. If you are using a keyboard, you can use the WIN + T keyboard shortcut to put the keyboard focus on the taskbar and navigate to the Copilot taskbar button to show Copilot on any monitor.

[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.

[Nearby Sharing]​

• We're beginning to roll out a change where you will be able to discover and share files with their Android devices in discoverable mode through Bluetooth under Nearby Share in the Windows share window.

[Task Manager]​

• We improved process grouping in the processes page for Task Manager.

[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.
• Xbox Game Bar is now Game Bar under Settings > Gaming.
• We're beginning to update references to Azure Active Directory (AAD) to Microsoft Entra ID in Settings.
• [ADDED] System Components currently listed in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps page, have moved to its own page under Settings > System > System Components.

[caption id="attachment_176661" align="alignnone" width="637"] New System Components Settings page.[/caption]

Fixes​

[Desktops]​

• Fixed an issue that was causing custom wallpapers to shift when switching desktops.

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​

[Start menu]​

• [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue causing the recommended section to be blank for some Insiders.

[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 23595 (Dev Channel)

 

[CyberTech]

The latest Windows 11 preview build from the Dev Channel contains an interesting change that might upset those accustomed to using the bottom-right corner of the screen to minimize all apps or show the desktop. Microsoft is experimenting with placing the Copilot icon next to the notification center button and thus removing the "Show desktop" button in favor of its new AI-powered assistant.

Microsoft says the logic behind the change (it is rolling out gradually to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel) is to place the Copilot icon in a clearer and more intuitive spot, right where the operating system shows the Copilot pane. As a result, the "Show desktop" button is now turned off by default.

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.

The change sounds reasonable enough, but it might create minor inconveniences for customers, especially for those regularly using the "Show desktop" button since its introduction in Windows 7 (Microsoft experimented with the idea much earlier, but it made it to the public only in 2009) when Microsoft moved it to the bottom-right corner. In addition, you will have to retrain your muscle memory and aim for the notification button. It is by no means the end of the world, but still an inconvenience. Old habits die hard, as they say.

Fortunately, you can still easily restore the "Show desktop" button. Head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and toggle on the "Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop" option.

Source

Microsoft wants to replace the "Show desktop" button with Copilot in Windows 11

Microsoft is toying with the idea of replacing the "Show desktop" button in the bottom-right corner of the screen with Copilot. The proposed change is rolling out to Insiders in the Dev Channel.

www.neowin.net

 

[ForgottenSeer 100397]

Occasionally, I use the QuillBot website for grammar checking, but I don't use other AI tools. I skipped opening Copilot and went straight to hiding it in settings. Is it still operational in the background, and do I need to disable it in group policy? I think that's the case. I hope MS doesn't permanently pin Copilot to the taskbar, preventing users from removing it.

 

[CyberTech]

do I need to disable it in group policy? I think that's the case. I hope MS doesn't permanently pin Copilot to the taskbar, preventing users from removing it.

Fortunately, you can still easily restore the "Show desktop" button. Head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and toggle on the "Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop" option.

I think when you turn on Show desktop button which might disable Copilot, or there is a tweak software that can disable it (Dev might working on it after that)

 

[TairikuOkami]

MS yet again forcing Bing on users, they know that people use Show Desktop daily, so lets replace it with something "more" useful and profitable for MS.

 

[roger_m]

I always use Windows + D, so the change won't affect me.

 

[CyberTech]

The recently released Dev Home App preview for Windows 11 offers several developer-related features to make life easier for code writers. But Microsoft wants to take an extra step and equip the app with "Advanced Windows Settings," a section with additional options and preferences that otherwise require more complicated actions to turn on/off or customize.

Microsoft announced the idea on Dev Home's GitHub repository, and the company wants to hear your feedback and ideas about what options or features to include in "Advanced Windows Settings." The post also acknowledges that developers wish to tweak many settings or registry keys that are "either not accessible via the Settings app" or are "difficult to discover throughout the OS."

