The Surface Laptop Studio 2: A Creative Powerhouse

As a tech enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of working with various laptops over the years, the last month I’ve been using the Surface Laptop Studio 2, it stands out as a remarkable piece of engineering designed for creative professionals. Here’s why this device has left an impression on me.

Unmatched Convertible Design

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a unique pull-forward touch-screen design that transforms seamlessly from a traditional laptop into a digital drafting tablet. This versatility is a significant change for artists, designers, and anyone who benefits from a hands-on approach to their work.

Performance That Packs a Punch

With the latest Intel Core i7-13700H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2000 Ada Laptop GPU, this machine doesn’t just keep up; it leads the pack. The dedicated AI chip enhances local AI tasks, making features like video-call enhancements smoother than ever.

A Screen That Dazzles

The 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers a visually stunning experience. Whether you’re editing high-resolution videos or designing intricate 3D models, the clarity and fluidity of the screen are simply unparalleled.

Thoughtful Features for Professionals

Long battery life, added USB-A and microSD ports, and a cleverly located magnetic stylus holder are just a few of the thoughtful touches that make the Surface Laptop Studio 2 a joy to use. It’s clear that Microsoft has considered the needs of professionals in every aspect of this device’s design.

Surface Slim Pen 2

Using the Surface Slim Pen 2 experience is great! It attaches magnetically to the front of the device where it also charges wirelessly

Final Thoughts

While the Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes with a premium price tag, it’s justified by its performance and unique features. It’s not just a laptop, it’s a creative companion that adapts to your workflow, empowering you to achieve more than you thought possible.

For creative professionals seeking a powerful, versatile laptop that doubles as a digital drafting tablet, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is an investment that pays dividends in productivity and creativity.

Microsoft Unveils Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6: AI-Powered Devices for the Future of Work

Microsoft’s recent Surface event has been a showcase of innovation, particularly with the unveiling of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6. These devices are not just new entries in Microsoft’s hardware lineup; they are a bold statement about the future of AI in business computing.

Surface Pro 10: A New Era of Productivity

The Surface Pro 10 is touted as the most powerful Surface Pro yet. It’s designed for teams that require a device with no compromises, offering versatility whether it’s used as a tablet in the field or as a laptop in the conference room. With Intel Core Ultra processors and the introduction of 5G to the Intel platform, the Surface Pro 10 is up to 53% faster than its predecessor.

One of the standout features is the Copilot key on the new Surface Pro keyboards, which provides quick access to Windows AI experiences. This is complemented by a bold keyset with larger fonts and high contrast, making it more accessible and easier to use.

Surface Laptop 6: Doubling Down on Performance

The Surface Laptop 6 is said to be twice as fast as the Laptop 5, thanks to the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and the integration of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This integration allows for AI features like Windows Studio Effects and Live Captions, and it opens the door for businesses and developers to create their own AI apps.

Designed with Business in Mind

Both the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 have been built with direct input from business customers, ensuring that the features they include are those that businesses actually need. From enhanced connectivity options to advanced security and performance capabilities, these devices are built for the modern workplace.

The Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 also feature Zero Trust security, built-in from chip to cloud, and are classified as Secured-core PCs. This means they use the best of Windows 11 Pro and advanced hardware features to protect the device, identity, and data.

Conclusion

The Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 represent Microsoft’s commitment to blending sophisticated software with innovative hardware. These AI-powered PCs are built for a new era of work, where productivity and security go hand in hand with the advancements in AI technology. As businesses look to the future, Microsoft’s latest offerings are poised to be at the forefront of the AI revolution in the workplace.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26085 (Canary and Dev Channels)

Hi all, last Wednesday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26085 to the Canary and Dev Channels.

The Canary and Dev Channels receiving the same builds is only temporary. During the times in which the Canary and Dev Channels are on the same builds (e.g. Build 26085), the window is open for Insiders in the Canary Channel to switch to the Dev Channel. At some point in the future, the Canary Channel will jump to higher build numbers and the window will be closed.

NOTE: Some features may begin rolling out to the Canary Channel first before the Dev Channel even if the two channels have the same build.

A bug that showed in a race condition up a couple of builds ago causing some miracast adapters to reboot when moving your mouse pointer is fixed in this build

Studio effects is still broken on Surface Laptop 2, as soon as you move while using the camera it freezes, as a temp work around you can disable the NPU in device manager and disabling & re-enabling the camera to restore a functioning camera without studio effects. (https://aka.ms/AApno2g)

Changes and Improvements

[Input]

  • The new pointer indicator accessibility setting for low vision Windows users introduced with Build 26052 has been temporarily disabled with Build 26085. We plan to re-enable this feature in a future flight after fixing some bugs. Thanks to Insiders for all the feedback on this!

[Settings]

  • Windows Insiders who have Bluetooth LE Audio capable assistive hearing devices can now set up and manage their devices via Settings > Accessibility > Hearing aids. This new accessibility settings page allows users to check their PC’s compatibility for Bluetooth LE Audio and pair/manage a set of hearing devices for a more streamlined configuration. Please note that this page is a work-in-progress, and the contents of this page may change over time. (Note this change was first introduced in Build 26080.)

Fixes for known issues

[General]

  • Fixed the underlying issue believed to be the cause of shutdown and hibernation not working in the previous flight.

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an issue where the context menu in File Explorer was missing an acrylic background.
  • Fixed an issue where when opening the context menu in File Explorer, the icons might appear out of place and overlapping text.
  • Fixed an issue which was causing File explorer to leak GDI objects and heap memory for every folder navigation, leading to stability and rendering issues over time.
  • Fixed a memory leak when interacting with archive folders in File Explorer.
  • Fixed an issue causing thumbnails in File Explorer to sometimes unexpectedly be black in the previous flight.

[Sudo]

  • Fixed an issue believed to be the cause of the setting to enable sudo (under System > For Developers) not working for some Insiders.
  • Fixed an issue where if you ran the command “sudo pwsh”, it wasn’t working properly in recent builds.

[Windows Security]

  • Fixed a high hitting Windows Security app crash in the previous flight, which is believed to potentially be the cause of Insiders reporting that the Windows Security app icon in the system tray was sometimes missing in that flight.

[Input]

  • With this build, the recent issues with the mouse cursor disappearing, and other recent issues related to the mouse cursor behaving abnormally should be fixed.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an underlying issue which was causing Settings to freeze sometimes so you couldn’t interact with any of the pages.
  • Fixed an issue where the list of Bluetooth devices under Bluetooth & Devices wasn’t being read out by screen readers in recent builds.

