Microsoft has released new Windows 11 preview builds (version 23H2) numbered 22631.5261 (KB5055629) for Windows Insider participants on the Release Preview channel.

Full build number: 10.0.22631.5261.ni_release_svc_prod3.250411-2216.

↑ List of changes

↑ Gradual rollout

• Narrator:
  • Added a new feature called "Speech Recap" that lets you track what Narrator has spoken and quickly reference it. Using simple keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly access spoken content, follow real-time transcription, and copy what Narrator last voiced.
• Phone Link:
  • Windows 11's Start menu now features a new Phone Link sidebar that offers a quick and convenient way to interact with your connected smartphone. You can make phone calls, send SMS messages, access your photos, and share content between your PC and smartphone.
• Widgets:
  • Web developers can now use existing web content to create dynamic and interactive widgets that can be added to the Widgets panel in Windows 11. Learn more in Microsoft's documentation.
• File Explorer:
  • The Home page in File Explorer now displays personalized elements for easy access to Microsoft 365 content in Windows.
  • Improved performance when extracting archived files in File Explorer, particularly noticeable when unpacking large numbers of small files.
• Share feature:
  • The Share window now lets you quickly edit images before sending them, with options to crop, rotate, or apply filters.
• Start menu:
  • Fixed an issue where pinned app pages couldn't be switched using touch input in the Start menu.
  • Fixed an issue where the "Sign out" button and additional options might not appear in the account manager in the Start menu when using enlarged text size.
• Taskbar:
  • Fixed an issue where arrow keys worked in the wrong direction after using WIN + T in Arabic or Hebrew language systems.

↑ Available to all users

• Sign-in:
  • This update fixes an issue affecting the USBxHCI controller and all USB-connected devices on PCs based on the latest Intel processor architecture. The built-in USB camera won't work for Windows Hello sign-in unless you manually disable Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS). To disable ESS, go to Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → Advanced settings → Sign-in with external camera or fingerprint reader → toggle to ON. If you created a Windows Hello container in Windows 11 version 23H2, this might prevent you from using ESS after upgrading to Windows 11 version 24H2.
• Server Message Block (SMB):
  • Fixed an issue where Excel files hosted on SMB shares with Access Based Enumeration enabled that contain links to multiple other files on network shares might open slower than usual.
• Xbox:
  • Fixed an issue with Xbox Elite wireless controllers running certain firmware versions where the keyboard might stop working and show an error indicator in Device Manager.
  • Fixed an issue where the driver verifier would stop responding during game controller driver certification, affecting Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing.
• Windows kernel vulnerable driver blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b):
  • Added new drivers vulnerable to Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks to the blocklist.

Happy updating!

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