Ultimately, "Advanced Windows Settings" will give developers (and regular customers) more control over their computers, provide access to new or experimental features for developer workflows, and increase awareness of features that could improve their experiences. Consider it a developer-focused variation of PowerToys.

Microsoft also clarifies that "Advanced Windows Settings" are not meant to replace existing options and features in Settings > System > For Developers or other settings across the app or make customizing and tweaking Windows computers more complicated. The main goals behind the proposal are the following:

Microsoft is working on 'Advanced Windows Settings' to give you more control over your PC

Microsoft is working on "Advanced Windows Settings," a special section of the Dev Home app, to give users and developers more control over their PCs and make toggling in-depth options much easier.

www.neowin.net

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2841 (KB5032286) 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="716"] 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*​

[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.

[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. [caption id="attachment_176736" align="alignnone" width="491"] New widgets board settings.[/caption] 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.

Known issues​

[Widgets]​

• [NEW] The Microsoft 365, Outlook Calendar, and To Do widgets get stuck in an error state when the Microsoft Start feed is disabled.
• [NEW] You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• [NEW] Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• [NEW] The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• [NEW] Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• [NEW] Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

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 22635.2841 (Beta Channel)

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2841 (KB5032286) in the Beta Channel. It's great to see the continuous updates and improvements being made to Windows 11. Here are some details about the changes, improvements, and fixes mentioned in the announcement:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on:
- Steps Recorder (PSR.exe) will no longer receive updates and is planned for removal in a future release. Users are encouraged to explore alternative options such as the Snipping tool, Xbox Game bar, or Microsoft Clipchamp.
- Nearby Sharing will now turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if they are off when you enable nearby sharing. Turning off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth will also disable nearby sharing.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on:
- Improved performance when expanding the navigation pane in Task Manager.
- Fixed a Task Manager crash when changing Always on Top mode.
- Fixed an issue where dropdowns in settings would float up the screen when scrolling.

New features gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel:
- Updated widget settings experience, allowing users to customize their widgets board. Users can choose to show widgets only on the board and easily personalize their feed content.
- Users can now select the account they want to use for Microsoft Start powered widgets and feeds, providing more flexibility in personalizing the experience.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel:
- Optional features previously listed under Settings > Apps have been moved to their own page under Settings > System.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel:
- Various fixes addressing issues with cursor movement, File Explorer, Remote Desktop, Settings, Windows Sandbox, shortcut menu, .RAR files, IE mode, app responsiveness, Copilot in Windows, Trusted Sites Zone logon policy, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, time zone, notifications, audio coding, RDMA performance counters, and more.

Known issues:
- Several known issues related to widgets, including errors with Microsoft 365, Outlook Calendar, and To Do widgets, loading delays, taskbar announcements, and keyboard navigation issues.
- Incorrect spacing and fonts in some settings pages.

The Beta Channel offers a preview of experiences closer to what will be shipped to general customers. Features and experiences may show up in the Beta Channel before the Dev Channel, but not all features tested in the Beta Channel will necessarily ship. Users can choose to turn on the toggle to receive new features gradually or keep it off to receive them over time.

Thank you for sharing the important insider links, including the Inside Windows 11 website, Windows Insider Program documentation, and Flight Hub.

Overall, this update brings various improvements, fixes, and new features to Windows 11, enhancing the user experience and addressing known issues.

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23601 to the Dev Channel.

