Windows 11 build 26100.2448 (KB5046740) features improved Windows Setup, Mica enhancements, DISM updates, and more

Windows 11 24H2 Insiders: New Release Preview Build Launched

Microsoft has unveiled a new Release Preview build for Windows 11 24H2 Insiders. Users currently on the 23H2 version may also explore this latest build, designated as 26100.2448, noted under KB5046740. This update addresses several issues, including enhancements to Mica and the Deployment Imaging Service and Management (DISM). Additionally, it introduces an improved Out of Box Experience (OOBE) along with other new features. Below is a comprehensive summary of the changes included in this build:

Gradual Rollout Features

Many enhancements will be gradually rolled out, meaning not all users will receive them immediately. Changes are indicated with bolded text in brackets:

• [Start Menu] New! Pinned applications now feature jump lists accessible via right-click.
• [Taskbar] New! The system tray displays a shortened date and time. Note that the notification bell icon may be hidden when “Do Not Disturb”is activated. Users can view notifications by clicking the date and time, or by adjusting settings in Settings > Date and Time.
• [Touchscreen] New! A new section for managing touchscreen edge gestures is available under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch, allowing users to disable certain gestures.
• [Task Manager]
  • New! Both Disconnect and Logoff dialogs now support dark mode and text scaling.
  • New! The Performance section lists types for each disk.
• [Input Method Editor (IME)] New! The IME toolbar will automatically hide in full-screen apps when entering Chinese or Japanese characters.
• [File Explorer] New! Users can now share content directly to an Android device through the context menu in File Explorer once Phone Link has been set up.
• [IFilters] New! Windows Search has been adapted to run IFilters within Less Privileged App Containers (LPAC), reducing accessibility to sensitive data and minimizing potential risks.
• [Dynamic Lighting Settings] New! A placeholder message will indicate when no compatible device is connected. The update enhances the Wave effect with new directional options.
• [Narrator] New! New functionalities in Narrator scan mode allow users to navigate to the text after a link or jump to lists quickly.
• [Speech in Windows] New! The speech-to-text and text-to-speech features have been refined, particularly for users of Narrator and voice access.
• [Settings] New! The “Tailored Experiences”option is now labeled “Personalized offers”in OOBE.
• [Jump Lists] New! Using Ctrl + Shift while clicking a jump list item opens the application with administrative privileges.
• [DISM] Fixed: The StartComponentCleanup task no longer freezes at 71% with error 6842.
• [PowerShell] Fixed: Issues with the Get-WindowsCapability command failing and requiring a system restart have been resolved.
• [Windows Update] Fixed: The update addresses error code 0x800f0905 during installation.
• [JPG Files] Fixed: The API now retrieves rotation information correctly.
• [Display] Fixed:
  • Resolved issues where app windows clustered in screen corners post-sleep on multiple monitor setups.
  • Improved Mica material rendering, especially with slideshow backgrounds.
• [Mouse] Fixed: Pointer location visualization issues on some displays when the CTRL key is pressed.
• [Clipboard] Fixed: Clipboard history now correctly displays copied content, resolving previous visibility issues.
• [Taskbar] Fixed: Changes to the automatically hiding taskbar now properly display the search functionality.
• [File Explorer] Fixed:
  • Addressed menu expansion issues when using the See more button.

Normal Rollout Fixes

This update also features several additional improvements rolling out currently:

• [HTML Applications (HTA)] Fixed: Optional components are now supported in ARM64 Windows PE.
• [Task Manager] Fixed: Resolved issues on the Users page that caused the app to stop responding.
• [Graphics Device Interface Plus (GDI+)]
  • Fixed property retrieval for image files.
  • Corrected scaling issues when re-encoding images.
• [RAW Format Images] Fixed: Display orientation issues have been resolved.
• [Exporting Chart Objects] Fixed: Crashing when exporting to PDF and XLSX formats has been addressed.
• [Mouse and Xbox Game Bar] Fixed: Errors with mouse locking when using multiple monitors have been fixed.

For more details, visit the official blog post from Microsoft here.

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