[Windows Update]

  • Fixed the issue causing Insiders in the Dev Channel to see error 0x80070002 when trying to install cumulative updates.
  • Fixed an issue where using “Update and Shutdown” wasn’t shutting down your PC upon completion.

[Other]

  • Fixed an issue that was causing some Insiders to see bugchecks with CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION recently.
  • Fixed an issue which was causing Voice Access to crash on launch for some Insiders in recent builds.
  • Fixed an issue where after renaming your printer, it might not work with print support app association.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS] Most popular games should work correctly again in the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary and Dev Channels. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on the latest builds. We will be removing this note with the next Canary and Dev Channel flight.
  • [UPDATED] We’re continuing to investigate reports of rollbacks (with error code 0xC1900101) when installing the latest builds.
  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue causing some Insiders to see File Explorer unexpectedly using the previous design and have no tabs in the latest builds.

[Copilot in Windows*]

  • Voice access does not work reliably with the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application.
  • Using Windows Ink to write in Copilot will not work with the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window.
  • When Copilot in Windows is docked and resized to a large width, Copilot does not always fill the width of the panel. Resizing Copilot usually fixes this issue.
  • With the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window, you may not be able to bring focus to the “…” or refresh buttons within Copilot when using a keyboard (ex: by using tab to cycle through buttons).

source: Windows Blogs

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26080 (Canary and Dev Channels)


Hi all, last Wednesday Microsft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26080 to the Canary and Dev Channels.

There are ISOs for this build – they can be downloaded > here <

Insiders in the Canary Channel will receive Build 26080.1 while Insiders in the Dev Channel will receive Build 26080.1100 (KB5037133) as we test delivery of a full build and a servicing update at the same time. There is no difference between the two of these as Build 26068.1100 does not include any additional code.

Flighting from Redmond Campus this week while attending the MVP Summit went smooth & very fast for some reason 😎

Happy Upgrades!

What’s new in Build 26080

Updates to Microsoft Teams in Windows 11

Starting with Windows 11, version 24H2, Teams users will get access to a preview experience of the new, unified Microsoft Teams experience on Windows. In this preview, Microsoft Teams will be available as a single application, enabling users to seamlessly switch between multiple cloud environments, tenants, and account types across personal and work. This new, unified application will soon be rolled out to commercial customers as well, through the normal update process. To add or access additional accounts, select your profile picture at the upper right corner of Teams when you sign into Teams.

Teams work user interface showing the Me control open with both work and personal account.
Teams work user interface showing the Me control open with both work and personal account.

We received consistent feedback from personal and work users: you prefer a single Teams app that allows you to easily access and switch between personal and work accounts. This update lets you use one app for all kinds of Teams accounts.

Teams personal account user interface over Teams work user interface.
Teams personal account user interface over Teams work user interface.

You can join any Teams meeting with ease. In upcoming builds, when you are joining a meeting, you can select the account you want to use. You will also be able to join a meeting without signing in.

Teams user selecting which account to use to join a meeting.
Teams user selecting which account to use to join a meeting.

Notifications have been improved, showing which Teams account they belong to. In addition, personal notifications have more details, giving clear and easy actions from the notification banner.

A Teams notification that someone is calling.
A Teams notification that someone is calling.

You can now launch personal and work accounts simultaneously with separate icons on the taskbar. We listened to users about their communication needs in various aspects of their lives and how they want to use Teams. The feedback was clear that a multi-window experience is preferred.

Other things to know:

  • This unified preview app experience is labeled “Microsoft Teams (work or school)”. The app name will be automatically updated to “Microsoft Teams” in future releases.
  • This is a preview release, and you will notice some changes from your current experience using Microsoft Teams (free) and Microsoft Teams (work or school). These changes and more updates will continue until we reach general availability. Notably in this release, Teams will launch into a separate icon for single accounts.
  • We will remove the standalone consumer app, “Microsoft Teams (free)”, in future releases.
  • If you lose access to either Teams applications through use of the Windows Insiders Program, you can access your preferred Teams application from this download page.
  • For Enterprise Admins, the ability to sign in with Microsoft accounts will be part of a normal monthly update, there is no new app to install if you have new Teams. The functionality is targeted for preview in April and general availability in May. The ability for users to sign in with Microsoft accounts will follow all sign in restriction polices as it has for all versions of Teams. Admins can learn more in Message Center (MC719659).
  • [ADDED] This preview version of Microsoft Teams is immediately available on clean installs of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26080 and higher.
  • [ADDED] Existing Windows Insiders need to be on Microsoft Teams version 24057.2000.2723.3544 or higher to see this capability, which is rolling out gradually.

Improvements to Copilot in Windows* now rolling out to more Windows Insiders

We have been trying out a new runtime for Copilot in Windows* that allows you to manage more settings via Copilot, including accessibility-focused settings, and use Power Automate Desktop through Copilot! We are now rolling out these Copilot in Windows improvements to more Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel (which first began rolling out on 2/20) and beginning to roll these improvements out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.

More built-in capabilities via Copilot in Windows

Try asking Copilot to turn on Narrator or Live Captions, turn on battery saver, show you available networks, even empty your recycle bin or clean up your storage. Here’s the full list of things you can ask Copilot to do!

New with this update:

  • Ask for available wireless networks.
  • Ask for system or device information.
  • Ask for battery information.
  • Ask to clean storage.
  • Ask to empty recycle bin.
  • Ask to toggle battery saver.
  • Ask to show startup apps.
  • Ask for your IP address.
  • Ask for system, device, or storage information.

Try accessibility features:

  • Ask to turn on narrator.
  • Ask to open voice access.
  • Ask to turn on magnifier.
  • Ask to change text size.
  • Ask to start live captions.
  • Ask to turn on high-contrast.
  • Ask to start voice typing.

Already live, now on the new runtime:

  • Ask to toggle dark/light theme.
  • Ask to toggle Bluetooth.
  • Ask to toggle do not disturb.
  • Ask to add a device.
  • Ask to take a screenshot.
  • Ask to cast your screen to another monitor.
  • Ask to change your background image.
  • Ask to set volume, change volume, or mute/unmute volume.
  • Ask to launch an application.
  • State that certain parts of your PC aren’t working: Audio, Windows Update, Camera, Bluetooth, Printer, Network, others.
  • Ask to snap a window.
  • Ask to start a focus session.

