Category: Windows 11

Microsoft has updated the rebooted Dev channel for Insiders with a new Build 23403. It comes with Keyboard shortcut hints in File Explorer, Live Captions available for more languages, a new Recommended section in File Explorer, improved Voice Access, and much more.

Microsoft has announced big changes to the Windows Insider program. They will help the company start testing builds of the next version of Windows, "Windows 12". For that, Microsoft has created the new Canary channel that will host experimental unstable builds with bleeding edge features.

Microsoft is experimenting with various effects for image backgrounds since Windows 8. You may remember its Parallax effect for the Start screen. Something similar exists in Windows 10, but for the lock screen. With Windows 11, Microsoft is about to bring the AI-powered 'Depth' effects for desktop wallpapers.

One more unannounced feature in Windows 11 Build 25309 is the ability to get rid of VBScript completely. It has become an optional component that can be installed on-demand.

Like many other Dev channel releases, Windows 11 Build 25309 includes several features that you can enable. Some of them Microsoft rolls out gradually, so you can force enable them without waiting. Others are a work-in-progress and weren't announced. Let's review them in detail.

Insiders in the Beta channel are also receiving a portion of new features introduced today in the Dev channel build 25309. Microsoft has released builds 22621.1391 and 22624.1391, with the latter including new Voice Access features. Both builds come as KB5023011, but build 22621.1391 has new features disabled out of the box.

Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25309 to Insiders in the Dev channel. It includes several enhancements and feature updates. A new enhanced volume mixer, theme-aware icons for Widgets, an updated color scheme for Search, more personalized "Let's finish setting up your device" screen, an updated Voice Access are some of those improvements. This build also marks the return of new Snap Layout, but revokes new Desktop Spotlight UI. Here are the changes in detail.

The ExplorerPatcher's developer, Valentin-Gabriel Radu, has reacted on Microsoft's statement on the Windows Health Dashboard that is recommended to uninstall the app before installing Moment 2 Update. He has released a new version of ExplorerPatcher resolves all the issues with Windows 11 version 22H2, Build 22621.1344. Now you can enjoy classic features and familiar appearance of Windows 10 in the latest stable Windows 11.

While Microsoft hasn’t said a single word about Windows 12, looks like it will be the next major version of the OS. As Microsoft mentioned several times, the future Windows releases will heavily use AI here and there. To be successful in this area, Microsoft needs support from its hardware partners, i.e. Intel and AMD. A leak from Intel's internal documentation mentions Windows 12 as the supported OS by the Meteor Lake desktop platform.

Citing compatibility issues, Microsoft now officially recommends you to avoid StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher. These two tools are famous for restoring classic features in Windows 11, such as Windows 10 Start menu, File Explorer with ribbon, the classic taskbar, and much more. A post on the Windows Health dashboard website advises you to install them to avoid Explorer crashes and boot loops.