Nov 08

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (Dev & Beta Channels)

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Hi all, Yesterday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (KB5070300) to the Dev & Beta Channels.

Dev & Beta currently have the same updates, allowing you to switch from Dev to Beta channel for a short while.

New features gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

Widgets

Choose your default dashboard in an updated Widget Board Settings  

  • Launching the Widget Board when it’s showing live weather content will now open the first dashboard in your navigation bar instead of your most recently used dashboard for a more predictable Widget Board experience.
  • To modify your default dashboard, navigate to the new full-page Widgets Settings experience by clicking the gear icon at the bottom of your Widget navigation bar and re-arrange your desired default dashboard to the top position.
Widgets board with a redesigned Widget Settings page that allows dashboard to be re-arranged
Widgets board with a redesigned Widget Settings page that allows dashboard to be re-arranged

See numbered badges on the Widget Board navigation bar  

Badges on the dashboard icons in the Widget navigation bar will now show numbers corresponding to the number of alerts from that dashboard. Navigation bar badges clear automatically when you leave a dashboard, making it easy to track what’s new.

Numbered badge on the Discover dashboard icon in the navigation bar.
Numbered badge on the Discover dashboard icon in the navigation bar.

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

Changes and Improvements for everyone

[Recovery]

  • We’re updating Quick Machine Recovery in Windows – Microsoft Support make getting back to a working PC clearer and faster. The experience in both Windows Settings and the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) has been streamlined so options are easier to find and use. On PCs with the settings “quick machine recovery” and “automatically check for solutions” both enabled, QMR now runs a one‑time scan by default instead of repeating scans in a loop. If a fix isn’t available right away, you won’t be left waiting; QMR will quickly point you to the most appropriate recovery options to get you back up and running.
In Settings for Systems, Recovery, “Quick machine recovery” and “Automatically check for solutions” are enabled to run a onetime QMR scan by default.
In Settings for Systems, Recovery, “Quick machine recovery” and “Automatically check for solutions” are enabled to run a onetime QMR scan by default.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Smart App Control]

  • We’re updating Smart App Control (SAC) so you will now be able to switch SAC off or on without any clean install requirement. To make changes, go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings.
  • When it’s on, it helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps. You can learn more about SAC App & Browser Control in the Windows Security App – Microsoft Support.

[File Explorer]

  • We are re-enabling people icons under the “Activity” column in File Explorer Home detailed here.
  • We are temporarily turning off the integration supporting the StorageProvider APIs for cloud providers as detailed here.
  • We are temporarily turning off support for frequently used and recently downloaded recommended files in File Explorer as detailed here.

Fixes gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[General]

  • Fixed an underlying issue which was causing interacting with the desktop to unexpectedly open Task View recently for some people.

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an issue where Shift + Click (or middle clicking) on File Explorer in the taskbar wasn’t opening a new File Explorer instance.
  • Fixed an issue where the File Explorer active tab title might not display bolded until you hovered your mouse over it.

[Taskbar]

  • Fixed an issue which could lead to the “Automatically hide the taskbar” setting unexpectedly turning off, after seeing a message saying “a toolbar is already hidden on this side of your screen”.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an issue which could lead to Settings hanging when trying to navigate to the Network & Internet section.

Known issues

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • We’re investigating an issue which is causing the Start menu to not open for some Insiders on click, although it will open if you press the Windows key. It’s believed this issue may also potentially impact the notification center (which you can open with WIN + N).
  • We’re investigating an issue where for some Insiders apps aren’t showing in the system tray when they should be.

[File Explorer]

  • Copy progress might flash when clicking more or less details in dark mode version of the copy dialog.
  • Scrollbar and footer are missing and showing a white block instead when text is scaled in dark mode version of the copy dialog.

[Recall]

  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue causing some Insiders to see a message saying they don’t have an eligible camera for Recall when they do.

source: Windows Blogs

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Nov 08

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000 (Canary Channel)

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Hi all, Yesterday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000 to the Canary Channel.

