Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 builds for testing, with exciting features aimed at Copilot+ PC owners and general Windows users. These builds bring improvements to cloud search, sharing interfaces, and the Start menu, making it easier to work and interact with your PC.
The new builds are Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (KB5052078), available in the Beta Channel for those who missed the January release, and Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291 (KB5052080), which is an optional release for both the Beta and Dev Channels. Microsoft plans to combine these builds later in the year.
Semantic Cloud Search for Snapdragon PCs
Starting with the simpler 26120.3291 build, Microsoft has introduced semantic search for the cloud. This feature allows users to search for files in the cloud by description, rather than just by file name. It builds on similar functionality already found in Photos, where searching terms like “beach” can pull up related images. However, this feature is currently exclusive to Qualcomm-powered Snapdragon PCs, leaving out AMD and Intel devices for now.
One downside to this build is that Recall, the feature that allows you to take and store snapshots, is being upgraded. Unfortunately, this means any saved snapshots will be deleted during the upgrade. Microsoft has not disclosed the specifics of what changes are being made to Recall, but your snapshots will return after the update.
New File Sharing and Start Menu Features
The 22635.4950 build brings two major updates: a new sharing interface and improvements to the Start menu. The new sharing interface allows users to drag and drop files to the top of the screen to choose from different sharing options. It’s designed to be more intuitive than the current right-click menu, which presents multiple sharing methods like OneDrive, USB, and email.
Additionally, Microsoft is introducing a new grid view for the Start menu, offering an alphabetical list of apps, as well as a categories view. This categories view automatically sorts apps based on usage frequency, making it easier to access your most-used apps.
Rollout Timeline and How to Get It
Microsoft is planning to roll these updates out to Windows Insiders using Windows 11, version 24H2 in both the Dev and Beta Channels. As always, not all features will be available immediately, so make sure your Windows Update toggle is enabled to receive new builds as they are released.