What’s new in Build 23601​

New features and improvements for Windows 365 Boot​

The following improvements are beginning to roll out for Windows 365 Boot. (Local PC and Cloud PC should be on the same build.) 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. [caption id="attachment_176749" align="alignnone" width="732"] Login screen showing fast account switching with Windows 365 Boot.[/caption] [UPDATED] When this blog post was originally published, it referred to the above change as "personal mode" however it should be dedicated mode. 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. [caption id="attachment_176750" align="alignnone" width="714"] Example of customized logo and name on the login screen.[/caption] 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. [caption id="attachment_176760" align="alignnone" width="656"] Warning at login for setup issues.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_176752" align="alignnone" width="581"] Notification when there are network issues trying to connect.[/caption] 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. [caption id="attachment_176753" align="alignnone" width="625"] Button to open local PC settings while in Windows 365 Boot.[/caption] 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. (Local PC and Cloud PC should be on the same build.) 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. [caption id="attachment_176754" align="alignnone" width="624"] Disconnect experience for a Cloud PC as shown in Task view.[/caption] 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. [caption id="attachment_176755" align="alignnone" width="624"] Text indicating the Connection status on the connection screen.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Desktop Environment > Switch to Cloud PC (From Task view).

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. After trying some improvements to this experience out with Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel with Build 23516, we’re making some additional refinement to those 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 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.

[caption id="attachment_176756" align="alignnone" width="338"] Cast flyout in Quick Settings now shows link for troubleshooting device discovery and other casting issues.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Display and Graphics > Wireless Display and Casting.

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. [caption id="attachment_176736" align="alignnone" width="448"] New widgets board settings.[/caption] 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 this week, 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​

[General]​

• Starting early next week, Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel on Build 23601 will be prompted to reboot to install Windows Configuration Update (KB1234567). Windows Configuration Updates are what we use to new features via Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology. Windows Configuration Update (KB1234567) does not enable any new features as we’re testing the delivery of these updates via our servicing pipeline, and the reboot prompt to install them. After rebooting to install this update, it will be listed under “Other Updates” under Settings > Windows Update > Update History.

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• We are trying out the ability to “undock” Copilot in Windows with Windows Insiders. Just click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header. While undocked, Copilot can appear above or below other apps in Windows while maintaining its fixed position on the desktop. This allows users to access Copilot while minimizing disruption to other user activities. Additionally, can resize the Copilot window for a more comfortable experience. Simply click-and-drag the edge of the Copilot window to adjust the width to your needs.

[caption id="attachment_176742" align="alignnone" width="368"] Click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header to undock Copilot.[/caption]

• We are trying out a change where when swiping from the right edge of the desktop on a touch display will open Copilot instead of notifications.

[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.

[caption id="attachment_176757" align="alignnone" width="478"] Share to or install WhatsApp directly from Windows share window.[/caption]

[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. This change originally began rolling out with Build 23545, but we are re-rolling it out with improvements to the experience. Let us know what you think.

[caption id="attachment_176758" align="alignnone" width="613"] Give your device a more friendly name to identify sharing to and from with nearby share.[/caption]

[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​

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• Fixed an issue that was causing full screen apps to minimize on secondary monitors when launching Copilot.

[Start menu]​

• Fixed an issue causing the Recommended section to appear blank for some Insiders.

[File Explorer]​

• Fixed an issue impacting explorer.exe reliability.

[Taskbar]​

• Fixed an issue where uncombined taskbar icons were cutting off the title instead of adjusting with the title length.

[Task Manager]​

• When creating a dump file for a process, the dump file location should be selectable now, so you can copy it out.

[Settings]​

• Fixed an issue where if you go to System > Nearby Sharing it was crashing Settings.

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.

[Widgets]​

• [NEW] The Microsoft 365, Outlook Calendar, and To Do widgets get stuck in an error state when the Microsoft Start feed is disabled.
• [NEW] You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• [NEW] Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• [NEW] The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• [NEW] Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• [NEW] Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

Notepad Update​

We are rolling out an update for Notepad (version 11.2311.29.0) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels 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. [caption id="attachment_176744" align="alignnone" width="289"] New Edit with Notepad option in the context menu in File Explorer.[/caption] 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. [caption id="attachment_176745" align="alignnone" width="479"] Character count for selected text in Notepad.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Notepad.

Microsoft Store Update​

Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels 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. [caption id="attachment_176746" align="alignnone" width="413"] Install an app directly as you browse in the Microsoft Store.[/caption] 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.

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 23601 (Dev Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26010 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.