This is the 1st build labeled 26H1 exciting to start testing the next phase of Windows evolution

What’s new in Build 28000

[General]

  • This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Versioning]

  • With this build today, Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel will see the versioning updated under Settings > System > About (and winver) to Windows 11, version 26H1.
  • 26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2 and only includes platform changes to support specific silicon. There is no action required from customers.
  • 25H2 remains the primary place for new features. Windows 11 continues to have an annual feature update cadence, with releases in the second half of the calendar year.
  • As a reminder, in the Windows Insider Program, new experiences will continue to land first in the Dev and Beta Channels, with Canary primarily focused on platform changes.

Fixes

[General]

  • Fixed an issue causing live captions to crash in the previous flight for some Insiders.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause the credentials window to not be accessible when trying to login to Outlook in recent flights.

Known issues

[Start menu]

  • Insiders with the new Start menu may experience it unexpectedly scrolling to the top.

[Power and Battery]

  • We’re investigating reports that sleep and shutdown aren’t working correctly for some Insiders after the latest Canary builds.

source: Windows Blogs

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Nov 02

Why the Surface Laptop 13 inch for Business Became My Ultimate Go-To Device

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A few months ago, I got my hands on the new 13-inch Surface Laptop for Business, one of the latest additions to Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC portfolio. I was intrigued by its promise of portability, performance, and AI-powered productivity. Fast forward to today, and I can confidently say: this device has transformed how I work, travel, and stay connected.

From the moment I unboxed it, the Surface Laptop impressed me with its sleek, lightweight design. It’s thinner and lighter than any previous Surface I’ve used, yet it feels incredibly sturdy thanks to its aluminum chassis. Whether I’m commuting, working from a client site, or presenting, it slips effortlessly into my bag and never weighs me down.

Battery life has been a game-changer. With up to 23 hours of video playback and 16 hours of active web browsing, I’ve stopped worrying about finding power outlets. It’s liberating to know I can go through a full day (or even two) without reaching for a charger.

Performance-wise, the Snapdragon X Plus processor and integrated NPU deliver snappy responsiveness and seamless multitasking. I’ve noticed a significant boost in speed compared to my previous device, especially when running AI-enhanced features like Windows Studio Effects during Teams calls. The 1080p front-facing camera, Auto HDR, and AI noise reduction make every video meeting feel professional, even when I’m working from less-than-ideal environments.

The anti-reflective touchscreen is another standout feature. Whether I’m working outdoors or in bright conference rooms, the display remains crisp and easy to read. It’s clear that Microsoft designed this laptop with real-world scenarios in mind.

Over the past few months, the Surface Laptop 13 inch has become my ultra-portable companion – reliable, powerful, and ready for anything. It’s not just a device; it’s a productivity partner that adapts to my dynamic work life.

If you’re looking for a business laptop that blends mobility, performance, and AI innovation, the Surface Laptop for Business is worth serious consideration. It’s more than just a PC, it’s a Copilot+ experience that truly delivers.

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Nov 02

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (Dev & Beta Channels)

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Hi all, Last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) to the Dev & Beta Channels.

Both Dev & Beta are now on the same 25H2 builds, if you want to switch a device from Dev to Beta, this is now possible for a short while.

Share Bluetooth audio sounds like a great feature for sharing an audio or video stream on the same device.

New features gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

Introducing Ask Copilot in taskbar

The Ask Copilot experience in the Windows taskbar demonstrating a query for ‘Out’ that shows apps, files, settings, and Copilot chat suggestions.
The Ask Copilot experience in the Windows taskbar demonstrating a query for ‘Out’ that shows apps, files, settings, and Copilot chat suggestions.

With the new Ask Copilot in taskbar, Copilot becomes a natural part of how you use your PC, ready to help, guide and collaborate the moment you need it.

This opt-in experience gives you one-click access to Copilot Vision and Voice, enabling more natural interaction in your flow. Whether through text, voice, or guided support with Copilot Vision, you can engage on your terms, in the way that works best for you. You’re always in control. As you type, results appear and update instantly, making it easier than ever to find what you need.

To get started go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot to enable the experience. You can also manage whether the Copilot app launches automatically at sign-in using the “Auto start on log in” toggle in the Copilot app settings.

Ask Copilot in taskbar complements the familiar Windows Search experience, so you can continue using Search as you always have from Start while trying out this new experience.

Ask Copilot uses existing Windows APIs to return apps, files, and settings—just like Windows Search—and does not grant Copilot access to your personal content. For more details, you can learn about privacy and control options for Microsoft Copilot here.

