Windows 11 25H2 Update: Emoji 16, Enhanced Accessibility Features, and More in Build 26220.6682

Microsoft Unveils New Windows 11 Preview Builds

Microsoft has introduced two exciting new preview builds for Windows 11 within the Dev and Beta Channels. Insiders accessing the Dev Channel can explore build 26220.6682, while Beta Channel users will experience build 26120.6682. These updates incorporate significant enhancements, including improvements to Click to Do for Copilot+ PCs, novel accessibility features, suggestions from Copilot in the Start menu, support for Emoji 16, and much more.

Changelog Highlights

Click to Do (Preview)

The following updates are now available for the Click to Do feature on Copilot+ PCs:

Enhanced Copilot Prompt Box: This new feature simplifies interactions with Microsoft Copilot, allowing users to enter custom prompts in a dedicated text box. These prompts can be submitted alongside selected on-screen content. Automated suggestions will appear below the text box, powered locally by Phi-Silica (note that text selection support is currently available only in English, Spanish, and French).Insiders in the EEA and China will not access this feature yet.
Visual Enhancements for Gestures: New animations associated with the right-edge gesture in Click to Do enhance user experience, providing clearer visual cues during interaction.
Action Tags: Newly introduced action tags in Click to Do’s context menu assist users in discovering popular AI-powered functionalities.
The Summarize action for text entries has been optimized for greater brevity and clarity.

Start Menu Developments

The Recommended section of the Start menu will now include examples of prompts for the Copilot app, such as creating images with Copilot, to enhance user interaction.

Introducing Emoji 16

The Emoji 16.0 update brings a carefully selected array of new emojis—one from each significant category—crafted to resonate with a wide range of cultures. Users will find these emojis available in the emoji panel:

Face with Bags Under Eyes: Symbolizes exhaustion or a need for rest.
Fingerprint: Represents identity and security.
Root Vegetable: Portrays healthy eating and gardening.
Leafless Tree: Signifies winter or dormancy.
Harp: A classic symbol of music with historical significance.
Shovel: Utilized in gardening or metaphorically in overcoming challenges.
Splatter: A fun and expressive emoji.

Gaming Enhancements

There are improvements for Xbox controllers, including a short press on the Xbox button to access Game Bar, while a long press will introduce Task View. Holding down the Xbox button will continue to power down the game controller.

Advancements to Narrator

The Narrator feature has been refined to provide a more reliable and natural experience while working with documents. Key improvements include:

Smoother Voice Feedback: Reduced pitch changes when announcing headings or errors.
Seamless Footnote Navigation: Improved navigation and clarity for footnotes in documents.
Consistent Reading Flow: Enhanced efficiency in continuous reading of long texts.
Accurate Comment Reading: Improved tracking of focus when moving between document content and comments.

List Management Enhancements

Consistent Announcements: Lists are announced in a coherent manner across all navigation methods.
Complete List Reading: Full content is announced for list items that span multiple lines.
Navigational Improvements: Users can navigate list items using Ctrl + Up/Down keys.

Table Navigation Features

Quick Navigation Commands: New shortcuts for efficient table navigation.
Improved Table Boundary Guidance: Accurate announcement of when table boundaries are reached.
Streamlined Selection Feedback: Clear announcements when selecting multiple cells.
Non-uniform Table Awareness: Alerts for non-standard table structures.

Settings and Miscellaneous Updates

The Advanced Settings feature is being reintroduced, although the long path and virtual workspace options are temporarily disabled for troubleshooting purposes.

New Reminders for Subscribers

A new reminder feature dubbed “SCOOBE”(Second Chance Out of Box Experience) has been introduced, aiding users in managing their Microsoft subscriptions efficiently.

Resolved Issues and Known Bugs

General Fixes

Resolved a bug affecting PCs that caused them to crash (green screen) during hibernation.

Taskbar Improvements

Enhancements made for taskbar reliability while enabling “automatically hide the taskbar”.
Fixed issues that hindered user interaction with desktop applications above the taskbar.

File Explorer Updates

Rectified visibility issues in the Shared section when empty.
Fixed bugs preventing thumbnail display for certain video files.
Resolved context menu interaction problems.

Lock and Login Screen Fixes

Fixed a crash issue occurring on the lock screen when using the power button.

Start Menu Enhancements

Resolved issues that caused the Start menu to fail in dismissing and scrolling accurately.

Audio and Controller Issues

Addressed audio issues in apps using the Network Device Interface (NDI).
Resolved Bluetooth-related crash issues with Xbox Controllers.

Outlook for Developers

Announced upcoming enhancements for PIX on Windows, estimated for release by the end of September.

For a comprehensive overview of all updates, refer to the [Dev Channel announcement] and [Beta Channel announcement].

Source & Images