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. [caption id="attachment_176736" align="alignnone" width="448"] New widgets board settings.[/caption] 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 this week, 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​

[General]​

• The Tips app is removed after updating to Build 26002 and higher. The Tips app is deprecated.

[Copilot in Windows*]​

• We are trying out the ability to “undock” Copilot in Windows with Windows Insiders. Just click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header. While undocked, Copilot can appear above or below other apps in Windows while maintaining its fixed position on the desktop. This allows users to access Copilot while minimizing disruption to other user activities. Additionally, can resize the Copilot window for a more comfortable experience. Simply click-and-drag the edge of the Copilot window to adjust the width to your needs.

[caption id="attachment_176742" align="alignnone" width="369"] Click the new icon to unpin the Copilot panel at the top right in the header to undock Copilot.[/caption]

[Taskbar & System Tray]​

• After trying out a scrollable view of quick settings with some Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel starting with Build 25967, we’re beginning to roll this out again with some slight refinements. This new scrolling view of quick actions allows you to rearrange the set of quick settings and provides better usability and discoverability for the user.

[caption id="attachment_176618" align="alignnone" width="287"] A scrollable view of quick settings.[/caption]

[Task Manager]​

• The Task Manager settings page now has Mica material.

[Settings]​

• Optional features previously listed under Settings > Apps has moved to its own page under Settings > System.

Fixes for known issues​

• Fixed an issue which was causing the restart button to be missing in Settings > Windows Update, or for that settings page to not load at all with the previous flight. If you are on Build 26002 and encounter this trying to upgrade to Build 26010, you can reboot by clicking the Windows Update icon in the system tray or open Start and reboot from the power button there.
• Fixed an issue where attempting to rebooting into safe mode would hang on the boot logo.
• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to experience an increase in bugchecks in the last two flights.
• Fixed a high hitting taskhostw.exe crash in the last flight which some Insiders were seeing on their PCs.
• Made some improvements to help address an issue where the background could be seen jumping when switching between desktops.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to revert to the previous design and opening the context menu to crash explorer.exe for some Insiders.

Known issues​

[General]​

• [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] We’re investigating an issue where keyboard shortcuts are not working on the desktop – including using the delete key to delete files off of your desktop, CTRL key combos to take action on desktop icons, or using ALT + F4 on the desktop to open the shutdown dialog. As a workaround for the former, please use the Desktop folder within File Explorer.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where opening the print queue is showing a messaging saying it can’t find the app.
• [ADDED] We're aware of issues with WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) not rendering correctly. A fix is coming in a future flight.

[Widgets]​

• [NEW] The Microsoft 365, Outlook Calendar, and To Do widgets get stuck in an error state when the Microsoft Start feed is disabled.
• [NEW] You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• [NEW] Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• [NEW] The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• [NEW] Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• [NEW] Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

Windows Server Preview​

With Windows Server Preview Build 26010, we are introducing the ability to receive Server flights just like on client (desktop). To set up flighting on Server, just navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program to opt in your device. Flighting will only be available for the Canary Channel and flights for Server will begin in early 2024 so you won’t receive any new builds until then. Our intention is to flight the same builds as client (desktop) for Server flights but the schedule in which we release Server flights might differ slightly (for example – Server releases bi-weekly). Flighting for Server only applies to the Desktop Experience only. For more information on Windows Server Preview Build 26010, see this post here. [caption id="attachment_176743" align="alignnone" width="635"] Flighting enabled for Windows Server Previews in Settings.[/caption]

Notepad Update​

We are rolling out an update for Notepad (version 11.2311.29.0) to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels 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. [caption id="attachment_176744" align="alignnone" width="289"] New Edit with Notepad option in the context menu in File Explorer.[/caption] 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. [caption id="attachment_176745" align="alignnone" width="479"] Character count for selected text in Notepad.[/caption] FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Notepad.

Microsoft Store Update​

Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels 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. [caption id="attachment_176746" align="alignnone" width="413"] Install an app directly as you browse in the Microsoft Store.[/caption] 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.