Introducing Power Automate via Copilot in Windows

Power Automate is a low-code automation solution that is part of the Power Platform. We’re excited to introduce the Power Automate plugin in Copilot in Windows. This first release of the plugin offers automation features for Excel, PDF manipulation and file management.

To use the plugin, download or update Power Automate Desktop to the latest version from the Microsoft Store. Currently plugins are only accessible if you are signed in to Copilot in Windows with a Microsoft account.

After you have Power Automate installed and you activate the plugin in the plugins section in Copilot in Windows, you can ask for tasks such as:

  • Write an email to my team wishing everyone a happy weekend.
  • List the top 5 highest mountains in the world in an Excel file.
  • Rename all PDF files in a folder to add the word final at the end.
  • Move all word documents to another folder.
  • I need to split a PDF by the first page. Can you help?

Do you want to share your feedback on the Power Automate plugin or do you have other automation scenarios that you would like us to support? Feel free to contact us: powerautomate-ai@microsoft.com.

[The rollout continues for these Copilot in Windows improvements to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels today, so the experience isn’t available to all Insiders just yet.]

FEEDBACK: Because of an issue with our feedback pipeline, please do not use the in-line feedback form that opens from thumbs up/down for these actions right now, and instead file feedback about using these in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Copilot in Windows.

Changes and Improvements

[Copilot in Windows*]

  • We are beginning to roll-out an updated Copilot in Windows experience that adds the ability to switch between the existing “docked” behavior that attaches Copilot to the side of your desktop, and a new mode where it acts like a normal application window which you can resize and move around your screen. As part of this change, we’re also introducing some under-the-hood improvements as well. This experience is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel As always, please report any issues you experience to us via Feedback Hub.
Copilot in Windows undocked and shown next to Notepad like a normal application window.
Copilot in Windows undocked and shown next to Notepad like a normal application window.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • You can turn on live captions more quickly by using the new quick setting. Just open quick settings from the system tray, scroll down, then select the live captions quick setting.
The new live captions quick setting highlighted with a red box in the quick settings flyout from the system on the taskbar.
The new live captions quick setting highlighted with a red box in the quick settings flyout from the system on the taskbar.
  • Updated the design of the progress bar under app icons to help make it easier to see. This will appear on the taskbar as well as the Start menu.
Design of progress bar under app icons has been updated to show a thin line under the colored progress bar to make it easier to see.
Design of progress bar under app icons has been updated to show a thin line under the colored progress bar to make it easier to see.

[File Explorer]

  • When extracting files, if there is a file name conflict you can now choose to apply your selected action (skip, replace) for all conflicts.
New option highlighted for choosing to apply your selected action (skip, replace) for all conflicts when extracting files in File Explorer.
New option highlighted for choosing to apply your selected action (skip, replace) for all conflicts when extracting files in File Explorer.

[Windows Update]

  • Removed the What’s New link in Windows Update history for Windows Insiders – it will only show now for retail (released) versions of Windows. To check what’s new in Insider builds, please follow this blog.

[Printing]

  • [ADDED] Building off the printer improvements first introduced with Build 26020, we have added the ability to rename your printer directly from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanner.

Fixes for known issues

[General]

  • IMPORTANT NOTE FOR DEV DRIVE USERS: Insiders on Build 26068 and higher who have Dev Drives should no longer see their Dev Drives breaking when rolling back as long as you roll back to Build 26063 and higher. Rolling back to earlier builds may still result in issues with Dev Drives.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: Fixed an issue causing Windows Update in Settings to not load or crash in Build 26063. If you are still on Build 26063 and encounter this, rebooting may resolve the issue. If it doesn’t, the update should still eventually download on its own – appreciate your patience.
  • Fixed an issue for Narrator not working when setting up a device or in Advanced Startup.

[Copilot in Windows*]

  • Fixed an issue where if you turned the Copilot icon off and back on in Settings never showed it on your taskbar again.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • Fixed a memory leak related to showing the tooltip for the date and time in the taskbar when you had enabled additional clocks.

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an underlying issue believed to be the cause of some Insiders finding File Explorer had started freezing and using unexpectedly high CPU in the last couple builds. Please file feedback in the Feedback Hub if you continue experiencing this after upgrading.
  • Fixed an issue where your preference for “Show extracted files when complete” when extracting files in File Explorer wasn’t persisting across upgrades.
  • Fixed a timing issue where when you start a search from Home in File Explorer, it might unexpectedly show no results the first time you tried.
  • Fixed an issue causing the Details view in File Explorer to be unexpectedly cramped in recent builds when using compact mode.
  • Made a change to help address an issue where after a DWM crash, when you opened File Explorer it could just show a blank area on top instead of rendering the area correctly.
  • Fixed an issue where the 7zip and ZIP compression options weren’t displaying correctly for Insiders with the English (United Kingdom) display language.

[Task Manager]

  • Fixed an issue which could lead to your GPU showing as -1 in Task Manager.
  • Fixed an issue where Task Manager may unexpectedly show no GPU % used (when that was not the case).
  • Fixed an issue impacting Task Manager reliability.

[Audio]

  • Fixed an issue causing HDMI connected devices to not have audio in the last few builds.

[Input]

  • Fixed an issue causing the input switcher (WIN + Space) design to revert to an older style and draw in the wrong location.
  • Fixed an issue where DWM could hang when writing with pen in Snipping Tool.
  • Fixed a high hitting ctfmon.exe crash, which could impact the ability to input text.
  • Fixed an issue where magnifier wasn’t following the mouse cursor when centered on screen in recent builds.
  • Fixed an issue where mouse cursor shadows (if enabled) were not rendered correctly with large cursors.
  • Fixed an issue where the mouse cursor was unexpectedly leaving a trail of mice on the screen.
  • Fixed an issue which could lead to some mice and keyboards not working in safe mode.
  • Fixed an issue where when waking your PC from sleep in Build 26063 the touchpad might be banged out in Device Manager, resulting in the mouse cursor not showing when you tried to use it.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an issue where a Display Connection section was incorrectly showing up under Settings > System > Display > Graphics that when clicked, would crash Settings.
  • Fixed an issue where a brightness slider might not show in Settings > System > Display in recent builds even though a brightness slider was available for you to use in Quick Settings.

