Windows 11 Build 22635.3500 (Beta) adds a new Start menu account manager feature

Windows 11 Build 22635.3500 is now the latest release to the Beta channel. It brings a new user interface of the account manager to the Start menu. Besides, there are small UI tweak made to the Settings app, the Share dialog, and Widgets.

Microsoft rolls out some features only for users with Get the latest updates as soon as they're available option enabled. The rest will get them much later. However, keep in mind that even if you enable the option, the new features will anyway be shipped gradually to your PC.

New in Windows 11 Build 22635.3500 (Beta) (option is enabled)

Start Menu

This update begins the rollout of the new Account Manager to the Start menu. If you're signed in with a Microsoft account, the new manager design lets you quickly discover the benefits of your account. The new manager also makes it easier to manage your account settings.

Share

If your Microsoft account uses a Gmail address, you can now send an email to yourself from the Share window and receive it in your Gmail account.

Settings

To ensure you don't lose access to your Microsoft account, a new banner will appear in Settings -> Accounts with an "Add Now" button to add a backup email address if you haven't already done so. It will only appear if you are signed in with a Microsoft account.

A new Game Pass recommendation card has been added to the Settings app home page. It will be displayed if you are actively playing games on your PC. Please note that the main page in Settings is only displayed in the Home and Pro editions if you are logged in with a Microsoft account.

New features for everyone

Widgets

The Widgets window has a new side navigation bar, allowing you to switch between the Widgets section and other integrated dashboards such as Discover.

As part of this change, third-party dashboard developers now have the ability to send notifications to the Widgets button on the taskbar. The company offers to read the documentation on how to implement this function in its Widgets dashboard. In the Widgets -> Settings -> Notifications section, you can enable or disable taskbar notifications for each existing dashboard.

Note. These changes are only available to Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Changes and improvements

Widgets

Improvements have been made to the Widgets button on the taskbar to make its icons clearer. In addition, the set of animated icons has been expanded.

Known Issues

General

• Investigating an issue where Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) may not work after you install this update.
• [New] Developers are working to fix an issue that was causing the Settings app to crash when copying text in some cases. As a workaround, Microsoft recommends using the text extraction feature in the Snipping Tool app.

Copilot for Windows

• [New] Microsoft is aware that some Insiders on the Canary, Dev, and Beta channels have Copilot running automatically after rebooting the computer. The company hopes to fix this issue soon. It is noted that it is not related to the automatic launch, which was tested in early February on the Canary and Dev channels. This feature was discontinued in March.
• Voice Access is not stable with the new Copilot experience for Windows, which now allows Copilot to appear as a normal app window.
• The Windows Ink text input feature in Copilot does not work with the updated Copilot interface for Windows.

Widgets

• [New] Developers are working to fix an issue that causes the Widgets panel to crash when interacting with it.
• Insiders who use the new left-aligned Widgets button layout on the taskbar may experience the following issues:
• Opening the Widgets panel using a touch gesture may not work if the taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• Unpinning Widgets from the taskbar may not work if the taskbar is centered instead of left aligned.
• The widget panel does not display correctly when Copilot is used as a sidebar.
• Enabling or disabling "Widgets" in the taskbar settings may cause the taskbar to refresh.

The official announcement is here.