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 26010 (Canary Channel)

 

[Bot]

Sorry I couldn't contact the ChatGPT think tank

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26010 in the Canary Channel. This build brings some new features, improvements, and fixes. Let's take a closer look at the key points mentioned in the announcement:

1. New widgets board settings: The widget settings experience has been updated to provide more customization options. Users can now choose to show only widgets on their widgets board and easily personalize their feed content. Additionally, users can select the account they want to use for Microsoft Start powered widgets and feeds, allowing for more personalization.

2. Changes and Improvements:
- The Tips app has been removed as it is deprecated.
- Copilot in Windows now has the ability to be undocked, allowing users to access it while minimizing disruption to other activities. The Copilot window can also be resized for a more comfortable experience.
- The scrollable view of quick settings, introduced in a previous build, is being rolled out again with some refinements to provide better usability and discoverability.
- The Task Manager settings page now has the Mica material design.
- Optional features previously listed under Settings > Apps have been moved to their own page under Settings > System.

3. Fixes for known issues: Several known issues have been addressed in this build. These include fixing the missing restart button in Windows Update settings, resolving issues with rebooting into safe mode, reducing bugchecks experienced by some Insiders, fixing a taskhostw.exe crash, improving the background switching between desktops, and resolving File Explorer design and context menu issues.

4. Known issues: Some known issues

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2850 (KB5033453) 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="716"] 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]​

• 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.

[caption id="attachment_176757" align="alignnone" width="477"] Share to or install WhatsApp directly from Windows share window.[/caption]

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. [caption id="attachment_176746" align="alignnone" width="413"] Install an app directly as you browse in the Microsoft Store.[/caption] 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.

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 22635.2850 (Beta Channel)

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.2850 (KB5033453) in the Beta Channel. This build includes several changes and improvements that are gradually being rolled out to Insiders who have turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates. Let's take a closer look at some of the key features and improvements:

1. 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 directly from the Windows share window. Microsoft plans to try this experience with other apps in the future.

2. Microsoft Store Update: Insiders in the Beta Channel (also Canary and Dev) running version 22311.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvements:
- Install as you browse: You can now install apps directly while browsing through the Store's Home, Apps, or Games pages. This reduces the number of clicks required to install new apps.
- Improving discoverability of instant games: The Microsoft Store now has a dedicated page where you can browse and discover games that you can play without downloading.
- Performance while browsing: Performance improvements have been made in the Microsoft Store, making it smoother to browse and scroll through various pages.

These changes are gradually being rolled out to users, and feedback can be provided through the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.

The Beta Channel is where Microsoft previews experiences that are closer to what will be shipped to general customers. Features and experiences may show up in the Beta Channel first, but not all features tested in the Beta Channel will necessarily be shipped. Insiders are encouraged to read the blog post linked in the announcement for more information on how Microsoft will try things out with Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels.

For those who want to be the first to receive gradually rolled out features, there is a toggle in the Settings > Windows Update that can be turned on. Over time, the rollouts of features will increase for users with the toggle turned on. Users who keep the toggle off will receive new features gradually as they become ready.

The announcement also provides important insider links, including the Inside Windows 11 website to learn more about the making of Windows 11, Windows Insider Program documentation, and Flight Hub for a complete look at which build is in which Insider channel.

Thank you, Amanda & Brandon, for sharing this update.

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23606 to the Dev Channel. This will be our last Dev Channel flight until January 2024. We are releasing ISOs for this build – they can be downloaded here. NOTE: Some Insiders may experience a download "loop" where the build appears to download multiple times with an 8024200D error. The download will eventually succeed, and the build should install.

Changes and Improvements​

[General]​

• Windows 11 is transitioning from Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) to voice access. WSR is being deprecated. 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. We recommend WSR users try and start using voice access today.