[Other]

  • Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to Snipping Tool hanging.
  • Fixed an underlying dxgi.dll issue which led to some app and game crashes in Build 26058+.
  • Fixed an underlying issue with winmmbase.dll which could lead to app crashes in Build 26058+.
  • Fixed an issue related to tcpip.sys which was causing some Insiders to see bugchecks with UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP in the last few builds.
  • Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders to see bugchecks with SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION in the last few builds.
  • Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders to see bugchecks with DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION in the last few builds.
  • Fixed an issue where if you attempted to use the Windows Update troubleshooter, it would show error 0x803C010A.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS – UPDATED!] Most popular games should work correctly again in the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary and Dev Channels. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on the latest builds.
  • [UPDATED] We’ve made some more changes to help reduce the number of rollbacks (with error code 0xC1900101) when installing the latest builds and are continuing to investigate reports. If your PC rolls back trying to install this build, please file feedback in Feedback Hub.
  • In some cases, the File Explorer context menu no longer has the acrylic effect. This will be fixed in a future flight.
  • We’re investigating reports of mouse cursor issues after installing Build 26058+, including that the cursor is disappearing in some apps. If you’re experiencing issues, please file feedback describing exactly what you’re seeing under Input and Language > Mouse in the Feedback Hub. This build includes a number of fixes to help with recent reports.
  • When opening the context menu in File Explorer, the icons may appear out of place and overlapping text.
  • [NEW] Running the command “sudo pwsh” won’t work properly in this build.

[Copilot in Windows*]

  • [NEW] Voice access does not work reliably with the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window noted in the above blog post.
  • [NEW] Using Windows Ink to write in Copilot will not work with the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window noted in the above blog post.
  • [NEW] When Copilot in Windows is docked and resized to a large width, Copilot does not always fill the width of the panel. Resizing Copilot to less than half of the width of your screen usually fixes this issue.
  • [ADDED 3/14] With the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window, you may not be able to bring focus to the “…” or refresh buttons within Copilot when using a keyboard (ex: by using tab to cycle through buttons).

source: Windows Blogs

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📅 Starting on March 19, 2024, this immersive challenge will help you gain the skills, confidence, and Microsoft Credentials needed to excel in the era of AI. Whether you’re a seasoned tech pro or just starting out, this is your chance to level up! 🌟

🔗 Register nowMicrosoft Learn AI Skills Challenge 🎉

🎁 By completing just one challenge, you’ll be entitled to a free Microsoft Certification exam. 📝 Choose from topics like Azure AI FundamentalsAzure Machine Learning, and more. 🌐

Don’t miss out! Let’s unlock the power of AI together! 🙌

Why Every IT Pro Should Be Flighting Insider Builds of Windows

The Windows Insider Program offers a great way to preview the latest features and updates of Windows before they are released to the general public. As an IT professional, you can benefit from testing insider builds of Windows in several ways:

  • Test new features first: Insiders get to experience upcoming Windows 10 features before they officially roll out. While some features may not be fully finished, most of what shows up in Insider builds is nearly complete. This early access is especially useful for IT professionals and developers who want to ensure that upcoming features won’t impact critical systems.
  • Shape the next version of Windows: Microsoft actively encourages Insiders to provide feedback on bugs, suggestions, and ideas. Depending on the popularity of your feedback, Microsoft may even implement your ideas into Windows.
  • Be part of a community: The Windows Insider Program brings together millions of people who share an interest in Microsoft and Windows. It’s a place to connect with others who are passionate about technology and contribute to shaping the future of Windows.

Flighting insider builds of Windows can offer numerous advantages to IT professionals. However, it’s essential to recognize the potential challenges and risks associated with this practice. Some of these risks include:”

Therefore, carefully consider the pros and cons of using insider builds of Windows and choose the channel that best suits your needs and preferences. There are four channels available: Canary, Dev, Beta, and Release Preview. Each channel offers different levels of stability, update frequency, and features. You can learn more about each channel and how to switch between them here.”

Flighting insider builds of Windows can be a rewarding and exciting experience for IT professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve and shape the future of Windows. If you are interested in joining the Windows Insider Program, you can sign up here and start previewing Windows today. Happy flighting! 😊

Personally, I run all my production devices on Canary / Dev Channel the best way to spot bugs or issues is to work with the builds.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26063 (Canary Channel)

Hi all, last Thursday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26063 to the Canary Channel.

Make sure you test the new options for Copilot in Windows, quite nice to be trigger disk cleanup from Copilot.

All smooth and fast upgrades here, Happy upgrading!

What’s new in Build 26063

Wi-Fi 7

Following the announcement by the Wi-Fi Alliance, Windows is adding support for Wi-Fi 7 for consumer access points with the current Insider Preview builds in the Canary and Dev Channels. Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), is a revolutionary technology that offers unprecedented speed, reliability, and efficiency for your wireless devices.

Next Generation Wi-Fi 7 builds on the innovations of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E to provide enhanced user experiences through upgrades in all aspects of wireless connectivity – throughput, latency, efficiency, reliability, power, etc.

Highlighting some of Wi-Fi 7 new features:

  • Multi-Link operation (MLO) allows devices to use multiple bands (2.4 GHz, 5GHz, and/or 6GHz) simultaneously to avoid network congestion and maintain connectivity.
  • 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth in 6GHz doubles the speed to your devices and enables new possibilities for high bandwidth applications – and scenarios using such as AR/VR.
  • 4096-QAM modulation increases the data transmission by 20% and improves the quality of video streaming, video conferencing, and more.

With Wi-Fi 7, you can enjoy multi-gigabit speeds on your Windows PC and experience up to 4x faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, and close to 6x faster than Wi-Fi 5. You can also enjoy significantly lower latency, which improves the responsiveness and performance of real-time activities like gaming and video conferencing. Please note that performance may vary by manufacturer and hardware device capabilities.

To take advantage of Wi-Fi 7, you will need a Wi-Fi 7 capable consumer access point and PC, which many of our ecosystem partners have launched on the market.

Below is a screenshot from your Windows PC with this build when connected to the Wi-Fi 7 consumer access point.

Wi-Fi settings showing a Windows PC connected to the Wi-Fi 7 access point.
Wi-Fi settings showing a Windows PC connected to the Wi-Fi 7 access point.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Network and Internet > Connecting to a Wi-Fi network. 

Changes and Improvements

[Copilot in Windows*]

  • You can now ask Copilot in Windows to do 16 new actions, adding to the 13 already live. With Power Automate Desktop, you can also automate tasks. We began rolling these improvements out for Copilot in Windows to Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel earlier this week and added the details into last week’s blog post.

