Hello Windows Insiders, today marks the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870 (KB5050087) to the Beta Channel. This update is exclusively available to those in the Beta Channel who have not yet transitioned to receiving updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2. The changes introduced in Beta Channel builds and updates are categorized into two sections: new features, improvements, and fixes that are gradually rolled out for Insiders who have opted in to receive the latest updates (accessible via Settings > Windows Update), and those that are being made available to all Beta Channel participants. For further details, please refer to the Reminders section at the end of this post.
New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*
Choose what Lock screen widgets appear
The rollout of support for lock screen widgets, previously known as “Weather and more,” has commenced for Windows Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA). Users can now add, remove, and rearrange various lock screen widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, and Traffic. Any widget that supports the small sizing option can be incorporated into this feature. To customize your lock screen widgets, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Initially, this rollout is exclusive to Insiders in the EEA, with plans to extend to other regions in the future. Insiders outside the EEA will continue to experience the “Weather and more” feature.
Additionally, a new group policy titled “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen” is being introduced, allowing IT administrators to disable lock screen widgets without affecting widgets elsewhere on managed PCs. To modify this policy, launch the Local Group Policy Editor app and navigate to Computer Configurations > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets. Currently, this policy is supported only in EEA regions, with plans for future expansion.
FEEDBACK: Please submit your feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Lock screen.
Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*
[File Explorer]
- For Windows Insiders signed in with a work or school account (Entra ID), File Explorer will now display people icons under the “Activity” column on File Explorer Home and in the “Recommended” section at the top of File Explorer Home. Hovering or clicking on a people icon will reveal the Live Persona Card for that individual from Microsoft 365.
Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*
[Start menu]
- Resolved an issue that caused the Start menu to crash for some Insiders when interacting with the letters in the apps list.
- Fixed a color discrepancy that occurred when opening the account manager flyout while using a mixed dark and light custom mode in Settings > Personalization > Colors.
[File Explorer]
- Addressed an issue where minimizing a File Explorer window would result in improper rendering upon restoration.
- Improved File Explorer reliability for some Insiders.
- Fixed a problem that occasionally caused explorer.exe to crash when dropping files into File Explorer during recent flights.
[Other]
- Resolved a high-impact background sihost.exe crash encountered in the latest flights.
Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel
[Other]
This update also includes fixes for the following issues:
- [USB cameras] Fixed: The device not recognizing that the camera is on, an issue that arose after the January 2025 security update.
- [USB audio device drivers] Fixed: The code 10 error message stating, “This device cannot start,” which occurred when connecting to certain external audio management devices.
Known issues
[File Explorer]
- We are currently investigating an issue that causes File Explorer to close slowly for some Insiders when using the X button, which may also affect other title bar buttons.
[Settings]
- The Home page of Settings may experience crashes. If affected, users can still access specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.
- There is a known issue where two new enterprise-specific device info and accessibility preferences cards appear on non-managed PCs signed in with Microsoft accounts.
Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel
- Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will receive updates based on Windows 11, version 23H2 through an enablement package (Build 22635.xxxx).
- Many features in the Beta Channel are rolled out using Control Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and gradually increasing as feedback is monitored.
- For those in the Beta Channel eager to receive features gradually rolled out to you, enable the toggle for the latest updates via Settings > Windows Update. Over time, feature rollouts will expand to all users with the toggle activated. If the toggle is off, new features will be rolled out to your PC over time as they become ready.
- It is important to note that features and experiences included in these builds may not be released, as we experiment with different concepts and gather feedback. Features may evolve, be removed, or replaced and may not extend beyond Windows Insiders. Some may appear in future Windows releases when they’re ready.
- Features in active development previewed with Windows Insiders may not be fully localized, with localization occurring over time as features are finalized. Please report any localization issues via the Feedback Hub.
- Given that 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, please visit Flight Hub.
Thanks,
Amanda & Brandon