[caption id="attachment_176777" align="alignnone" width="458"] Dialog directing you to try voice access when opening Windows Speech Recognition.[/caption]

[Settings]​

• [ADDED] We're beginning to rollout a change that renames the Phone Link settings page under Settings > Bluetooth & devices to Mobile devices. As part of this change, a new section will appear for allowing a PC to access mobile devices - this section currently does not introduce anything new yet and we'll have more to share in a future flight.

[caption id="attachment_176782" align="alignnone" width="537"] The Phone Link settings page is being renamed to Mobile devices.[/caption]

Fixes​

[File Explorer]​

• Fixed an underlying issue causing the details pane in File Explorer to unexpectedly take keyboard focus sometimes.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to crash when accessing or scrolling Gallery.

[Input]​

• Fixed a high hitting tabtip.exe crash when trying to use pen input in the previous flight.

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.

[Widgets]​

• You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

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 23606 (Dev Channel)

 

[Bot]

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26016 to the Canary Channel. This will be our last Canary Channel flight until January 2024. We are releasing ISOs for this build – they can be downloaded here. NOTE: Some Insiders may experience a download "loop" where the build appears to download multiple times with an 8024200D error. The download will eventually succeed, and the build should install. 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 26016​

Windows Protected Print Mode​

Windows protected print mode lets your PC exclusively print using the Windows modern print stack which is designed to work with Mopria certified printers only. With Mopria certified printers, users no longer must depend on third-party software installers as well as get additional security benefits. Print devices will “just work” resulting in a safe and streamlined installation and printing process. Read more about the security benefits of switching to IPP printing here. Here is how you can enable Windows protected print mode. These instructions are also published in a Quest for Insiders in Feedback Hub:

1. Press Start.
2. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Printers.
4. Right click on ‘Configure Windows protected print’ and click ‘Edit’.
5. Select the ‘Enabled’ radio button.
6. Click ‘Apply’ and click ‘OK’.
7. Windows protected print is now enabled.

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

Changes and Improvements​

[Taskbar & System Tray]​

• Added an icon to the “Diagnose network problems” entry when right clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar.

[Settings]​

• [ADDED] We're beginning to rollout a change that renames the Phone Link settings page under Settings > Bluetooth & devices to Mobile devices. As part of this change, a new section will appear for allowing a PC to access mobile devices - this section currently does not introduce anything new yet and we'll have more to share in a future flight.

[caption id="attachment_176782" align="alignnone" width="537"] The Phone Link settings page is being renamed to Mobile devices.[/caption]

Fixes for known issues​

• Fixed an issue causing WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) to not render correctly in the previous flight.
• Fixed an issue causing keyboard shortcuts to not work on the desktop – including using the delete key to delete files off of your desktop, CTRL key combos to take action on desktop icons, or using ALT + F4 on the desktop to open the shutdown dialog.
• Fixed an underlying issue causing the details pane in File Explorer to unexpectedly take keyboard focus sometimes.
• Fixed an issue causing it to not be possible to save changes to shortcuts (.lnk) in the previous flight, as they would cite something was using the process.
• We did some work to help improve the performance of loading Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Fixed an issue where Settings was crashing when attempting to navigate to the “System and Reserved” section under System > Storage.

Known issues​

[General]​

• [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 investigating an issue where the print queue is showing a messaging saying it can’t find the app when opened.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue causing a small number of Insiders to not be able to open Settings after the previous flight. If you are impacted, please see this forum post for a workaround.
• [NEW] Navigating to Settings > Power will crash Settings on this build. As a workaround, you can use commands to configure power modes on your device. powercfg /overlaysetactive will set the active user configured power mode, powercfg /q OVERLAY_SCHEME_CURRENT will get the active user configured power mode. For more information on using powercfg to adjust these settings, click here.

[Widgets]​

• You may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled.
• Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden.
• The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds.
• Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.
• Incorrect spacing and fonts used in some settings pages.

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 26016 (Canary Channel)

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26016 in the Canary Channel. This build introduces a new feature called Windows Protected Print Mode, which allows PCs to exclusively print using the Windows modern print stack with Mopria certified printers. This provides a streamlined and secure printing experience.