  • The new Copilot in Windows experience we began trying out with Build 26052 where the Copilot icon will change appearance and animate to indicate that Copilot can help when you copy text has temporarily been disabled. We will bring this back in the future after fixing some bugs. Thank you for all the feedback!

[Widgets]

  • The widgets board improvements documented with Build 26058 have temporarily been disabled. We will bring this back in the future after fixing some bugs. Thank you for all the feedback.

Fixes for known issues

  • Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to experience an issue where the network icon in the system tray showed they didn’t have an internet connection when connected to some VPNs even though the internet connection was working. Those impact may have also seen some apps think there wasn’t an internet connection when there really was.
  • The fix for the issue causing Build 26058 to not be listed under Settings > Windows Update > Update history like it should is making its way out. It may take another flight or two for builds to properly show up under Update History.
  • Fixed a high hitting DWM crash in the last couple flights.
  • Fixed an underlying issue with plug and play which may have impacted audio device setup in the last 2 builds. If you’re continuing to experience issues with audio not playing after this build, please file feedback under Devices and Drivers > Audio and sound in the Feedback Hub.
  • Fixed an issue where typing too quickly in the Settings search box could result in the results not loading completely.
  • Fixed an issue causing the three-finger touchpad gesture for middle mouse click (if you had enabled this in touchpad settings) to not work in some apps.
  • Fixed an issue where attempted to use the Move option when you pressed ALT + Space was causing a window to resize instead of move.
  • Fixed an issue for Insiders with multiple monitors, where opening a minimized window might result in the window appearing on the wrong monitor.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause the clock in the taskbar to stop updating.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause the taskbar icons to shift around under your mouse as you moved your mouse across the taskbar.
  • Fixed an issue where the “Notify when apps request location” option in Settings under Privacy & Security > Location was reset after reboot.
  • Fixed an issue that was causing the Windows Update page in Settings to unexpectedly flash messages sometimes (too quickly to read) in the previous flight.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS – UPDATED!] Some popular games may not work correctly and cause a bugcheck (green screen) when launched 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.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE FOR DEV DRIVE USERS: Insiders on Build 26052+ who have Dev Drives and might need to rollback will need to back up their Dev Drives BEFORE rolling back as rolling back will cause Dev Drives to break and data on them to be lost.
  • A Display Connection section is incorrectly showing up under Settings > System > Display > Graphics that when clicked, will crash Settings. This section will be removed in a future flight.
  • Using the ISOs for Build 26058 to upgrade instead of doing a clean install may not work if you choose “Keep nothing” in the Windows Setup experience. To upgrade to the latest build in the Canary and Dev Channels, please use Windows Update.
  • [UPDATED] We’ve made a change to help reduce the number of rollbacks (with error code 0xC1900101) when installing the latest builds and are continuing to investigate reports.
  • We’re working on the fix for an issue causing the input switcher (WIN + Space) design to revert back to an older style and draw in the wrong location.
  • In some cases, the File Explorer context menu no longer has the acrylic effect. This will be fixed in a future flight.
  • [NEW] We’re investigating reports of mouse cursor issues after installing Build 26058, including that the cursor is disappearing in some apps. If you’re experiencing issues, please file feedback describing exactly what you’re seeing under Input and Language > Mouse in the Feedback Hub.
  • [NEW] When opening the context menu in File Explorer, the icons may appear out of place and overlapping text.

source: Windows Blogs

Sudo for Windows

Sudo for Windows is a new feature that was introduced in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26052. It allows users to run elevated commands directly from an unelevated console session, similar to how sudo works on other operating systems. Sudo for Windows is an ergonomic and familiar solution for users who want to elevate a command without having to first open a new elevated console. It also preserves the user’s profile and ownership of created objects. Sudo for Windows is an open-source project that can be found on GitHub.

To enable Sudo for Windows, you need to navigate to the Settings > For Developers page in Windows Settings and toggle on the “Enable Sudo” option.

You can also enable Sudo for Windows by running the following command in an elevated console session:

sudo config --enable <configuration_option>

Sudo for Windows currently supports three different configuration options:

  • In a new window (forceNewWindow): This is the default option. It opens a new elevated console window and runs the command in that window.
  • Input closed (disableInput): This option runs the elevated process in the current window, but the new process will not accept any user input. This option is useful for processes that do not require further user input after elevation.
  • Inline (normal): This option is most similar to the behavior of sudo on other operating systems. It runs the elevated process in the current window. This option is useful for processes that can take in input and route output to the current window.

To change the configuration option, you can use the drop-down menu in the Settings > For Developers page in Windows Settings, or run the following command in an elevated console session:

sudo config --enable <configuration_option>

When elevating a process from the command-line with sudo, a UAC dialog will appear asking the user to confirm the elevation. Once the user confirms the elevation, the process will be elevated based on the configuration option selected by the user.

You can check out the optional parameters for the sudo command by running sudo -h in your console.

The advantage of Sudo for Windows is that it provides a consistent and convenient way to run elevated commands from the same console session.

Keep in mind however, the main security risk is that malicious processes could try to hijack the elevated process using the connection established by sudo. This risk is higher when using the Input closed or Inline configurations, as the elevated process can receive input from the current console window. Therefore, users should be cautious and understand the implications before choosing their configuration option.

Enjoy testing with SUDO!

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26058 (Canary and Dev Channels)

Hi all, last Wednesday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26058 to the Canary and Dev Channels. Ther are ISOs for this build – they can be downloaded > here <.

Some very nice new features already showing up, Happy Upgrades!

Insiders in the Canary Channel will receive Build 26058.1000 while Insiders in the Dev Channel will receive Build 26058.1100 (KB5036078) as we test delivery of a full build and a servicing update at the same time. There is no difference between the two of these as Build 26058.1100 does not include any additional code.

The Canary and Dev Channels receiving the same builds is only temporary. During the times in which the Canary and Dev Channels are on the same builds (e.g. Build 26058), the window is open for Insiders in the Canary Channel to switch to the Dev Channel. At some point in the future, the Canary Channel will jump to higher build numbers and the window will be closed.

NOTE: Some features may begin rolling out to the Canary Channel first before the Dev Channel even if the two channels have the same build.

