Jun 21

Windows 11 Insider Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Build 29613.1000

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 29613.1000 to the Experimental (Future Platforms) Channel.

A few nice tweaks to the sound device settings, this comes in handy when multiple audio devices are connected.

Enjoy updating!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Audio]

  • Following up on our previous improvements, we’re making some more adjustments to Settings > System > Sounds based on your feedback. Namely, we’ve updated the “All sound devices” page so:
    • You now have the ability to change default devices from this page.
    • Each of the devices displayed on this page now has a little volume meter next to it to show if there is audio actively playing.
    • We’ve adjusted the page design slightly so now you can filter whether you’re viewing input or output devices.
    • We’ve added toggles so you can choose if you want to hide or show disabled, disconnected, and unplugged devices on this page.
  • We’ve also updated the input and output audio properties page for devices in Settings to now include jack information for those that need it.

source: Flight Hub

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Jun 21

Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2315

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 28120.2315 to the Experimental (26H1) Channel

A quick update with a few tweaks, all smooth updates here.

Happy Upgrades!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

  • This update includes a small number of minor bug fixes and improvements.

[Accessibility]

  • This update improves caption style responsiveness by redrawing captions immediately for caption style changes. If no current caption is visible, a sample caption string is displayed.

[Audio]

  • This update improves the reliability of the inbox HD Audio driver.

source: Flight Hub

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Jun 21

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8697

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 26300.8697 to the Experimental Channel.

From this build onwards, we’re seeing 26H2 as the version. This aligns with the release that’s planned later this year for all Windows 11 devices, which will be delivered as an enablement package.

An enablement package is a lightweight update that simply activates features already present in the OS. Unlike a full build upgrade, which performs a complete OS replacement and takes longer, an enablement package installs quickly, requires minimal downtime, and carries less risk because it builds on the existing system.

Happy Upgrades!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[General]

  • With today’s build, Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel will see the versioning updated under Settings > System > About (and winver) to version 26H2. For more information, see the Windows Insiders blog.

[File Explorer]

  • We’ve improved the visual consistency and reliability of the Copy dialog in Dark mode, including its launch experience and the expanded progress view.

[Start menu]

  • Improved reliability of Start menu reflecting newly installed or removed apps without requiring sign-out or restart.

[Taskbar]

  • Fixed an issue for Insiders using the new smaller taskbar option, where the system tray might get cut off or pushed off screen.

[Settings]

  • Improved reliability of Settings > Apps > Startup.

[Virtualization]

  • This update addresses an issue that could result in bugchecks citing HYPERVISOR_ERROR (0x20001) and KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (0x1E) errors after installing the latest flights on some devices during system restarts, virtual machine operations, or while running some gaming applications.

source: Flight Hub

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Jun 16

Windows 11 Insider Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Build 29610.1000

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 29610.1000 to the Experimental (Future Platforms) channel.

Glad to see the defender issue resolved, it triggered compliance notifications

All Upgrades went fine here, smooth flights, enjoy upgrading!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[General Reliability]

If you were experiencing a repeated bugcheck (green screen) with the error KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE after the previous flight, that should be resolved now.

[Storage]

Improved the performance when navigating to see storage on large volumes via Settings > System > Storage > Advanced Storage Settings > Disks & Volumes.

[Windows Security]

If you were seeing an erroneous notification saying Windows Defender wasn’t enabled when it actually was after the latest flights, that should be resolved now.

[Other]

Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to unexpectedly see two energy saver entries in Quick Settings recently.

source: Flight Hub

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Jun 16

Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2302

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Build 28120.2302 to the Experimental (26H1) channel.

A few tweaks on this update, install went smoothly on my devices in this channel, Happy Upgrades!

I’ve been testing the screen tint accessibility feature, it’s very useful !

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

  • This update includes a small number of minor bug fixes and improvements.

[General Performance]

  • This update accelerates app launch and core shell experiences such as Start menu, Search, and Action Center.

[Accessibility]

New accessibility setting: Screen tint

  • We’re introducing screen tint, a new accessibility setting that applies a color overlay across your entire display, softening its intensity so it’s easier on your eyes throughout the day. If bright, saturated screens leave you with tired or sensitive eyes by the end of a long session, screen tint can help. 
Screenshot showing UI for screen tint in Accessibility, with color presets and a strength slider.
  • To get started, open Settings > Accessibility (or press Win + U) and look for screen tint under the Vision section. From there you can:
    • Pick from six preset colors or choose a custom color of your own.
    • Adjust the tint strength slider from a subtle wash to full intensity.
  • Night light warms your display to reduce blue light that can interfere with sleep. Screen tint reduces overall screen intensity to ease eye fatigue and light sensitivity during the day. They tackle different problems and you can use both at the same time, one working on warmth and the other on intensity.
  • Note that turning on screen tint will disable color filters, and vice versa. If you currently rely on color filters, you may need to keep screen tint turned off.