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Ask Copilot in taskbar.

Full screen experience

Following the initial launch of the full screen experience (FSE) on the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, today’s preview to Windows Insiders expands availability to additional Windows 11 handheld devices currently in market.

Designed with console-style navigation in mind, the Xbox PC app paired with the full screen experience delivers a clean, distraction-free interface for handheld gaming. You’ll get smooth task switching and optimized performance, with background processes minimized and non-essential tasks deferred—so gameplay stays responsive and uninterrupted.

A screenshot of the full screen experience with the Xbox PC app, with game selection shown.
A screenshot of the full screen experience with the Xbox PC app, with game selection shown.
Settings screen shot showing Gaming and full screen experience enablement options for startup.
Settings screen shot showing Gaming and full screen experience enablement options for startup.

How to enable FSE:
On supported devices, go to Settings > Gaming > Full screen experience, then select Xbox as your home app. Once enabled, you can access FSE from Task View and Game Bar or configure your handheld to enter full screen experience on startup.

Availability:

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Gaming and Xbox > Gaming Handhelds.

Shared audio (preview)

  • In this update, we are beginning rollout of shared audio (preview), a new experience built on Bluetooth® LE Audio broadcast technology, for Copilot+ PCs. Shared audio allows two family members to watch movies together while traveling, or two students to share music while studying.
  • To get started, access the “Shared audio (preview)” tile in quick settings, select two supported paired and connected accessories and click “Share” to begin.
  • For more information about shared audio (preview), including details about compatible PCs and accessories, visit Extending Bluetooth® LE Audio on Windows 11 with shared audio (preview).
Shared audio (preview) settings showing two connected devices and the Share button to get started using the experience.
Shared audio (preview) settings showing two connected devices and the Share button to get started using the experience.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Prism]

  • We are enabling the feature update to Prism, our emulator for Windows on Arm, that makes it possible for more 64-bit x86 (x64) applications to run under emulation by adding support for more CPU features under emulation. This support will be made available to any 64-bit x86 (x64) application under emulation by default, and 32-bit x86 applications can be opted in to the support using the emulation settings in the Properties window.
  • Please submit any feedback on compatibility issues or performance regressions through the Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Apps and the specific app you’re seeing issues with (if you don’t see the app listed, use “All other apps”) to help us to ensure that this updated Prism provides a great experience.

Fixes gradually being rolled out with toggle on*
[General]

  • Fixed an underlying issue leading to keyboards or other USB devices not working for a small number of Insiders after the latest flights.

[Start menu]

  • Fixed an issue where interacting with a folder or its contents in Start menu could result in the folder becoming invisible.

[File Explorer]

  • Made some underlying changes to help responsiveness of File Explorer when navigating in network locations.
  • Made some more underlying improvements to help reduce the launch time of File Explorer.
  • Fixed an issue where “Open” in File Explorer’s context menu wasn’t showing the right icon for .exe, .cmd & .bat files (was showing a generic executable icon, instead of the default app for that file type).
  • Fixed an issue where you might see your desktop icons move when interacting with files, such as opening or renaming them.
  • Fixed a couple issues where tooltips were not showing up as expected when using navigating Home with a keyboard.

[Lock and login screens]

  • Fixed a memory leak when your lock screen was set to slide show, which could lead to performance or reliability issues over time when unlocking your PC.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause logging into be very slow the first time when logging into a new account.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an issue where the search box in Settings could become overlapped with the minimum and maximize buttons in the title bar.

[Other]

  • Fixed an issue where after the latest updates, screen readers might unexpectedly say “legacy window” without reading out the window contents when interacting with certain apps.
  • Fixed an issue where after the latest updates, text might not render correctly when editing content within a multiline text box in certain apps.
  • Fixed an issue where protected content playback might fail on some machines after the latest updates.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause ethernet upload speeds to be significantly lower on some PCs after the latest updates.

Known issues

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • We’re investigating an issue which is causing the Start menu to not open for some Insiders on click, although it will open if you press the Windows key. It’s believed this issue may also potentially impact the notification center (which you can open with WIN + N).
  • We’re investigating an issue where for some Insiders apps aren’t showing in the system tray when they should be.

