Hello Windows Insiders, today marks the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2510 (KB5048780) to the Dev Channel. This update introduces exciting new experiences tailored for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs, including the innovative Recall feature and an expansion of Click to Do (Preview) beyond Recall in Windows.
Join the Dev Channel on your Copilot+ PC
To join the Dev Channel on your Copilot+ PC, follow these simple steps:
- Register for the Windows Insider Program on our website using your Microsoft account or Microsoft Entra ID. Ensure this is the same account you use to sign into your Copilot+ PC.
- After registration, navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program on your PC and select the Get Started button.
- When prompted to link an account, choose the one you are signed into Windows with, ensuring it matches the registered account.
- Select the Dev Channel and reboot your device.
- Upon rebooting and signing back into your Copilot+ PC, go to Settings > Windows Update to check for updates; Build 26120.2510 should be available for download.
- Your PC will download the update and reboot to complete the process.
New experiences for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs
The latest experiences are rolling out to Windows Insiders on AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs. To ensure optimal functionality of features like Recall, please install all available driver updates from Windows Update. Activate the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle under Settings > Windows Update. Simply click the “Check for updates” button to install any new drivers delivered to you.
If you wish to test the latest driver versions directly from our partners before they reach Windows Update, you can download them directly from our site.
Recall (Preview)
After a successful preview on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, we are thrilled to expand the Recall feature to Windows Insiders on AMD and Intel®-powered devices. This includes the Click to Do functionality within Recall. With the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs, users can swiftly locate and return to apps, websites, images, or documents simply by describing their content.
We encourage you to explore Recall and provide feedback, issues, or suggestions through in-experience links or the Feedback Hub. We also acknowledge the vital contributions of researchers and the security community in refining Recall. Insiders in this group are invited to share feedback on Recall’s updated security and privacy architecture through our Windows Insider Preview Bug Bounty Program.
For a comprehensive guide on opting in to use Recall and saving snapshots on your Copilot+ PC, refer to our dedicated blog post. As we gradually roll out Recall in preview, it supports select languages, including Chinese (simplified), English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Note that content-based and storage limitations apply, and availability will expand over time, including to the European Economic Area (EEA).
As a reminder, when previewing new features with Windows Insiders, you may encounter known issues listed at the bottom of this blog post; we highly recommend reviewing them.
FEEDBACK: Please submit feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Recall or through in-experience links.
Cocreator in Paint
Microsoft Paint continues to be your creative ally, now enhanced with the Cocreator feature in the latest update (version 11.2410.1002.0 and higher) for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs. Cocreator empowers users to generate stunning artwork with AI assistance. Simply enter a text prompt, and Cocreator will create beautiful artwork based on your input—all at no cost and without a subscription.
We are in the process of rolling out Cocreator, so it may not yet be available on all devices.
FEEDBACK: Please submit feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Paint.
Restyle Image and Image Creator in the Photos app
The Microsoft Photos app has been updated to introduce Image Creator and Restyle Image features for AMD and Intel® Copilot+ PCs. These AI-powered tools unlock new creative avenues, all powered locally for swift performance.
Image Creator allows users to generate new images from simple text prompts. For instance, typing “a serene lake at sunset” or “a vibrant city skyline at night” will prompt the AI to create a gallery of images based on your description. Whether seeking inspiration or crafting the perfect visual, Image Creator offers limitless creative potential.
Restyle Image enables users to take existing photos and apply various artistic styles, effortlessly giving vacation snapshots a vintage flair or transforming casual images into striking modern art.
To access these features, update your Photos app to version 2024.11120.1001.0 or higher via the Microsoft Store. This update is currently rolling out, so it may not be available immediately. We encourage you to share your creations with us!
FEEDBACK: Please submit feedback in the Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Apps > Photos.
New ways to engage with Click to Do (Preview)
In addition to expanding Click to Do support with Recall for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs, this update introduces new methods for engaging with Click to Do outside of Recall. Users can now activate Click to Do by pressing WIN key + mouse-click, WIN + Q, through the Snipping Tool menu, or by searching “Click to Do” in the Windows taskbar. These enhancements simplify immediate actions on-screen content.
We are also working on introducing more intelligent text actions to enhance your Click to Do experience further. By using WIN key + mouse-click or WIN + Q to select a text block, users will see options to Summarize or Rewrite their text for a more casual or formal tone.