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

[Other]

  • Task Scheduler will now persist column width adjustments in task list view across sessions.

source: Flight Hub

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Jun 15

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8687

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Build 26300.8687 to the Experimental Channel.

Smooth upgrades on all Experimeltal (used to be Dev) Channel devices here, Happy Flighting!

Less update reboots due to coordinating patches, drivers and .net updates is starting to roll out in this build, you will start seeing ‘available’ updates, you can install manually or will be installed together with the next update cycle.

a screenshot of Windows Updates showing available updates section
a screenshot of Windows Updates showing available updates section

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Windows Update]

  • As announced in the Windows Update announce blog, we are now bringing a new unified update experience to reduce the number of reboots you see per month. We are starting by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with the monthly quality update, reducing the update experience to a single monthly restart. See the blog for more information.

[File Explorer]

  • Middle click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the Address Bar and the Home page for a more consistent and efficient tabbed navigation experience across File Explorer.
  • Improved screen reader announcements for conflict resolution dialog (“Which files do you want to keep?”) when moving / copying files.
  • Made some more improvements to how File Explorer responds to increased text scaling.

[Search]

  • Finding apps is more forgiving. Search is better at handling typos, dropped letters, extra letters, and partial words for apps. Queries like “utlook” can still find Outlook.
  • Settings results are improving. We’ve made ranking improvements to help more relevant settings appear higher in results.

[Taskbar]

  • Improved reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar.
  • Fixed an issue where tooltips might unexpectedly appear on top of the Start menu icon in the taskbar when using the taskbar in an alternate position. Also fixed a few other visual polish issues when using the taskbar with small icons.

[Windows setup]

  • The digital safety of users and supporting families is central to how we think about the Windows experience. We’re improving information on parental controls and their availability during Windows setup, so families can more easily understand available protections and make informed choices from the very beginning.

[Input]

  • Update: The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, delivering a smoother GIF browsing and sharing experience following the deprecation of Tenor.
Emoji panel using GIPHY as GIF source now
  • Fixed an issue which was causing the mouse cursor to potentially move in the wrong direction in recent Insider builds on secondary monitors when set to portrait mode.

[Remote Recovery Management]

  • Adding recovery remote management plug-in for extending WinRE management capabilities for MDM providers

[Audio]

  • Fixed an issue resulting in audio not working for some Insiders after the latest flights.

[Settings]

  • Fixed an issue impacting the reliability of Settings > Apps > Installed Apps after the latest flights.

[General Reliability]

  • If you were experiencing freezes in the previous flight when interacting with search, Notepad, or certain other scenarios, that should be resolved now.

[Other]

  • When using dark mode, if you open “Run new task” from Task Manager it will now show in dark mode too.
run showing in dark mode when launched from taskmgr

source: Flight Hub

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May 31

Windows 11 Insider Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Build 29599.1000

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft Released Windows 11 Build 29599.1000 to the Experimental (Future Platforms) Channel

Some tweaks improving this channel, smooth flights on alll my devices

Happy Flights!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

  • This update includes platform changes in moving to a new active development build.
  • Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders to unexpectedly see an erroneous message saying they weren’t connected to internet (when they actually were) when signing into their Microsoft account in certain apps recently.
  • This update improves CPU speed display on the Performance page of Task Manager for VMs, so it doesn’t show higher than unexpected numbers after resuming from hibernate.

Known issues

  • We have identified an issue internally causing crashes on AMD machines supporting System Guard, meaning these devices in WIP will not be offered this week’s Experimental (Future Platforms) build.

source: Flight Hub

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May 31

Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28020.2207

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 28020.2207 to the Experimental (26H1) Channel

Quick and smooth updates on all my devices in this channel, no new features for this flight.

Happy Updates!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

  • This update includes a small number of minor bug fixes and improvements.

source: Flight Hub

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May 31

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8553

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 26300.8553 to the Experimental Channel.

Some nice Startmenu improvements are rolling out (gradually)

In a strange turn of events, two of my devices on this channel were signed out of the Teams app after upgrade

Happy Flighting!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Start menu]

This update brings a number of improvements for the Start menu as first outlined in the Making Taskbar and Start more personal Insider blog. This includes:

  • Renamed “Recommended” section to “Recent” in Start and Settings page
  • Section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recommended, and All.
  • Choose between a small and large Start menu, in addition to “Automatic (default)” setting option that’s already available today
  • The option to hide your name and profile picture in Start
  • Redesigned Start menu settings page
 Screenshot showing new start menu customization options.

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Start

[Search]

  • Search by Substring: Files with compound names or content (e.g., MeetingNotesApril, ProjectStatusReport) are now easily discoverable by typing “april” or “status”.

[Taskbar]

  • Fixed a few small visual polish issues when using the taskbar in alternate positions. Thanks Insiders that have been sharing feedback so far!
  • You can now use a touch swipe to invoke the taskbar when using alternate taskbar positions.