[File Explorer]

  • Copy progress might flash when clicking more or less details in dark mode version of the copy dialog.
  • Scrollbar and footer are missing and showing a white block instead when text is scaled in dark mode version of the copy dialog.

source: Windows Blogs

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Oct 26

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6982 (Dev Channel)

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6982 (KB5067109) to the Dev Channel.

A quick last flight before the weekend, packed with lots of new and fixed stuff.

Something strange is going on with the CPU load in task manager, under performance there seems to be a high load on the 1st 4 cores, however under details or processes no high CPU load for any proces is detectable…

Happy upgrades!

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Windows Search Box]

  • In this update, we are introducing Copy & Search, a feature that allows you to search the text in your clipboard with a single click. When you copy text anywhere in Windows, a paste gleam will appear in your search box. Click on this gleam and your copied text will appear in the search field, allowing you to search instantly. To get started:
    • Copy text from a document, webpage, or app.
    • After copying text, the paste gleam will appear in the search box on the taskbar.
    • Click the paste gleam to search for the copied text.
Copying any text in Windows (in this case Office) adds a paste gleam to in the Search field on Taskbar.
Copying any text in Windows (in this case Office) adds a paste gleam to in the Search field on Taskbar.

[Voice Typing]

  • We are introducing a new ‘Wait time before acting’ setting in Voice Typing, allowing users to configure the delay before a voice command is executed. This provides greater flexibility for users with varying speech patterns, enabling more accurate recognition whether speaking slowly or quickly. (Update: This is rolling out for all desktop types, not just Copilot+ PCs.)
Voice typing settings supports “Wait time before acting” with timing options like “Instant - 0.1 seconds” to “Very Long - 3.0 seconds”
Voice typing settings supports “Wait time before acting” with timing options like “Instant – 0.1 seconds” to “Very Long – 3.0 seconds”

[Proactive Memory Diagnostics]

  • We’re introducing a new feature that helps improve system reliability. If your PC experiences a bugcheck (unexpected restart), you may see a notification when signing in suggesting a quick memory scan. If you choose to run it, the system will schedule a Windows Memory Diagnostic scan to run during your next reboot (taking 5 minutes or less on average) and then continue to Windows. If a memory issue is found and mitigated, you will see a notification post-reboot. Please note:
    • This early flight includes all bugcheck codes as triggers while we study the relationship between memory corruption and crashes. Future builds will refine targeting.
    • Currently this is experience not supported on Arm64 devices, systems with Administrator Protection, or BitLocker without Secure Boot.
Windows Memory Diagnostics dialog recommending a scan during next reboot.
Windows Memory Diagnostics dialog recommending a scan during next reboot.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Settings]

  • Device Cards in Settings has been updated to provide more clarity on information about your device for better readability and streamlined navigation for improved user experience.
  • In Settings About, we’ve enhanced it to deliver a more structured and intuitive experience, empowering users with device insights, and seamless navigation to related device components – including quick access to Storage settings.
  • Search: You can now scroll through all search results directly in the flyout, without needing to open a separate results page.
A scrollbar is added to Settings search results flyout to show all results.
A scrollbar is added to Settings search results flyout to show all results.

[Click to Do]

  • We’re helping users discover more actions in Click to Do!
    • A helpful hint now appears as you launch Click to Do, assisting unfamiliar users in discovering powerful actions that help you work quickly and intuitively.
    • Known issue: When there are multiple monitors, the hint appears on every display, and closing one of them does not dismiss the others.

[Start menu]

  • Windows Insiders with the larger Start menu flyout will now notice that the Windows Search flyout now matches in size. This update aims to create a smoother transition when searching. The feature relies on the updated Start menu rolled out to WIP earlier this year.

[File Explorer]

[Taskbar]

[Windows Studio Effects]

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*
[General]

  • Fixed an issue causing text actions that use Phi Silica in Click to Do and Recall to not work correctly on the previous build.

[Taskbar]

  • Fixed an issue where hovering over the taskbar with a pen was making the taskbar prematurely hide for some Insiders recently.
  • Fixed an issue where voice access wasn’t working correctly when attempting to interact with the taskbar (calling out a number wasn’t invoking that item).

[Input]

  • Fixed an issue where if you used the touch keyboard to input your password on the login screen, it might not disappear after logging into your PC.

