Windows 11 Build 22631.4387 (Release Preview) brings with it several new features

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 22631.4387 to Insiders in the Release Preview channel. It comes via KB5044380 and applies to version 23H2 (Build 22631). It is notable for adding a Phone Link flyout to the Start menu, a new GamePad layout for the touch keyboard, an option to change what the Copilot key does. It also includes several fixes. Some of the new additions are coming gradually.

Features in Gradual Rollout

Start menu

You can directly access content on your mobile device from the Start menu on your PC. Using this feature, you can view your device’s battery status and connectivity, access your voice messages, calls, and photos, and pick up where you left off with the latest activities on your device. Only Android users who are already connected using Phone Link can get this feature. iOS support will be coming later. To manage this feature, go to Settings > Personalization > Start.

Also, “All apps” has the new name, “All.”

Gamepad keyboard

The new layout can be picked from the keyboard hamburger-like menu, similarly to other now-classic views. Visually, it looks like a compact keyboard with advanced shortcuts. E.g. the X accelerator is available for backspace, Y for spacebar - both are familiar to Xbox controller users.

Notifications

You can now stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipses (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there. Look for “Notification Suggestions” in the senders list. An entry will only appear in the list after you receive a notification.

Settings

Tailored Experiences has been renamed to Personalized Offers in the out-of-box experience (OOBE). You can access it on the Recommendations and Offers page. To adjust this setting, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, where you can disable the option that shares device data to improve Windows.

Features available instantly

Copilot key settings

You can configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. On new devices, the key opens the Copilot app. If you sign in to your account using a Microsoft Entra ID, the key opens the M365 app. You can make the key open a different app or open Search.

To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Text input. To make the key open a different app, the app must be in a signed MSIX package. This ensures that the app meets security and privacy standards to keep you safe. If your PC’s keyboard does not have a Copilot key, changing this setting will do nothing.

Fixes

• [Battery use] Fixed: A device uses too much battery power while the device is in Modern Standby.
• [Microsoft Teams] Fixed: The issue stops you from joining Teams meetings when you select an Outlook meeting reminder.
• [vmswitch] Fixed: A vmswitch triggers a stop error. This occurs when you use Load Balancing and Failover (LBFO) teaming with two virtual switches on a virtual machine (VM). In this case, one virtual switch uses single root Input/Output virtualization (SR-IOV).
• [Collector sets] Fixed: They do not close properly when an exception occurs during startup or while the set is active. Because of this, the command to stop a collector set stops responding.
• [Product activation phone numbers] Fixed: This update adds new phone numbers for several regions.
• [Multi-Function Printer (MFP)] Fixed: When you use a USB cable to connect to it, it prints specific network command text when you do want it to.
• [Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA)] Fixed: This update brings profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
• [Windows Hello for Business] Fixed: PIN reset does not work when you select the “I forgot my PIN’ link on the credentials screen.
• [Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b)] Fixed: This update adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• [WebView2 apps] Fixed: They do not detect input from Xbox 360 and Bluetooth controllers.
• [Bluetooth] Fixed: An app stops responding because of a memory leak in a device.

Source: Microsoft