Known Issues

[Reset PC]

  • [Fixed] Resetting your PC may get stuck when using “Reset this PC.” To complete the reset successfully, choose the cloud download option (Cloud PBR) instead of local.

source: Flight Hub

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May 25

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8497

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Hi all, last Friday Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 26300.8497to the Experimental Channel.

intresting feature rolled out to my devices: choosing a date to pause updates:

screenshot of settings app shoeing the option to select a target date to pause updates

Happy Upgrades!

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Narrator]

Braille displays now connect instantly with Narrator

  • We’re making refreshable braille displays easier to use in Windows. Narrator now supports displays that use the HID standard — an open industry standard for braille displays. If your display supports HID, simply connect it via USB and start reading — true plug-and-play with no additional setup required. For Bluetooth, pair your HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices just like any other accessory, and you can work wirelessly without being tethered to your PC.
  • Compatible HID displays include models like the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.
  • HID braille displays now work during the initial Windows setup experience (OOBE) over USB — meaning users who are deaf-blind can set up their PC independently, right from the first screen. You can customize braille input and output options anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.

[Accessibility]

New accessibility setting: Screen tint

  • We’re introducing screen tint, a new accessibility setting that applies a color overlay across your entire display, softening its intensity so it’s easier on your eyes throughout the day. If bright, saturated screens leave you with tired or sensitive eyes by the end of a long session, screen tint can help. 
Screenshot showing UI for screen tint in Accessibility, with color presets and a strength slider.
  • To get started, open Settings > Accessibility (or press Win + U) and look for screen tint under the Vision section. From there you can:
    • Pick from six preset colors or choose a custom color of your own.
    • Adjust the tint strength slider from a subtle wash to full intensity.
  • Night light warms your display to reduce blue light that can interfere with sleep. Screen tint reduces overall screen intensity to ease eye fatigue and light sensitivity during the day. They tackle different problems and you can use both at the same time, one working on warmth and the other on intensity.
  • Note that turning on screen tint will disable color filters, and vice versa. If you currently rely on color filters, you may need to keep screen tint turned off.

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

[Magnifier]

  • Touch bars for panning in Magnifier are now off by default. Hiding them gives you a cleaner, less distracting magnified view on touchscreen devices.
  • If you use a touch screen device and prefer on-screen bars for navigating your magnified view, you can turn them back on anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. 
 Screenshot showing UI for Magnifier settings where touch panning bars are off by default.
  • Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Magnifier.

[Windows Ready Print]

  • Last month, we introduced a change where new printer installations use IPP by default when supported to simplify setup and improve reliability (see our third-party driver deprecation timeline: End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows). This month, we’re adding a new toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Default install printers using Windows Ready Print to give you control over this behavior. 
Screenshot showing the ability to toggle Windows Ready Print in Printer preferences.
  • When enabled, Windows installs supported printers using IPP by default. When turned off, Windows may use other available installation methods.
  • This experience is part of our modern print platform, now called Windows Ready Print, designed to deliver a more consistent, reliable, and simplified printing experience.

[Voice Access]

Voice Isolation in Voice Access

  • We’re introducing Voice Isolation, a new option in Voice Access that helps it focus on your voice, even when others are speaking nearby. Whether you’re in a shared office, an open floor plan, or at home with family around, Voice Isolation filters out other voices and background noise so Voice Access can better understand you. All processing happens privately on your device.
  • Getting started
    Voice Access now offers three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition:
    • Voice Isolation — Filters out other speakers and background noise (one-time voice setup required).
    • Remove background noise only — Filters out non-speech sounds like typing or door slams. No additional setup needed.
    • No filtering — Default microphone input with no additional processing.
  • To set up Voice Isolation, select it from the menu and follow the short, guided setup where you’ll read a brief paragraph aloud so Voice Access can learn your voice. It only takes a minute, and your voice data never leaves your device.
Screenshot showing where the voice isolation setting can be found.
 Screenshot showing voice isolation setup.

 

[Input]

  • Fixed an issue in the previous flight causing the IME candidate window not to display for some Insiders when typing in Japanese or Chinese.

[Other]

  • If you were experiencing a cyclical explorer.exe crash after the previous flight (which may have looked like the screen or taskbar blinking and repeatedly refreshing), that should be resolved after updating to this build.
  • Fixed issue causing the Energy Saver quick setting to show twice for some Insiders in recent flights.
  • Fixed issue causing Win + X / right-click on Start in Taskbar to not work for some Insiders in the previous flight.
  • Fixed an issue resulting in the audio volume being unexpectedly muted on certain devices in recent flights.
  • This update improves the reliability of Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) notifications to help prevent the service from becoming unresponsive.
  • Improved reliability of running dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command.

Known Issues

[Reset PC]

  • Resetting your PC may get stuck when using “Reset this PC.” To complete the reset successfully, choose the cloud download option (Cloud PBR) instead of local.

source: Flight Hub

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