Development build 25309 will excite insiders today as it offers several enhancements and features involving different areas of windows 11. Some of the notable contents of the release include improved volume mixer in quick settings and improvements in file explorer, graphics and typing. Here’s a quick summary of what to expect from Build 25309:
Volume mixer experience in quick settings. Microsoft has made some changes to the volume mixer in this release, giving users a “modern” way to customize audio for different apps. Insiders can also try the new hotkey (WIN + CTRL + V) to easily launch the volume mixer.
Tap Keyboard settings. Microsoft is bringing back touch keyboard settings with a new drop-down menu that includes three options to control whether pressing an edit control should launch the touch keyboard (“Never”, “When no keyboard is connected”, “Always”).
Automatic color management. ACM or Hardware Accelerated System Level Color Management is now coming to insiders in the dev channel after being tested only on select eligible and specially provisioned SDR displays in October last year. It can be enabled by going to Settings > Display > Advanced display > Automatically manage app color. It is important to note, however, that the feature has certain requirements.
Voice access improvements. Microsoft also released these improvements in Windows 11 Overview of builds 22621.1391 and 22624.1391 to insiders in the beta channel. Here, the Redmond company introduced a redesigned built-in command help page and provided a set of new text selection and editing commands. Additionally, voice access is extended to other English dialects, including English – UK, English – India, English – New Zealand, English – Canada and English – Australia.
Badge in start menu. This one might not impress insiders, but yes – Microsoft is “trying” new ways to present its service in your Start menu. In this release, the company continues to test different designs or treatments of this Start menu badge that display an option to back up your files using its cloud product. In addition to this, the test also includes a test for a new out-of-the-box personalized Second Chance Experience (SCOOBE) screen treatment.
Taskbar Search bar. Microsoft has made slight improvements to the appearance of the taskbar search bar by making it clearer to help it stand out when Windows is set to a custom color mode.
Windows File Explorer App SDK version. This release gives Insiders a new “pizza” icon in the command bar, which signifies the Windows App SDK version of File Explorer and the switch from using WinUI 2 to WinUI 3.
Instant layouts. This release introduces new processing for Snap layouts, which reduces the hover time needed to invoke the flyout menu when the user hovers over the max/restore button in an app’s title bar. Microsoft’s improvements will also allow you to insert the icon of the application window you’re working in and add a descriptive title.
Windows projector. Various treatments tried on Spotlight will be disabled due to some issues.
Improved Simplified Chinese handwriting recognition engine. The simplified Chinese handwriting recognition engine is now faster and more accurate.
Theme responsive widgets. Widgets will now follow the Windows theme (dark or light) by having a higher contrast ratio to make taskbar details more visible.
New adjustment control. Microsoft has added a new option to choose what happens when interacting with your PC’s physical power controls. It’s on the Power & Battery settings page.