Click to Do leverages Phi Silica, an on-device Small Language Model (SLM) integrated into Windows. Results from this local model will appear inline, and if users are satisfied with the rewrites, they can easily copy them to their clipboard for use elsewhere. These intelligent text actions are currently available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs with English language settings, with support for AMD and Intel®-powered devices coming soon.
The intelligent text actions utilize Microsoft’s secure cloud to enhance text results, ensuring prompts and responses are safe and appropriate, with data automatically deleted. Screen analysis occurs locally, and content is only shared when users choose to complete an action, such as copying text or sharing an image for visual search.
Users can continue to utilize the same image and text actions from the Click to Do experience in Recall, including on AMD or Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs. Click to Do in Recall recognizes text and images in snapshots, offering AI-powered actions. Simply press the Windows logo key and left mouse-click on any image or text in a snapshot to access options like Copy, Save, Share, Visual Search with Bing, and more.
To use Click to Do, Recall must be enabled on your Copilot+ PC, but opting into snapshot saving is not required.
For more information on using Click to Do, visit our dedicated page.
FEEDBACK: Please submit feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Click to Do.
Other changes included in this Dev Channel update
This update (Build 26120.2510) encompasses additional changes and improvements available to Windows Insiders across all Windows 11 PCs, alongside features exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. These changes are categorized as follows:
- New features, improvements, and fixes gradually rolled out for Insiders who have enabled the toggle for the latest updates (via Settings > Windows Update).
- New features, improvements, and fixes rolling out to all users in the Dev Channel.
For further details, please refer to the Reminders section at the end of this blog post.
New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*
Modernized Windows Hello
At Microsoft, our commitment to security and enhancing user experiences remains steadfast. Following the launch of enhanced passkey features in September 2023, we are now revamping the Windows Hello user experience. This significant update aligns Windows Hello with contemporary visual design standards, focusing on intuitive and seamless authentication.
<figure id="attachment177394″ aria-describedby=”caption-attachment-177394″ class=”wp-image wp-image–caption alignnone”><figcaption id="caption-attachment177394″ class=”wp-caption-text”>New Windows Hello iconography.
Modernized Windows Hello Visual Communication: The updated visuals are designed for fast and clear communication, appearing on the Windows Sign-in screen and other authentication flows, including passkey, Recall, Microsoft Store, and more.
<figure id="attachment177396″ aria-describedby=”caption-attachment-177396″ class=”wp-image wp-image–caption alignnone”><figcaption id="caption-attachment177396″ class=”wp-caption-text”>New Windows 11 login screen featuring updated Windows Hello iconography.
Revamped Windows Hello credential user experience for passkeys and new administrator protection experience: We have redesigned the Windows security credential user experience for passkeys, creating a cleaner interface that supports secure and quick authentication. Users can now switch between authentication options and select passkeys/devices more intuitively.
<figure id="attachment177397″ aria-describedby=”caption-attachment-177397″ class=”wp-image wp-image–caption alignnone”><figcaption id="caption-attachment177397″ class=”wp-caption-text”>New passkey sign-in flow screens.
This experience will also extend to the new administrator protection feature coming to Windows 11, version 24H2 and higher, currently in preview with Windows Insiders in the latest Canary Channel builds. For more information on administrator protection, please refer to our blog post detailing our investments in adminless experiences in Windows from Microsoft Ignite.
FEEDBACK: Please submit feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Security and Privacy > Passwordless experience.
Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*
[Taskbar & System Tray]
- The simplified system tray with shortened date/time format, introduced with Build 26120.1843, is temporarily disabled to address a few issues. We appreciate all Insiders who provided feedback on this experience.
Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*
[Taskbar & System Tray]
- Resolved several issues affecting taskbar and explorer.exe reliability.
[Audio]
- Fixed an underlying issue causing USB audio devices to enter sleep mode after one minute of inactivity, requiring a reboot to wake.
- Addressed an issue that could lead to unexpected mute or unmute sounds in certain headsets.
- Resolved an issue where audio on specific devices would unexpectedly reset to 100% volume upon boot or after sleep.
[Other]
- Fixed an issue that caused Excel to hang during launch when opening certain files.
Fixes for everyone in the Dev Channel
[Recall]
- Fixed an issue where Recall did not warn users that Secure Boot must be enabled for snapshot saving.
- Improved the feedback submission experience for Recall by adding a loading dialog.
- Resolved a delay issue where snapshots would take time to appear in the timeline for some users.
- Fixed an issue preventing Recall from saving snapshots for users who joined the Dev Channel and installed Build 26120.2415 after installing KB5046740.
