Traditionally for Dev channel builds, Windows 11 Build 23419 comes with a bunch of hidden features and options that reveal what we will have in the OS in the near future. There are an updated File Explorer Home folder, a new button in the taskbar search box, options to manage recommended websites in Start, and more.
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Hidden features in Windows 11 Build 23419
You can enable all the secrets in this release with ViVeTool. This freeware open-source app manages Windows Component Store. It exposes everything that's hidden or work-in-progress, and can make them visible.
Before proceeding, download the latest version, ViVeTool 0.3.3, from the official GitHub page. Extract the downloaded archive to the c:\vivetool folder for faster access. You will have the c:\vivetool\vivetool.exe path.
To run any of the vivetool commands listed in the chapters below, press Win + X, select Terminal(Admin), and run this or that command.
Updated Home Folder
The Home folder that will eventually become the default location in File Explorer has got a more polished look. It is still pretty limited in features, but finally does something useful. For example, it allows opening profile folders and pins from Quick Access.
Warning! Enabling this new feature negatively affects File Explorer stability. I advise you to play with it in a Virtual Machine.
To enable the newest version of the Home folder, run these commands, one by one, in the elevated Terminal:
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:40729001
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:42105254
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:42295138
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:38664959 (enables 'recommended content' on AAD joined devices, you can omit it)
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:40064642 (enables 'recommended content' on AAD joined devices, you can omit it)
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:41070380 (enables 'recommended content' on AAD joined devices, you can omit it)
- c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:41076133
Restart Windows 11 to apply the changes.
To undo the changes, replace /enable with /reset in each of the commands.
Hotkey to Start Screen Video Recording
Build 23419 allows assigning a dedicated keyboard shortcut Win + Shift + R to the video recording feature of the Snipping tool. It will replace the default screenshot feature that opens when you press these keys.
The command to enable the new behavior is c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:42063280.
Don't forget to restart Windows 11.
Replace /enable with /reset to undo the change.
Option to disable Start badges
Microsoft is working on an option to disable the Start menu badges & notifications. Such notifications will appear in the user account icon menu on Start, and also as a dot badge over the user avatar.
For those who aren't happy with this change, there will be an option under Settings > Personalization > Start.
You can enable with the following command:
c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:41981645
No reboot required for this very feature.
The undo snippet looks as follows: c:\vivetool\vivetool /reset /id:41981645.
Show websites from your browsing history
One more change related to the Start menu is the 'Show websites from your browsing history' option to include or exclude the recently visited web sites from the recommendations in the Start menu. They appear in the "Recommended" or "For you" section at the bottom.
You can show or hide it with the following command:
c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:42905461
Replace /enable with /reset in above command to restore defaults.
Microsoft is gradually rolling out a clickable Bing AI search highlight button in the taskbar. The button opens Bing Chat in Edge. To access it right away, run the following two commands,
c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:43349158c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:43572857
To undo the changes, replace /enable with /reset in both commands.
Note: By enabling the ID 43572857 only (without enabling the ID 43349158) you will get an 'orb' button on the right side of the taskbar search box. It will likely open a web page detailing the day's event in the future.
The ability to disable Date and time in the system tray
Finally, there is the ability to disable Date and time in the system tray, that may be already familiar to you. Windows 11 Build 23419 includes a hidden but working implementation of this new feature. There is a known velocity for it, which is HideSystemTrayDateTimeSetting, ID 41437381.
It is force disabled, so it is the only feature that ViVeTool can't enable for you.
The working code in the OS reads a DWORD called HideSystrayDateTimeValueName in the Registry to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. When it is set to 1, the date disappears from the tray.
Permanently visible notification counter
Microsoft is experimenting with a permanently visible notification counter in the right taskbar corner. Instead of hiding it when you reviewed all the notifications, it may remain permanently visible and show the zero counter badge.
Sadly, it is also related to the hide date/time setting, and cannot be enabled.
The Sound Theme page in Settings
The next thing to leave the classic Control Panel and to land in the new Settings app is the legacy Sound applet. For that, Microsoft has added the Soundscape page to the System > Sound section which is currently a stub. It does not contain any elements as of this writing, but it will soon allow you to change the sound scheme and its events, and enable or disable the startup sound.
More sharing options in the Cloud PC settings
The Cloud PC service provides users with access to a full-fledged version of Windows running in the cloud. This will allow employees to connect to their remote desktop from anywhere via the Internet. It reminds a little how the Xbox Cloud Gaming service works.
The hidden Cloud PC settings have been revamped in Build 23419 with more options that define what you share with a streaming session.
Many thanks to @PhantomOfEarth, @XenoParner and @thebookisclosed for sharing their hard work. All credits go to these guys.
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