What’s new in Build 26058

Pointer Indicator: New accessibility setting for low vision Windows users

Low vision users on Windows can now easily locate and use their cursor. This will allow these users to be more productive and efficient when using a Windows device.

Mouse pointer indicator shown over Settings in Windows 11.
Mouse pointer indicator shown over Settings in Windows 11.

To enable this experience, go to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch and enable the Pointer indicator setting. You can also search for the setting by name. When the setting is enabled, you can toggle it on/off with the keyboard shortcut, Win + Ctrl + X.

Settings shown for turning on the mouse pointer indicator.
Settings shown for turning on the mouse pointer indicator.

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

Widgets board improvements

We’re continuing to evolve the widgets board experience and you can now have more space for your favorite widgets and stay on top of current events with a feed that helps you discover the world around you. With the introduction of the new navigation bar on the left, you can switch between a dedicated widgets dashboard and other integrated dashboards like Discover. Give it a try and let us know what you think using the feedback button at the top of the board.

We've added a new Navigation Pane on the left that allows you to switch to My Widgets dashboard.
We’ve added a new Navigation Pane on the left that allows you to switch to My Widgets dashboard.
A full widgets only experience from your favorite apps and services.
A full widgets only experience from your favorite apps and services.

UPDATE 2/16: We have stopped the rollout of the above Widgets feature. We will begin rolling it out again after fixing a few bugs. Thanks to Insiders for all the feedback on this!

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

New notification badging for Widgets 

We’re beginning to roll out a new badging experience for Widgets. Widgets badges will notify you when you miss an important notification on your taskbar. Below is an example of a notification badge for Widgets that shows that there are three missed notifications.

Widget badging on the taskbar showing three missed notifications.
Widget badging on the taskbar showing three missed notifications.

When you open the Widgets board you can see details for the notifications you missed in the top left corner of the board.

Missed notifications at the top left of the widgets board.
Missed notifications at the top left of the widgets board.

[We are beginning to roll this out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels today, so the experience isn’t available to all Insiders just yet.]

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

Richer weather experience on the lock screen

If you are in the Canary Channel, you should start to see the richer weather experience on your lock screen. This includes dynamic, interactive weather updates. So, as you hover over the weather experience on your lock screen, you will see more information. When you tap or click on the weather card and sign in, Microsoft Edge opens with the full forecast in MSN Weather. If you already use Weather under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Lock screen status, there is nothing for you to do. Also, this new experience will be on by default. Should you not want to see this experience, you can change your lock screen status to “None.”  This rich weather experience is available when you lock your screen no matter which personalization option you select (Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow).

Richer weather experience on the lock screen.
Richer weather experience on the lock screen.

[We are currently rolling this out starting with EN-US only, so the experience isn’t available to all Insiders in the Canary or Dev Channels just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

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

Changes and Improvements

[General]

  • WIN + CTRL + S will now open voice access instead of Windows Speech Recognition (WSR). Windows 11 is transitioning from WSR to voice access. WSR is being deprecated.

[File Explorer]

  • To make it easier to use the File Explorer context menu, labels have been added to previously unlabeled actions such as cut, copy, paste, rename, share, and delete.
Labels added to previously unlabeled actions in the File Explorer context menu.
Labels added to previously unlabeled actions in the File Explorer context menu.

[Command Prompt]

  • If you run winget, or any other package manager configured to do so, Command Prompt (CMD) will now look for changes to the PATH and update your current session. To enable a package manager to have this logic in CMD, simply add the package manager .exe name to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor\KnownPackageManagers.

Fixes for known issues

  • Fixed an issue causing an increase in Insiders to experience black screens after Build 26040 (particularly when waking a device from sleep). Please file feedback if you continue experiencing issues after installing this build.
  • Fixed an issue where all the added features under Settings > System > Optional Features were showing 0 bytes in the previous flight.
  • Fixed an issue where focus sessions continued to show as running in the notification center after they had ended.
  • Fixed an issue causing Windows Sandbox to unexpectedly show Windows Sandbox could not be initialized. (0x800736b3) for some Insiders in the previous flight.
  • Fixed an issue where the last checked time showing for Windows Update in Settings was wrong.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS – UPDATED!] Some popular games may not work correctly and cause a bugcheck (green screen) when launched 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.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE FOR DEV DRIVE USERS: Insiders on Build 26052+ who have Dev Drives and might need to rollback will need to back up their Dev Drives BEFORE rolling back as rolling back will cause Dev Drives to break and data on them to be lost.
  • A Display Connection section is incorrectly showing up under Settings > System > Display > Graphics that when clicked, will crash Settings. This section will be removed in a future flight.
  • [NEW] Using the ISOs released today for this build to upgrade instead of doing a clean install may not work if you choose “Keep nothing” in the Windows Setup experience. To upgrade to the latest build in the Canary and Dev Channels, please use Windows Update.
  • [NEW] We are investigating an increase of reports of insiders rolling back when attempting to install the latest build (with error code 0xC1900101).
  • [NEW] Some Insiders may experience an issue where the network icon in the system tray shows they do not have an internet connection when connected to some VPNs even though the internet connection is working. Some apps might also think there isn’t an internet connection when there really is.
  • [NEW] We’re investigating an issue causing the input switcher (WIN + Space) design to revert back to an older style and draw in the wrong location.
  • [NEW] After this build is installed, there is an issue where the build will not be listed under Settings > Windows Update > Update history like it should.
  • [ADDED] In some cases, the File Explorer context menu no longer has the acrylic effect. This will be fixed in a future flight.

[Widgets]

  • [NEW] You may at times experience your widgets-only dashboard not rendering any content.

source: Windows Blogs

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26052 (Canary and Dev Channels)

Hi all, Last Thursday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26052 to the Canary and Dev Channels.

yes both channels will now run 26052, with a slight difference in numbering but no difference in code or content.

ChannelBuild Number
Canary Channel26052.1000
Dev Channel26052.1100

Flighting updates for Windows Insiders in the Canary & Dev Channels

Starting today, Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel are being moved from receiving 23000 series builds to receiving 26000 series builds.

Insiders in the Dev Channel will gain a set of new features such as energy saverscrollable quick settingsQR codes for Wi-Fi sharingsupport for creating 7-zip and TAR archives in addition to ZIP in File ExplorerWindows protected print modevoice clarity, along with recent Server Message Block (SMB) protocol changes and improvements to Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS), and improvements across Settings and improvements for Bluetooth and Graphics as well. Note that apps such as Tips and WordPad will be removed after upgrading to this build.