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an issue where the search icon in File Explorer might infinitely loop in an animation recently.

[Widgets]

  • If you’ve been experiencing an issue recently with widgets not being able to log in, that should be resolved now.

[Administrator Protection]

  • Fixed an issue when running an app as administrator where the text in the UAC prompt might be truncated.

[Task Manager]

  • Fixed an issue which was causing some apps and their processes to not be grouped correctly.

[Other]

  • Updated the buttons to have rounded corners when you’re shutting down your PC and are prompted if you want to shut down anyway despite running apps.

 Known issues

[General]

  • [NEW] We’re investigating an underlying issue leading to keyboards or other USB devices not working for a small number of Insiders after the latest flights.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • We’re investigating an issue which is causing the Start menu to not open for some Insiders on click, although it will open if you press the Windows key. It’s believed this issue may also potentially impact the notification center (which you can open with WIN + N).
  • [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where for some Insiders apps aren’t showing in the system tray when they should be.

[File Explorer]

  • Copy progress might flash when clicking more or less details in dark mode version of the copy dialog.
  • Scrollbar and footer are missing and showing a white block instead when text is scaled in dark mode version of the copy dialog.

source: Windows Blogs

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Oct 26

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27975 (Canary Channel)

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Hi all, last Thursday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27975 to the Canary Channel.

A quick update before the weekend, the Windows Hello PIN issue is fixed now nice!

Have fun upgrading & testing!

What’s new in Build 27975

[General] 

  • This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

Fixes

[Input]

  • Fixed an issue impacting touch keyboard launch reliability in the latest Canary builds.

[Windows Hello]

  • Fixed an issue impacting certain devices which was causing the Windows Hello PIN to not work after upgrading to the latest Canary builds, until you set it up again.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an issue causing Settings to crash when accessing drive information under Settings > System > Storage. This also impacted accessing the drive information from the properties when you right clicked a drive in File Explorer.

Known issues

[Start menu]

  • Insiders with the new Start menu may experience it unexpectedly scrolling to the top.

[Power and Battery]

  • We’re investigating reports that sleep and shutdown aren’t working correctly for some Insiders after the latest Canary builds.

source: Windows Blogs

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Oct 19

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6972 (Dev Channel)

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6972 (KB5067106) to the Dev Channel.

After presenting all day on Windows 10 to Windows 11 Migration new features a nice new build for the dev channel, all my devices including my demosetup I prepped with 25H2 upgraded nicely to the new Dev Channel build

Enjoy Upgrading!

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Mobile Device Settings]

  • You can now directly add and manage your mobile devices from Settings on your Windows PC by navigating to “Mobile Devices” under the Bluetooth & Devices section. This page allows you to view your mobile devices, add new mobile devices, and manage features such as using your device as a connected camera or accessing your device’s files in File Explorer.
New settings page under Bluetooth & Devices to manage and add connected mobile devices.
New settings page under Bluetooth & Devices to manage and add connected mobile devices.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Accounts]

  • We’ve added a new entry point in the account control on the Start menu that takes you directly to the benefits page on https://account.microsoft.com/, making it easier to explore and manage the benefits that come with your Microsoft account.
Account control in the Start menu has an option to “View my benefits” to take you directly to the benefits page on account.microsoft.com.
Account control in the Start menu has an option to “View my benefits” to take you directly to the benefits page on account.microsoft.com.

[Game Pass]

  • In this build we have modified references to Game Pass plans in Settings to reflect updated branding and benefits.
Settings Home page reflect new Game Pass branding and benefits.
Settings Home page reflects new Game Pass branding and benefits.

[File Explorer]

  • We’re continuing to make improvements to the dark mode experience in File Explorer. You will now see a consistent dark mode experience in the Folder Options dialog.
Updates to the Folder Options dialog in dark mode.
Updates to the Folder Options dialog in dark mode.

[Drag Tray]

  • We’ve added the ability to turn Drag Tray on/off from Settings->System->Nearby sharing.

 

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an issue which could cause File Explorer to show a Catastrophic Error (0x8000FFFF) when extracting large (1.5gb+) archive files.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause an old white toolbar to randomly appear in File Explorer sometimes.