[Other]
- [Exporting chart objects] Fixed: An application would stop responding when exporting chart objects in PDF and XLSX formats.
- [Internet connection] Fixed: A small number of devices were unable to connect to the internet due to duplicate DHCP options from the DHCP server, affecting IPv4 connections on specific networks.
- [Display] Fixed: Some secondary displays experienced lag and screen tearing when a window was in full screen.
- [HTML Applications (HTA)] Fixed: HTA optional components (OC) are now available in ARM64 Windows PE.
Known issues
[Rollback]
An issue exists where rolling back from Build 26120.2510 to Build 26120.2415 may trigger a dialog stating, “Your organization used App Control for Business to block this app” when attempting to use or install certain third-party applications. To avoid this, please follow these steps before rolling back:
- Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
- Type and hit enter: mountvol s: /s
- Type and hit enter: del S:EFIMicrosoftBootcipoliciesactive{8E8A94F0-6EB9-42C7-A189-E018C8CF3D10}.cip
- Type and hit enter: del S:EFIMicrosoftBootcipoliciesactive{36D62F7C-AB85-4F61-8724-744294F24023}.cip
- Type and hit enter: del S:EFIMicrosoftBootcipoliciesactive{66D7D265-7EDD-47DD-86E4-F7C42CD55A8F}.cip
- Then proceed with the rollback.
Note that if you update back to Build 26120.2510 after rolling back, you will still need to perform this workaround. Failure to follow these steps before rolling back may result in your PC entering an unstable state. If issues arise with Build 26120.2510, we recommend using the “Fix problems using Windows Update” option via Settings > Recovery, which provides an in-place upgrade (IPU) of Build 26120.2510 instead of rolling back. We anticipate resolving this issue in the next Dev Channel flight.
[Recall]
The following known issues will be addressed in future updates for Windows Insiders:
- Recall can be enabled or disabled from “Turn Windows features on or off.” We are currently caching the Recall binaries on disk while testing add/remove. A future update will completely remove these binaries.
- Some users may receive a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page indicates that saving snapshots is enabled. A reboot should resolve this issue.
- Ensure Microsoft 365 apps are updated to the latest version to facilitate jumping back into specific documents.
[Click to Do]
The following known issues will be addressed in future updates for Windows Insiders:
- Occasionally, additional context may be provided when using more intelligent text actions powered by Phi Silica.
- The intelligent text actions utilize Microsoft’s secure cloud to enhance text results, ensuring safe and appropriate prompts and responses. This data is automatically deleted. Local moderation for prompt safety will be added in the future, replacing the cloud endpoint.
- At times, Click to Do may not highlight any information on-screen if there is no content on a connected external monitor in extended mode.
Microsoft Store Update
For Win32 apps that are “provided and updated” by their publishers, the Microsoft Store now supports direct updates within the Store. Previously, these apps could only be updated externally. Insiders can navigate to the Downloads page and click Get Updates. If any installed apps of this type have updates, they will appear on the pending list, and users can perform the update by clicking the update button; it will not start automatically.
Users can also visit the product page to see an update button.
<figure id="attachment177454″ aria-describedby=”caption-attachment-177454″ class=”wp-image wp-image–caption alignnone”><figcaption id="caption-attachment177454″ class=”wp-caption-text”>Update button on a Win32 app product page.
Windows Insiders across all channels running Microsoft Store version 22411.1401.x.x and higher will benefit from this improvement. For more information on recent updates to the Microsoft Store, click here!
FEEDBACK: Please submit feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Microsoft Store.
Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel
- Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2 via an enablement package (Build 26120.xxxx).
- Updates delivered to the Dev Channel are formatted to preview enhancements to servicing technology on Windows 11, version 24H2. For more details, visit this link.
- Many features in the Dev Channel are rolled out using Control Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and gradually increasing as we monitor feedback.
- For those in the Dev Channel eager to be the first to receive features gradually rolled out to you, enable the toggle for the latest updates via Settings > Windows Update*. Over time, we will expand feature rollouts to everyone with the toggle turned on. If you keep this toggle off, new features will be rolled out to your device 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 without ever being released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features may appear in future Windows releases when they are 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 in your language via the Feedback Hub.
- Note that some accessibility features may not function with features like Recall and Click to Do while in preview with Windows Insiders.
- As the Dev and Beta Channels represent parallel development paths, some features and experiences may debut in the Beta Channel first.
- For a complete overview of which build is in which Insider channel, check out Flight Hub.
Thank you,
Amanda & Brandon