The Canary and Dev Channels receiving the same builds is only temporary. During the times in which the Canary and Dev Channels are on the same builds (e.g. Build 26052), the window is open for Insiders in the Canary Channel to switch to the Dev Channel. At some point in the future, the Canary Channel will jump to higher build numbers and the window will be closed.

If you are a gamer, please take note that some popular games may not work correctly or crash when launched on these builds. Over time, we expect this experience to improve as bugs get fixed.

NOTE: As part of this move, rollouts for some features in the Dev Channel may get reset which means in a small number of cases features might disappear. As we ramp up feature rollouts, these features should return over time. Some features may begin rolling out to the Canary Channel first before the Dev Channel even if the two channels have the same build.

What’s new in Build 26052

Sudo for Windows 

Sudo for Windows provides a new, yet familiar way to elevate processes directly from the command-line.

The sudo command can be configured to run in three different modes:

  1. In a new window: A new window will open in which the elevated command will run.
  2. With input disabled: The elevated command will run inline with its stdin closed in the window from which you’ve triggered elevation. You will not be able to interact with the elevated process.
  3. Inline: The elevated command will run inline in the window from which you’ve triggered elevation. This mode is most similar to the sudo experience on other platforms.

It is recommended that you review the security considerations for each mode here before enabling the sudo command on your machine.

Here is how you can enable the sudo command: Just navigate to Settings > System > For developers and toggle on the sudo command. Configure how the sudo command behaves by selected one of the modes in the drop-down menu (In a new window, with input disabled, inline).

NOTE: The setting for enabling Sudo may incorrectly be showing on Windows Server Insider Preview builds – this feature will not be available on Windows Server and the setting will be disabled in a future Server Insider Preview build.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Developer platform > command line.

Enhancements in Hearing Aid Support  

As announced in October 2023, Windows took a step forward in accessibility, allowing direct pairing, audio streaming, and smooth call handling for customers with Bluetooth® Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) supported hearing aids on LE Audio-compatible PCs. Now, we are thrilled to introduce a set of features that will take this support to the next level: We’re introducing new capabilities to control audio presets, ambient sounds, and experience enhancements to the Settings > Bluetooth & devices page.

Customers can now adjust the audio presets that they or their audiologist configured in their hearing aids, right from the Settings or Quick Settings UI in Windows. These controls allow customers to quickly adjust the behavior of their hearing aids to their preference for the environment they’re in. Preset options and availability will vary based on the model and configuration of hearing aids.

Control ambient sound for hearing aids in Settings.
Control ambient sound for hearing aids in Settings.

We’re also introducing capabilities for customers to adjust the volume of ambient sound captured by their hearing aids. These controls adjust the balance between streamed audio and sound picked up from the surrounding environment, helping customers choose what they want to focus on. Ambient sound control availability will vary based on the model of hearing aids.

These features require both your Windows device and hearing aid to support Bluetooth LE Audio. Note that not all Windows 11 PCs or hearing aids, even ones that support Bluetooth LE, have support for LE Audio. To learn more about LE Audio compatibility on Windows, please visit this link: Check if your Windows 11 PC supports Bluetooth Low Energy Audio. To learn more about LE Audio compatibility with hearing aids, consult your manufacturer or audiologist.

We’ve also enhanced the Bluetooth & devices settings page to provide additional functionality. Customers will now be able to:

  • Monitor essential Bluetooth device details when available, such as battery life and connection status, through an expandable menu for each connected device.
  • For audio devices, effortlessly access the System > Sound > Properties page to control audio settings for that device.

These new enhancements are available for hearing aids and all other devices on this page. To try out this feature, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.

Managing hearing aids in Settings.
Managing hearing aids in Settings.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Devices and Drivers > Bluetooth – Audio quality, glitches, choppiness, and stuttering.

Audio mic test utility to test audio in different processing modes

Windows now offers a convenient way to test the difference between Default and Communication mode audio. This new utility can be found under the microphone properties via Settings > System > Sound. You can select the mode and record/listen to audio in both modes, allowing you to easily compare audio processing modes for applications built for the Windows ecosystem. Some audio drivers come with special audio effects for communications, and the toggle lets users hear how audio captured in your microphone sounds when recorded by a communications application versus a non-communications application. It’s important to note that the utility is for testing purposes only and will not affect the actual mode of the audio. You can use this to try out the Voice Clarity feature in the last flight!

New mic test utility in Settings.
New mic test utility in Settings.

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

Changes and Improvements

[General]

  • Starting with Build 26-xx today, Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels will see the versioning updated under Settings > System > About (and winver) to version 24H2. This denotes that Windows 11, version 24H2 will be this year’s annual feature update. As mentioned here, Windows 11 will have an annual feature update cadence that releases in the second half of the calendar year.
  • Plugging in to use a Windows Mixed Reality headset will not work starting with this build. Windows Mixed Reality is no longer available to users as Windows Mixed Reality has been announced as deprecated. This includes the Mixed Reality Portal app, and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta. Existing Windows Mixed Reality devices will continue to work with Steam through November 2026, if users remain on their current released version of Windows 11 (version 23H2) and do not upgrade to this year’s annual feature update for Windows 11 (version 24H2). This deprecation does not impact HoloLens.
  • Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG) is no longer available as a feature on demand starting with this build. Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office and Edge has been announced as deprecated.

[Copilot in Windows*]

  • We are trying out a new experience for Copilot in Windows that helps showcase the ways that Copilot can accelerate and enhance your work. This experience will show when you copy text – since Copilot supports helpful actions that you can take with text content. In this scenario, the Copilot icon will change appearance and animate to indicate that Copilot can help (there are several different treatments so you may notice a different visual effect). When you hover your mouse over the Copilot icon, it will provide a menu of actions that you can take, such as summarizing or explaining the copied text. If you select an action on the menu, it will launch Copilot with the action ready-to-go. We will also support the ability to launch Copilot if you start dragging an image – just drag the image file onto the Copilot icon in the taskbar, and Copilot will open. You can then drop the image into the text box in Copilot and type an action that you would like to take on the image content.
Copilot actions you can take when you mouse over the Copilot icon on the taskbar after copying some text.
Copilot actions you can take when you mouse over the Copilot icon on the taskbar after copying some text.
  • After temporarily disabling this experience to fix an issue, we are trying out opening Copilot automatically when Windows starts on widescreen devices again with some Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels. This can be managed via Settings > Personalization > Copilot. Note that this is rolling out so not all Insiders in the Dev Channel will see this right away. We’re trying this experience out on devices that have minimum diagonal screen size of 27” and pixel width of 1920 pixels and limited to primary display screens in multi-monitor scenarios. As a reminder, we regularly try out different experiences with Windows Insiders that may not ever ship, and others could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready.
New Copilot Settings page.
New Copilot Settings page.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • We have updated the energy saver icon for desktop PCs (PCs without batteries). This icon is shown on the system tray when energy saver is enabled, under quick settings, and under Settings > System power & battery.
Different energy saver icons on the system tray for desktop PCs and laptops.
Different energy saver icons on the system tray for desktop PCs and laptops.

