In this article, we will talk about the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build for the Beta Channel, which is Build 22635.2771.
Microsoft is making some changes to the Beta Channel:
- They will no longer release 2 different builds for the Beta Channel, and everyone will now be on the same build
- Insiders who want all the new features will need to toggle on the get the latest updates as they are available setting in Windows Update
- Features will be tested in 2 different ways: new features, improvements, and fixes that are being gradually rolled out for Insiders who have turned ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available and then new features, improvements, and fixes gradually rolling out to everyone in the Beta Channel.
Moment 5 Update
Related to the next Moment Update in Windows 11 23H2, we now know that all the Features that require the Get the latest Updates as soon as they are available toggle to be on will be present in the Windows 11 Moment 5 Update, which could be released sometime in February.
Features that will be part of the Moment 5 Update
Narrator App Improvements
- Microsoft is introducing previews for natural voices of 10 new locales launched in September 2023. As a reminder, those natural voices include Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Japanese, English (UK), French, Portuguese, English (India), German and Korean.
- They are also adding Enhanced image consumption experience in the Narrator
- In Microsoft Word, Narrator will now announce the presence of a draft comment, a resolved comment, a bookmark, or the availability of accessibility suggestions when reading text in the document.
Windows Share Changes
- Microsoft have significantly improved nearby share transfer speed for users on same network. Before these changes, users had to be on the same private network but now users just have to be on the same network, which could be public or private. You can quickly turn on nearby share via Quick Settings and simply right-click on a local file in File Explorer, choose “Share”, and choose to share to a device listed under Nearby Share in the Windows share window.
- The Windows share window will now only show apps under “Share using” that are tied to the account you are signed into Windows with – either Microsoft account (MSA) or Microsoft Entra ID (previously Azure Active Directory). If you are signed in with an MSA, you will see Microsoft Teams (free) instead of Microsoft Teams (work or school) and not both for example.
- If you’re signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts will appear in the Windows share window to quickly share to.
- If you turn on nearby sharing via quick settings or directly in Settings and you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, it will turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on so nearby sharing will work as expected. If you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it will also turn off nearby sharing.
Fixes in this Build
Narrator
- Fixed an issue where Narrator was not correctly announcing the selected item in combo boxes when users try to change the combo box value using key combination Control + up or down arrow.
- Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing old dialog names even after users navigate to new dialog on few web pages.
- Fixed an issue where Narrator was not reading Role of a control in tables on the web while using table navigation commands CTRL + ALT + Arrow keys.
- Fixed an issue in Microsoft Excel where Narrator was not consistently reading any item in the auto-complete list that comes when writing a formula.
- Addressed an issue where Narrator was not announcing the selected state of menu items in few applications such as device manager.
- Fixed an issue where Narrator was announcing both the unselected value and the newly selected value in elements such as date fields or any elements that are formatted as tables.
Magnifier
- Fixed an issue in Magnifier settings page where the text below “voice speed” slider was not following the color contrast guidelines.
Settings
- Fixed an issue where Home was unexpectedly showing some users that there was NaN% storage left.
Other
- Fixed an issue which was causing the share window to crash for some Insiders recently.
Snipping Tool Update
Microsoft is rolling out the Snipping Tool (version 11.2310.49.0) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel improving HDR display support. Screenshots and screen recording on displays with HDR enabled should be able to better display colors.
Features that are available for everyone (not Moment 5)
Copilot in Windows
Microsoft is beginning to roll out the ability to use Copilot in Windows with ALT + TAB. Using the ALT + TAB hotkey now displays the thumbnail preview for Copilot in Windows among the other thumbnail previews of open windows, which you can switch between by pressing Tab. This change does not change the ALT + TAB experience in Windows 11. Copilot only shows in ALT + TAB if Copilot is invoked from the taskbar.
Fixes for everyone in this Build
- We fixed the issue that was causing Snipping Tool to crash when taking a capture on Arm devices.
- This update addresses an issue that stops File Explorer from opening.
- Fixed an issue where Settings Home might show a prompt to sign into your Microsoft account, and fail to sign in if you tried to use it, even though Settings itself showed you were already signed in.
For more information about this Build, you can check this article from the Microsoft Blog.
For a more in-depth presentation of the New Build, you can watch the video below from the YouTube channel.
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