[Display and Graphics]

  • Fixed a recent issue which was causing some videos and games to be unexpectedly red.
  • Fixed an issue where apps and browsers could have partially stuck onscreen content when other maximized / full screen apps were updating in the background. This may have been noticeable particularly when trying to scroll the window content, as only some parts would update.
  • We’ve improved the performance when apps query monitors for their full list of supported modes. When this happens could lead to a momentary stutter on very high-resolution monitors, and this work should help prevent and reduce stuttering in these scenarios.

[Windows Update]

  • Fixed an issue which could lead to updates failing to install with error 0x800f0983.

[Other]

  • Fixed a hang which could impact Outlook in recent builds, where if prompted for your credentials, you wouldn’t be able to bring the pop up to the foreground and it would go unresponsive.
  • Fixed an issue which was causing Remote Credential Guard scenarios between the latest Windows 11 builds and Server 2022 (and below) to fail.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause the print preview screen to stop responding in Chromium-based browsers.

Known issues

[General]

  • [NEW] Text actions that use Phi Silica in Click to Do and Recall will not work correctly on this build. A fix is on the way.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • Our new animations on taskbar previews have been turned off temporarily because they were interfering with the ability to share a window from its preview, we will note when they’re brought back.
  • [NEW] We’re investigating an issue which is causing the Start menu to not open for some Insiders on click, although it will open if you press the Windows key. It’s believed this issue may also potentially impact the notification center (which you can open with WIN + N).

[File Explorer]

  • Copy progress might flash when clicking more or less details in dark mode version of the copy dialog.
  • Scrollbar and footer are missing and showing a white block instead when text is scaled in dark mode version of the copy dialog.

 [Gaming]

  • Some Insiders are experiencing an issue where using their Xbox Controller via Bluetooth is causing their PC to bugcheck. Here is how to resolve the issue. Open Device Manager by searching for it via the search box on your taskbar. Once Device Manager is open, click on “View” and then “Devices by Driver”. Find the driver named “oemXXX.inf (XboxGameControllerDriver.inf)” where the “XXX” will be a specific number on your PC. Right-click on that driver and click “Uninstall”.

source: Windows Blogs

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Oct 19

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27971 (Canary Channel)

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Hi all, last Thursday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27971 to the Canary Channel.

A smooth ride for my Canary Channel devices, some quick fixes for this build it seems

Happy Upgrading!

What’s new in Build 27971 

[Notification Center]

  • We are extending the functionality of Notification Center to secondary monitors. This means you will be able to see your calendar on any of your monitors as well as the option to show a bigger clock with seconds above calendar. You will be able to open Notification Center on any monitor by clicking the date and time in the system tray of your taskbar.

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

Fixes

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an issue in the latest Canary builds causing File Explorer to crash when transferring files to a network drive.

[Lock and login screens]

  • Fixed an issue in the previous build where the media controls might not display on the lock screen.

[Input]

  • Fixed an underlying issue related to microsoft.ink.dll and relevant APIs, which could result in pen and handwriting not working correctly in apps or app crashes recently due to unexpected exceptions being thrown.

[Other]

  • Fixed an underlying issue which was causing protected content playback to fail for some apps recently.
  • Fixed an issue impacting the ability to start Hyper-V virtual machines with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on ARM64 devices.

Known issues

[Settings]

  • Settings may crash when accessing drive information under Settings > System > Storage. This also impacts accessing the drive information from the properties when you right click a drive in File Explorer.

[Start menu]

  • [NEW] Insiders with the new Start menu may experience it unexpectedly scrolling to the top.

[Power and Battery]

  • We’re investigating reports that sleep and shutdown aren’t working correctly for some Insiders after the latest Canary builds.

source: Windows Blogs

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Oct 12

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6780 (Dev Channel)

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6780 (KB5067103) to the Dev Channel.

Upgrades went quick and smooth on most of my devices

Run dialog now supports dark mode 🤩🥷

One detected issued, Settings App stops responding to input when accessing Sign-in options directly through search (FeedBack Hub: https://aka.ms/AAya0ds)

Happy Upgrades!

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Agent in Settings]

The following changes and improvements are rolling out for agent in Settings on Copilot+ PCs:

We’re introducing new experiences to make it easier to modify settings in both search and recommended settings.

Recommend Settings: Now allows for faster changes by showing an inline agent action for recently modified settings.