[File Explorer]

  • [ADDED 2/9] The preview thumbnail title in the taskbar, ALT + Tab and Task View for File Explorer windows will now indicate if that window includes multiple tabs.

[Bluetooth]

  • Today, when discovering available Bluetooth devices to connect to, Windows filters out device classes that are uncommon. Customers who wish to override this filter and see all nearby devices available to pair can do so by choosing “Advanced” for the “Bluetooth devices discovery” setting. Starting with this build, we are removing that option and introducing some changes to the add device workflow to streamline this experience. Now, discovery will always scan for all devices, but only show common device types by default. Whenever an “uncommon” device is found during the discovery process, an option to “Show all devices” will be displayed to the customer.

[Graphics]

  • Windows Insiders who use the Color Management Control Panel to make changes to their color profiles can now use the all-new Color management settings page located under Settings > System > Display > Color management. This new settings page will allow users to add or remove color profiles, as well as set default color profiles for the connected displays. In addition, auto color management can now be found on the new Color management settings page.
Old Color Management Control Panel and new Color Management settings page.
Old Color Management Control Panel and new Color Management settings page.

[Registry Editor]

  • The Registry Editor now supports limiting a search to the currently selected key and its descendants.
New search in subtree option for searching in Registry Editor.
New search in subtree option for searching in Registry Editor.

[Developer APIs]

  • Starting with this build, we are introducing the Power Grid Forecast API. This API empowers app developers to optimize app behavior, minimizing environmental impact by shifting background tasks to times when more renewable energy is available in the local electrical grid. The result is lower carbon emissions for app users. Please note that forecast quality varies by region and is not available globally. While the API is available in this build, we are still working on public documentation, sample code, and we have a couple of bug fixes checked in. All of this should make its way to Insiders in the coming weeks.
  • We are adding an energy saver notification callback setting GUID to represent the new energy saver experience introduced in Build 26002. Apps can subscribe to the energy saver status by passing the appropriate GUID to the PowerSettingRegisterNotification API and can implement different behaviors to optimize energy or performance depending on the current energy saver status. More details can be found in here.
  • We are making a minor extension of the existing Effective Power Mode API to interpret the new energy saver levels when determining the returned effective power mode. Documentation will be updated shortly.

[Security]

[Settings]

  • You can go Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners to choose to setup Windows protected print mode but clicking the setup button under “Printer preferences”. This experience will continue to be refined in future flights.
  • We moved the option to show your Wi-Fi password to the top of the Wi-Fi properties page under Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
  • [ADDED] We have updated the UI for Storage Spaces under Settings > System > Storage > Storage Spaces to more intuitively reflect Spaces. Some key changes include: remove confusing and/misleading status icons, replace links to Disk Management with links to Disks & Volumes, share drive labels and letter, when applicable, offering an explanation for a term when hovering over it, and adding upgrade and delete pool. This UI change should provide greater ease of storage management on Windows.  

[Other]

  • We’ve adjusted the text in the notification when a PC detects a slow charger.
Updated notification when a PC detects a slow charger.
Updated notification when a PC detects a slow charger.
  • You can now use the Camera app to join a Wi-Fi network. Just scan a QR code with Wi-Fi details and a link will be provided that will open Settings to quickly get the new Wi-Fi profile added and connected. As a reminder, starting with Build 25977 in the Canary Channel you can create your own QR code for Wi-Fi and share it with others. This also works for mobile hotspots too.
Scan a QR code with Wi-Fi details in the Camera app to quickly connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Scan a QR code with Wi-Fi details in the Camera app to quickly connect to a Wi-Fi network.

Fixes for known issues

  • We fixed the issue where in some multi-monitor configurations, a display would appear as frozen in Build 26040.
  • Fixed a DWM issue in Build 26040 causing some rendering issues.
  • Fixed an issue causing Build 26040 flight to fail to install for some Insiders with error code 0x80188306.
  • Fixed an issue causing the print queue to not open in recent Canary Channel flights.
  • Did some more work to help improve the launch performance of File Explorer.
  • Fixed multiple crashes impacting system tray and its flyouts.
  • The volume slider in quick settings will now make a sound when adjusted again.
  • When using the save dialog, if you try to save a file to Gallery in File Explorer, it will now save to your Pictures library rather than showing an error.

Known issues

[General]

  • [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS – UPDATED!] Some popular games may not work correctly and cause a bugcheck (green screen) when launched 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.
  • Content in some video streaming apps from the Microsoft Store may not play. As a workaround, try streaming from a browser.
  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue causing an increase in Insiders experiencing black screens starting with Build 26040 (including when waking your PC from sleep). If you encounter this, pressing WIN + CTRL + Shift + B may resolve it.
  • [ADDED] A Display Connection section is incorrectly showing up under Settings > System > Display > Graphics that when clicked, will crash Settings. This section will be removed in a future flight. 
  • [ADDED 2/9] IMPORTANT NOTE FOR DEV DRIVE USERS: Insiders on Build 26052 who have Dev Drives and might need to rollback will need to back up their Dev Drives BEFORE rolling back as rolling back will cause Dev Drives to break and data on them to be lost.

[Widgets]

  • Keyboard navigation from settings subpages back to the top-level Settings page is broken.

Microsoft Store Update

Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels running version 22401.xxxx.x of the Microsoft Store and higher will see the following improvement rolling out:

New and improved pages for Microsoft 365: We’ve improved the Microsoft 365 pages to better describe all the benefits included in the subscription. You can compare between monthly and annual plans to determine what’s best for you, and you can browse the features in various apps included in Microsoft 365.

Example of improved Microsoft 365 page in the Microsoft Store.
Example of improved Microsoft 365 page in the Microsoft Store.

source: Windows Blogs