Time for a new Build of the Dev channel. Lots of news and very interesting in this week’s Build. Also, there is a new Build in Canary but without a changelog. Let’s see all the news.
We’re back with more new builds for #WindowsInsiders! Build 25393 is available for the Canary Channel and Build 23481 is out for the Dev Channel! ^JH
Canary – (not blog post)
Dev – https://t.co/WMqiFRjZFm pic.twitter.com/dUEIutPjTQ—Windows Insider Program (@windowsinsider) June 14, 2023
What’s New in Build 23481
Improvements for Windows Ink
Windows Ink is being modernized to allow users to ink directly in the editing fields. In addition, we’re improving the accuracy of recognition technology and a strikethrough gesture for when users need to make edits. The goal of Windows Ink is to allow users to use their pen and handwrite anywhere they can write on their Windows device.
These new Windows Ink enhancements only support English (US) at this time, but stay tuned for further language support. This new experience can be managed through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen and Windows Ink in Shell Handwriting. And please take a look at some of the known issues for Windows Ink below.
Changes to File Explorer folder options
They’re removing a handful of old settings in Folder Options in File Explorer as part of an effort to clean up the number of settings for File Explorer. Many of these are legacy tweaks that have been around for years and are not regularly used by Windows 11 users.
The following settings will no longer appear in Folder Options in File Explorer:
- Hide folder merge conflict.
- Always show icons, never thumbnails.
- Show file icon on thumbnails.
- Show file type information in folder tips.
- Hide protected operating system files.
- Show drive letters.
- Show tooltip for folder and desktop items.
- Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
- Use the share wizard.
(Note: These settings can still be accessed through registry keys.)
New widget: Session Focus
We’re starting to roll out a new Focus Session widget as part of an update to the Clock app (version 11.2305.6.0 and higher) through the Microsoft Store for Windows Insiders on the Canary and Dev channels. With this new widget, you’ll be able to start and quickly stop focus sessions on your device.
Build 23481 Changes and Improvements
Taskbar and system tray
- Never Merge mode, which lets you view each app window on the taskbar individually, and which began rolling out with Build 23466, is now available to all Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel.
- Starting with this build, Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free. It is pinned to the taskbar by default and can be unpinned like other apps on the taskbar. Stay tuned for more improvements as we continue to improve Microsoft Teams – Free with more features and improvements.
File Browser
- The ability to launch and merge tabs in File Explorer, which started rolling with Build 23471, is now available to all Windows Insiders on the Dev channel.
voice access
- The new text authoring experiences in Voice Access that started rolling out with build 23466 are now available to all Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.
Build 23481 fixes
Dev Drive
- Fixed an issue where past AV filters could be attached to your Dev Drive on reboot.
- Fixed an issue that could cause a bugcheck when using Dev Drive.
File Browser
- Fixed an issue where File Explorer context menu icons could appear blurry.
- Fixed an issue where sync status icons for files backed up to a storage provider were not displayed reliably.
- Fixed an issue where authentication failed on the File Explorer home page where the “Login” button would appear, but clicking it would not bring up the authentication dialog.
- Updated the “Show files from Office.com” text in the folder options to “Include information based on account, recent files, favorites and recommended”.
- Using CTRL + V to paste an image into the Gallery now pastes the image into the default image folder (default folder can be set in Collection > Manage collection in Gallery).
- If you hover over the details button in File Explorer, the tooltip will no longer block the window’s close button.
Fixed the following issues for Insiders with the modernized address bar in File Explorer:
- Fixed the direction of the search icon inside the tab when performing a search in File Explorer.
- Mitigated an issue where pressing Tab or Shift+Tab from the command bar would not place focus inside the current folder.
- Fixed an issue where if focus was placed in the address bar (to edit the path), you couldn’t tab to move focus out of it.
- If the current path is longer than the space available in the address bar, some space has now been added so that you can continue clicking and go into edit mode.
Fixed the following issues for Insiders using the upgraded version of File Explorer:
- Fixed an issue where hovering over folders in the Quick Access section of Start would cause the name to disappear and the icon to slide to the side if you had checkboxes enabled.
- Drag and drop should now work again in the Favorites or Quick Access sections.
Search in the taskbar
- Fixed an issue where navigating the taskbar search dropdown using keyboard arrow keys did not work as expected.