Windows 11 Build 22624.1680 (Beta) updates Widgets and app pinning

Microsoft has updated the Beta channel with two new builds. Windows 11 Build 22624.1680 includes a number of new features, and Build 22621.1680 has them disabled. You will find Widgets improvements, including three column UI and new animations, more flexible app pinning to the taskbar and setting default apps, and several fixes.

What's new in Windows 11 Build 22624.1680 (Beta)

Widget improvements

Microsoft is testing an updated three-column widget panel (if the device supports it) that has a distinct demarcation between the widget and newsfeed sections. This will allow users to access content from their apps and services quickly, while also allowing them to take a break from viewing personalized news content.

This change is not yet available to all Insiders on the Beta channel. Microsoft wants to collect feedback from a small group of users before the change is made available to all Insiders.

Changes and improvements in both builds

App management

This build includes the previously announced improvements for pinning apps in Windows 11. Microsoft has expanded the current URI scheme (the ms-settings protocol) for the Settings app. This enables the app to open its page in Settings, where users can designate it as the default app or modify its file associations. Also, a new feature for pinning apps to the taskbar with a confirmation is coming in future builds.

Widgets

Microsoft has added animated icons from widgets on the taskbar. The animation is triggered when you hover over or click the Widgets button on the taskbar, or when a new notification is received from a widget. Icons for weather and finance are currently supported.

Fixes in build 22624.1680

File Explorer

If keyboard shortcut hints are available in the context menu:

• • Fixed an issue where Shift + right-clicking on a file or folder would not open the "Show advanced options" menu.
  • Changes have been made so that Narrator announces keyboard shortcut information more clearly when you press a context menu key.

Input

Fixed an issue resulting in the touch keyboard and PIN entry pad not appearing on the login screen on touch screen devices.

Live Captions

• Fixed an issue where the text of Live Captions was cut off when using languages ​​other than English.
• Fixed an issue where the language feature installation progress on the Language and Region page was hidden.
• All required files are now installed on ARM64 devices for advanced speech recognition support. After changing the language in the subtitle menu, you no longer need to restart the Live Subtitle feature. However, you need to uninstall any installed speech packs under Settings -> Applications -> Installed Applications that were installed prior to implementing this patch, and then reinstall from the Language and Region page.

Notifications

Fixed an issue that caused 2-factor authorization (2FA) codes to not be recognized if they were enclosed in parentheses.

Task Manager

• Fixed an issue where searching for "Host Service" on the Processes page did not return any results.
• Improved the performance of the Expand All / Collapse All options on the Processes page.
• Fixed an issue where the search icon could overlap on top of the Task Manager icon in the title bar.
• The search field should no longer be clipped at the top when the window is maximized to full screen.
• Fixed an issue that affected the stability of the Task Manager.
• Double-clicking the title bar of the Task Manager window should now expand the window to full screen again.

Fixes in both builds

• New! Firewall settings have changed in this update. Now you can configure rules for application groups.
• This update fixes an issue that affected the legacy version of Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) and the new Windows LAPS feature. Because of it, it was not possible to manage the configured local account password. This was happening after installing a legacy version of LAPS from an .msi file on devices that had the April 11, 2023 update applied and had the legacy LAPS policy installed.
• Added support for Daylight Savings Time for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Fixed an issue that could cause an error with the apphelp.dll file in applications that use DirectX along with the old Intel graphics driver.
• Fixed an issue with Resilient File System (ReFS) that prevented the operating system from starting correctly, resulting in a BSOD.
• Fixed an issue with protected content where, after minimizing a window, that content would continue to appear, for example, in the window thumbnail on the taskbar, when it shouldn't.
• Fixed an issue where disabling the Unified Write Filter (UWF) using a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) call could cause the device to stop responding.
• Fixed an issue with the Chinese input method where the first suggested item was not fully displayed.
• Fixed an issue with SMB Direct that could cause endpoints to be unavailable on systems using multibyte character sets.
• Fixed an issue with Mobile Device Management (MDM) that resulted in an exception when trying to print.
• Fixed an issue affecting the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) process that could cause it to stop responding. This caused the device to reboot with error 0xc0000005 (STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION).
• Fixed an issue with IE mode in Microsoft Edge that caused the window manager to become unresponsive.
• Fixed an issue with Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies that prevented them from being applied to the Secure Kernel when Secure Boot was enabled.
• Changed application icons for some mobile providers.
• Fixed an issue with MySQL that caused commands not to work in Windows Xenon containers.
• Fixed an issue resulting in Task View being displayed in the wrong place when minimizing a full-screen game using the Win+Tab shortcut.
• Fixed an issue that occurred when using a PIN to sign in to Windows Hello for Business. Authorization to Remote Desktop Services could fail with a "Request not supported" error.
• Fixed an issue with IE mode in Microsoft Edge that caused pop-ups to appear in the background instead of the foreground.
• Fixed an issue with administrator account lockout policies. GPResult and Resultant Set of Policy did not report their application.

Known Issues

• Search on the taskbar:
  • If you have a Bing button in the search bar on your taskbar and you restart your computer, you may see an important event from the daily rotation for some time before the Bing button returns to its place.
• Widgets:
  • [New] When first opening the widget pane, you may briefly see the widget/card placeholders from the old two-column layout, even if the device supports a three-column layout.

Source: Microsoft