Settings Homepage with options to adjust recently modified settings under “Recommended settings”.
Settings Homepage with options to adjust recently modified settings under “Recommended settings”.

Search: We now show more available results in the search fly out to discover what you’re looking for and to allow you to quickly modify those settings. In cases where the settings can’t be adjusted further, a dialog lets you know why and provides an option to modify the settings as needed.

More available results are displayed within search and take action to quickly modify those settings.
More available results are displayed within search to take action and quickly modify those settings.
When searching for “increase volume” within settings, a dialog is presented indicating that volume is already at the maximum setting and provides a slider to modify the value.
When searching for “increase volume” within settings, a dialog is presented indicating that volume is already at the maximum setting and provides a slider to modify the value.

[Drag Tray]

  • Drag Tray now supports multi-file sharing, intelligently surfaces more relevant apps, and enables seamless file movement to a chosen folder.
Drag Tray UI shows options to share to apps like WhatsApp, Paint, Snapchat, and movement to other folders.
Drag Tray UI shows options to share to apps like WhatsApp, Paint, Snapchat, and movement to other folders.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Click to Do (Preview)]

The following changes and improvements are rolling out for Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs:

  • We’re making it easier to act on what matters. Visual cues now make key entities, such as emails, tables, and more, light up on your screen as you launch Click to Do. Click on these entities to discover powerful actions that help you work faster and smarter.

[Administrator Protection]

  • The ability to enable Administrator Protection via Windows Security under Account protection is now available again.

[OneDrive]

  • We are rolling out the new OneDrive icon in Accounts and Homepages in Settings.

[Run]

  • Dark Mode: We continue to make improvements to the dark more experience in Windows 11. This week we are updating the Run dialog. [UPDATE] This change is on a very slow rollout so not many Insiders will see it right away. We plan to expand the rollout to more Insiders over the next few flights.
Run dialog in dark mode
Run dialog in dark mode

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Click to Do (Preview)]

The following fixes are rolling out for Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs:

  • Fixed an issue where launching Click to Do on your primary display via right-edge gesture would result in the swipe visuals appearing on the incorrect display.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • Fixed an issue where pressing WIN + <number> repeatedly wasn’t cycling through the windows of an app as expected.

[File Explorer]

  • Fixed an issue in the previous flight which was causing File Explorer to crash a lot for some Insiders.

[Start menu]

  • Fixed an issue which was causing Start menu to unexpectedly scroll to the top when interacting with it.
  • Fixed an issue where the context menu in Start wouldn’t open with touch (just immediately dismissed).

[Search]

  • Fixed an issue where searches might show unexpected text instead of the expected results and images.

[Other]

  • If you were experiencing a large number of apps (including browsers) crashing in the previous flight, that should no longer repro with this update.

Known issues

[Taskbar & System Tray]

  • Our new animations on taskbar previews have been turned off temporarily because they were interfering with the ability to share a window from its preview, we will note when they’re brought back.

[File Explorer]

  • Copy progress might flash when clicking more or less details in dark mode version of the copy dialog.
  • Scrollbar and footer are missing and showing a white block instead when text is scaled in dark mode version of the copy dialog.

 [Xbox Controller]

  • Some Insiders are experiencing an issue where using their Xbox Controller via Bluetooth is causing their PC to bugcheck. Here is how to resolve the issue. Open Device Manager by searching for it via the search box on your taskbar. Once Device Manager is open, click on “View” and then “Devices by Driver”. Find the driver named “oemXXX.inf (XboxGameControllerDriver.inf)” where the “XXX” will be a specific number on your PC. Right-click on that driver and click “Uninstall”.

source: Windows Blogs

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Oct 12

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27965 (Canary Channel)

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Hi all, last Wednesday on my Birthday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27965 to the Canary Channel.

New startmenu features look promising, category grouping of apps makes start feel more familiar like mobile phone interfaces.

What’s new in Build 27965 

Introducing the new Start menu for Windows 11

Updated Start menu shows pinned apps on the top, recommended apps and files in the middle, and installed apps which are grouped by a new category UI on the bottom.
Updated Start menu shows pinned apps on the top, recommended apps and files in the middle, and installed apps which are grouped by a new category UI on the bottom.

