Microsoft is expanding its innovative Xbox Mode, previously referred to as the Xbox Full Screen Experience, to a broader audience of Insiders today. This new full-screen interface is now accessible to Canary testers who have opted into the 29500 series builds, as well as those on the Release Preview Channel.
While new Windows 11 Preview builds are rolling out across all Insiders Channels, the most significant updates are concentrated in the Canary and Release Preview Channels. The Dev and Beta testers will receive a set of minor changes, which I will outline below.
Canary Channel
Beginning with build 29570.1000, Canary testers who have chosen to receive the optional 29500 series builds can now explore the new Xbox Mode. This feature can be activated through the Xbox app, Game Bar settings, or simply by pressing Win + F11. The mode offers a refined full-screen interface designed to enhance access to PC games, aligning the PC gaming experience more closely with that of Xbox consoles.
In addition to the Xbox Mode, the optional build 29570.1000 introduces a new Touchpad setting that allows users to adjust the size of the right-click zone on touchpads equipped with a pressable surface. Furthermore, it expands lock screen widget personalization options to all regions.
For those Canary testers who opted to remain on the 28000 series builds, the new build 28020.1863 addresses an issue that hindered some apps from signing in due to a misleading indication of no internet connectivity. Notably, this release does not introduce any new features.
Dev and Beta Channels
The latest Dev build 26300.8276 and Beta build 26220.8271 focus on enhancing reliability across several key areas, including File Explorer, Windows Hello fingerprint authentication, and the Settings app. Insiders will observe that when Location services are disabled in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location, options such as Default location and Allow location override are now visibly disabled (greyed out).
Release Preview Channel
Windows Insiders on the Release Preview Channel are currently previewing the upcoming optional April update for Windows 11, alongside the next Patch Tuesday update slated for May. The following enhancements will be gradually rolled out to Release Preview testers:
- New Xbox Mode: This full-screen experience mirrors what is available in the Canary build 29570.1000 and is also accessible to Dev and Beta Insiders.
- File Explorer improvements: A new “preview anyway” button will be added to the app’s preview pane, allowing users to view files downloaded from the Internet. Additionally, support for new archive formats, including uu, cpio, xar, and NuGet Packages (nupkg), will be introduced.
- Haptic signals: Users equipped with a Surface Slim Pen 2, ASUS Pen 3.0, or MSI pen 2 can enable new haptic feedback effects in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, Touchpad, or Pen > Haptic signals, enhancing actions like aligning objects in PowerPoint or resizing windows.
- Drop Tray: The existing Drag Tray will be rebranded as Drop Tray, featuring a more compact peek view. Its settings will transition from Nearby sharing to Settings > System > Multitasking.
- Agents on Taskbar: Users can now monitor the activities of AI agents, such as the Microsoft 365 Researcher agent, directly from the taskbar by hovering over the Microsoft 365 Copilot icon.
- Voice typing improvements: The voice typing feature on the Windows 11 touch keyboard has been revamped to eliminate the full-screen overlay, showcasing voice typing animations directly on the dictation key.
This update also encompasses reliability enhancements for Windows Hello, the Microsoft Store, the Storage section of the Settings app, File Explorer, and more. For further details, the complete release notes for the KB5083631 update are available for review.