To enable Windows protected print mode, you can follow these steps:
1. Press Start.
2. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Printers.
4. Right-click on 'Configure Windows protected print' and click 'Edit'.
5. Select the 'Enabled' radio button.
6. Click 'Apply' and then 'OK'.
7. Windows protected print mode is now enabled.

If you encounter any issues or have feedback regarding printing, you can file it in the Feedback Hub under Devices and Drivers > Print.

In terms of changes and improvements, an icon has been added to the "Diagnose network problems" entry when right-clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar. Additionally, the Phone Link settings page under Settings > Bluetooth & devices is being renamed to Mobile devices, and a new section will appear for allowing a PC to access mobile devices.

Several known issues have been addressed in this build, including fixes for WinRE not rendering correctly, keyboard shortcuts not working on the desktop, and the inability to save changes to shortcuts. The performance of loading Settings > Apps > Installed apps has also been improved, and a crash when navigating to the "System and Reserved" section under System > Storage has been resolved.

However, there are still some known issues, such as games not working correctly on the most recent Insider Preview builds, an issue with the print queue, and a crash when navigating to Settings > Power. Workarounds and additional information for these issues can be found in the announcement.

For developers, the latest Windows Insider SDK is available for download, and SDK NuGet packages are now flighting as well. It is recommended to use adaptive code when targeting new APIs to ensure compatibility with all customer machines.

The Canary Channel is a place to preview platform changes that require longer-lead time before being released to customers. Builds in the Canary Channel may have limited validation and documentation, and major issues could occur. The desktop watermark seen in these pre-release builds is normal.

Thank you again for sharing the announcement, and if you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Bot]

Thank you for sharing the announcement of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23606 for the Dev Channel. This build brings some changes, improvements, fixes, and known issues. Let's take a closer look at the details:

Changes and Improvements:
- Windows 11 is transitioning from Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) to voice access. WSR is being deprecated, and a dialog will pop up when WSR is opened, directing users to try voice access. A banner has also been added under Settings > Accessibility > Speech. Voice access is a new assistive technology in Windows 11 that uses on-device speech recognition, allowing control of the PC and authoring text without an internet connection. It will support multiple languages and custom commands in a future update.

Settings:
- The Phone Link settings page under Settings > Bluetooth & devices is being renamed to Mobile devices. This change introduces a new section for allowing a PC to access mobile devices, although it currently does not introduce anything new in this build.

Fixes:
- File Explorer: Fixed an underlying issue causing the details pane in File Explorer to unexpectedly take keyboard focus sometimes. Also fixed an issue that was causing File Explorer to crash when accessing or scrolling Gallery.
- Input: Fixed a high-hitting tabtip.exe crash when trying to use pen input in the previous flight.

Known issues:
- Copilot in Windows: When first launching or after refreshing Copilot in Windows while using voice access, users will need to use "Show grid" commands to click in the "Ask me anything" box for the first time.
- Widgets: Users may experience a loading delay when the Microsoft Start feed is reenabled. Announcements from the Microsoft Start feed are still shown on the taskbar after the feed is hidden. The Widgets Board should automatically close and reopen when enabling or disabling feeds. Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken. Incorrect spacing and fonts are used in some settings pages.

For developers:
- The latest Windows Insider SDK can be downloaded at aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk. SDK NuGet packages are now also flighting at NuGet Gallery | WindowsSDK, providing 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 developers should choose the right version for their Insider Channel. Adaptive code is recommended when targeting new APIs to ensure the app runs on all customer machines, particularly when building against the Dev Channel SDK. Feature detection is recommended over OS version checks.

About the Dev Channel:
- The Dev Channel has been rebooted, and 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. The Dev Channel receives builds that represent long lead work from engineers, with features and experiences that may never get released. The builds released to the Dev Channel should not be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows, and the features included may change over time. The desktop watermark at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for these pre-release builds.

These are the key points from the announcement. If you have any specific questions or need further information, feel free to ask!