Microsoft has unveiled the Windows 11 23H2 Release Preview Channel build 22631.4387, tagged with KB5044380, aimed at participants in the Windows Insider Preview program. This version is set to introduce several features gradually, including an innovative gamepad keyboard and more.
Below is a summary of the changes:
Gradual Implementation
The enhancements and features outlined below may not be instantly available to all users, as they are scheduled for a gradual rollout. Areas highlighted in brackets indicate the specific aspects of the update.
[Start menu]
New! Users can now directly access their mobile device content from the PC’s Start menu. This includes checking battery levels and connectivity, as well as retrieving voice messages, calls, and photos. You can also seamlessly continue your recent activities. Currently, this feature is exclusive to Android users integrated with Phone Link, with iOS support expected in the future. To manage this functionality, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Start.
New! The “All apps”section has been rebranded simply as “All.”
[Gamepad Keyboard] New! This update introduces a new on-screen keyboard layout specifically for gamepad use, allowing Xbox controller navigation and typing. It includes button accelerators, with the X button designated for backspace and the Y button for the spacebar. For enhanced usability, the keyboard keys are vertically aligned.
[Notifications] New! You now have the ability to disable suggestions regarding the disabling of notifications from certain applications. By selecting the ellipses (…) within a notification, you can turn the suggestions off. Alternatively, adjust this setting via Settings > System > Notifications by locating “Notification Suggestions” in the senders list, which will appear post notification receipt.
[Settings] New! The “Tailored Experiences” feature is now called “Personalized offers” in the out-of-box experience (OOBE). You can access this on the Recommendations and offers page under Settings > Privacy & security. Here, you also have the option to disable the setting that reports device information to enhance Windows.
Standard Rollout
The following features and fixes are part of this update and will be rolled out accordingly. Areas emphasized in brackets reference specific elements of the update.
[Copilot Key Settings] New! Users can customize the Copilot key on their keyboards. On newer devices, pressing this key launches the Copilot app, while signing into a Microsoft Entra ID account brings up the M365 app. Additionally, users have the option to set the key to open a different application or the search function. Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Text input to configure this. The targeted application must be in a signed MSIX package to ensure it meets security and privacy requirements. Note that changing this setting has no effect if your keyboard lacks a Copilot key.
[Battery Consumption] Fixed: Resolved an issue where devices excessively drained battery power during Modern Standby.
[Microsoft Teams] Fixed: Addressed an issue preventing users from joining Teams meetings via Outlook reminders.
[VM Switch] Fixed: Rectified a stop error caused by a vmswitch when utilizing Load Balancing and Failover (LBFO) teaming across two virtual switches on a virtual machine (VM), where one switch used SR-IOV.
[Collector Sets] Fixed: Ensured proper closure of collector sets when exceptions occur during initialization or operation, preventing the command to stop a collector set from becoming unresponsive.
[Product Activation Phone Numbers] Fixed: Introduced new activation phone numbers for various regions.
[Multi-Function Printer (MFP)] Fixed: Corrected an issue where specific network command texts were printed when connected via USB and undesired.
[Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA)] Fixed: Updated profiles for select mobile operators in this release.
[Windows Hello for Business] Fixed: Addressed the issues with the PIN reset link labeled “I forgot my PIN” on the credentials screen.
[Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b)] Fixed: Expanded the list to include drivers at risk of Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
[WebView2 Applications] Fixed: Resolved detection issues for inputs from Xbox 360 and Bluetooth controllers.
[Bluetooth] Fixed: Corrected an issue with an application becoming unresponsive due to a memory leak in the device.
For a comprehensive overview, visit the full blog post here.
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