Easily launch all your apps with scrollable Start menu

We’re making it easier for you to launch your apps with our updated, scrollable Start menu. With “All” now on the top-level, apps are easily accessible without having to navigate to a secondary page. In addition, we’re introducing two new views to browse and launch your installed apps in the “All” section: category and grid view.

The new default Category view automatically groups your apps by category for quick access to your most used categories and apps. So, if your most used apps are Outlook and Solitaire, you can expect those apps to bubble up to the top in their respective categories. Categories are formed when there are at least 3 apps in each respective category. Otherwise, they will remain in the “Other” category.

Grid view is ordered alphabetically like List view but allows for better scanning of all your installed apps with more horizontal real estate. With new view options to choose from in the “All” section, we’ll remember your last used view so you can reliably launch your apps with the view you prefer most.

Updated Start menu introduces 2 new ways to view installed apps: by category and grid views.
Updated Start menu introduces 2 new ways to view installed apps: by category and grid views.

Experience a larger Start menu with responsive sections

We’re making better use of your screen real estate by adapting the size of the Start menu based on your screen size. Have a larger-screen device? You can expect to see a larger Start menu, by default, so you can see more of your apps and files. On larger devices, users can expect to see 8 columns of pinned apps, 6 recommendations, and 4 columns of categories in the Start menu. On smaller devices, you’ll see 6 columns of pinned apps, 4 recommendations, and 3 columns of categories.

Updated Start menu only shows pinned and installed apps to illustrate that sections within Start are now responsive and can collapse such as the Recommended section.
Updated Start menu only shows pinned and installed apps to illustrate that sections within Start are now responsive and can collapse such as the Recommended section.

Sections within Start are also responsive so you can see more or less of your Pinned and Recommended sections. Have only a few pins? The Pinned section will shrink down to a single row and other sections will slide up. If you’d prefer to not see recommendations, then turn off the following toggles in Settings > Personalization > Start: “Show recently added apps,” “Show recommended files in Start…,” “Show websites from your browsing history,” and “Show recommendations for tips…” If there aren’t any recommendations available, the section will collapse so you can see more of your installed apps.

Toggles in Settings app to turn on/off features in Start.
Toggles in Settings app to turn on/off features in Start.

Seamless cross-device integration with Phone Link

Lastly, we’ve updated Start to continue allowing you to take advantage of powerful cross-device features. Now, you can easily expand and collapse mobile device content using the new mobile device button next to the Search box.

This cross-device integration is generally available for connected Android and iOS devices in most markets and will be coming later in 2025 to the European Economic Area.

[We are beginning to roll this out to Windows Insiders in the Canary, 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 > Start menu.

Changes and Improvements for everyone in the Canary channel

[.NET Framework 3.5]

  • Starting with Build 27965, .NET Framework 3.5 is no longer a Windows Feature on Demand optional component. We encourage customers relying on the legacy framework to move to modern versions of .NET. Customers running business-critical applications that still depend on .NET Framework 3.5 can access a .NET Framework 3.5 standalone installer located here: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2337635. More information about .NET Framework products’ lifecycle can be found here: Lifecycle FAQ – .NET Framework | Microsoft Learn

[Command Line]

  • Edit, a command line text editor, is now delivered with Windows! You can quickly edit a file while in the Terminal app by typing edit followed by the file name. Edit is open source on GitHub and for a full list of its features, check out its docs.

Fixes

[Taskbar and System Tray]

  • If you were having issues with the taskbar not autohiding correctly in the previous flight, that should be resolved now.

[Video Playback]

  • Fixed a recent issue which was causing some videos and games to be unexpectedly red.
  • Fixed an issue that could affect playback of protected content in certain Blu-ray, DVD, and digital TV apps that used Enhanced Video Renderer with HDCP enforcement.

Known issues

[File Explorer]

  • [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue in the latest Canary builds causing File Explorer to crash when transferring files to a network drive.

[Settings]

  • [NEW] Settings may crash when accessing drive information under Settings > System > Storage. This also impacts accessing the drive information from the properties when you right click a drive in File Explorer.

[Lock and login screens]

  • [NEW] We’re investigating an issue in this build where the media controls may not display on the lock screen.

[Power and Battery]

  • We’re investigating reports that sleep and shutdown aren’t working correctly for some Insiders after the latest Canary builds.

source: Windows Blogs

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