Hello Windows Insiders, today marks the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4733 (KB5062651) to the Beta Channel, specifically for those utilizing Windows 11, version 24H2. This update introduces a variety of new features, improvements, and fixes that will be gradually rolled out to Insiders who have opted in for the latest updates via Settings > Windows Update.
New Copilot+ PC experiences
New describe image action in Click to Do
A notable addition is the “describe image” action within Click to Do, designed to provide detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs. This feature allows users to quickly grasp the essence of visual content. Upon first use, the necessary models are established, ensuring that descriptions are generated locally on your device, thereby safeguarding sensitive data.
This feature is currently available for Windows Insiders on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered devices expected shortly. More details on utilizing Click to Do can be found here.
FEEDBACK: Please submit your feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Click to Do.
New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*
Administrator protection
Another exciting development is the upcoming administrator protection feature, which aims to secure floating admin rights for users. This allows administrators to perform all necessary functions while utilizing just-in-time admin privileges. This feature is disabled by default and can be activated through Windows Security under Account protection or via group policy. For further insights on administrator protection, refer to the blog post by Katharine Holdsworth here.
Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*
[General]
- The design of privacy dialogs for app permissions has been updated. When an app requests access to location, camera, microphone, etc., a system modal dialog will now appear, slightly darkening the screen and centering the privacy dialog for enhanced focus.
[Windows Security]
- Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels may notice that Smart App Control is activated in Windows Security while in evaluation mode. If necessary, this feature can be disabled through Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control.
Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*
[Taskbar & System Tray]
- Resolved an issue that caused random File Explorer preview windows to appear when hovering over unrelated app icons in the taskbar.
[Search on the Taskbar]
- Fixed a glitch where the search box in the taskbar displayed animations even when animations were disabled in Settings.
[File Explorer]
- Addressed an underlying issue that prevented file operation progress dialogs from appearing when initiated from apps.
- Improved the performance of zip extraction, particularly for zip files downloaded from the web containing numerous small files.
- Fixed an issue where pinned app shortcuts on the desktop displayed as a white page icon after an update instead of the correct thumbnail image.
- Resolved the flashing white screen issue in File Explorer Home upon launching File Explorer.
The following are fixes for AI actions in File Explorer:
- Corrected an issue where Narrator scan mode did not function properly in the action result canvas window for the Summarize AI action for Microsoft 365 files when reading bulleted lists.
[Live captions]
- Fixed an issue where changes to the opacity of live captions in Settings > Accessibility > Captions > Caption Style had no effect.
[Dynamic Lighting]
- Resolved an issue in Dynamic Lighting where the Background Controller occasionally consumed excessive CPU resources after unlocking the machine.
[Graphics]
- Fixed an issue where game content became out of sync with the cursor position after using ALT + Tab to switch away and back from certain full-screen games, particularly when the game resolution did not match the desktop resolution.
[Settings]
- Addressed a crash issue in Settings when navigating to Time & Language > Language & Region in the previous flight.
[Other]
- Resolved an issue resulting in some users encountering error 2042 in Event View, indicating a problem with Windows Firewall configuration not being read correctly.
- Fixed an underlying issue that caused apps to fail to come to the foreground when interacting with notifications, such as clicking on an Outlook notification.
Known issues
[General]
- Some Windows Insiders may experience a rollback when attempting to install this update, accompanied by a 0x80070005 error in Windows Update. A fix is in progress for those affected. If you encounter this issue, utilizing Settings > System > Recovery > “Fix issues using Windows update” may provide a solution.
- [NEW] Users may encounter multiple error pop-ups regarding unexpected elements when opening Group Policy Editor.
[Start menu]
The following are known issues for Windows Insiders with the new Start menu:
- Touch navigation within the new Start menu may not function reliably, including the lack of support for the swipe-up gesture.
- Drag and drop capabilities are currently limited from “All” to “Pinned.”
[Xbox Controllers]
- Some Insiders are facing issues where using an Xbox Controller via Bluetooth leads to a bugcheck on their PC. To resolve this, open Device Manager, click on “View,” then “Devices by Driver.” Locate the driver named “oemXXX.inf (XboxGameControllerDriver.inf)” and uninstall it.
[Click to Do (Preview)]
The following known issues will be addressed in future updates for Windows Insiders:
- Windows Insiders on AMD or Intel™-powered Copilot+ PCs may experience prolonged wait times on their first attempt to perform intelligent text actions in Click to Do after a new build or model update.
[Input]
- [NEW] The Microsoft Changjie Input method is currently not functioning properly in this build, specifically in word selection. Reverting to the previous version of the IME in Settings should alleviate the issue while a fix is underway.
[Widgets]
- Until support for pinning in the new widgets board experience is completed, pinning will revert you back to the previous experience.
Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel
- Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel on Windows 11, version 24H2 will receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2 via an enablement package (Build 26120.xxxx).
- Updates delivered to the Beta Channel are formatted to provide a preview of enhancements to servicing technology on Windows 11, version 24H2. For further information, visit this link.
- Many features in the Beta Channel are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and gradually expanding as feedback is monitored.
- For those in the Beta Channel eager to access features gradually rolled out to you, you can enable the toggle to receive the latest updates via Settings > Windows Update*. Over time, feature rollouts will increase for those with the toggle activated. If you choose to keep this toggle off, new features will be introduced to your PC over time as they become ready.
- Features and experiences included in these builds may not be released, as we explore various concepts and gather feedback. Features may evolve, be removed, or replaced, and might not be available beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features could appear in future Windows releases when they’re ready.
- Some actively developed features previewed with Windows Insiders may not be fully localized, with localization occurring over time as features are finalized. Please report any localization issues you encounter via the Feedback Hub.
- Be aware that some accessibility features may not function correctly with features like Recall and Click to Do while in preview with Windows Insiders.
- As the Dev and Beta Channels represent parallel development paths, there may be instances where features and experiences debut in the Beta Channel first.
- For a comprehensive overview of which build is in which Insider channel, check out Flight Hub.
Thanks,
Amanda & Brandon
