Advertisement

Hidden features that you can enable in Windows 11 Build 25309

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.

Windows 11 Build 22624.1391 (Beta) is out with Voice Access improvements

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.

Windows 11 Build 25309: new enhanced volume mixer, theme-aware icons for Widgets, and more

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.

A new version of ExplorerPatcher fixes issues with Windows 11 “Moment 2” Update

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.

Intel and Microsoft may be preparing for Windows 12

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.

Microsoft officially recommends avoiding apps that restore classic features in Windows 11

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.

Windows 11 may soon allow you to hide date and time from the system tray

Well known Windows enthusiast @PhantomOfEarth has discovered a new work-in-progress feature  in Windows 11. Resources in the latest Dev build give a hint that Microsoft may add an option to hide the date and time from the taskbar. This feature is nothing new, but it disappeared when Microsoft introduced the new Windows 11 taskbar.

css.php
Using Telegram? Subscribe to the blog channel!
Hello. Add your message here.