New Features in Windows 11 Preview Build 22635.4515: File Explorer Tabs and More
Windows 11 Preview Build 22635.4515 recently started rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders on the Beta Channel, and it includes a mix of exciting new features, API support enhancements, and a few undocumented changes that could improve your experience with the OS.
Among the new features, OneDrive file resumption stands out. With this update, you can now resume files directly from your phone to your PC with just a single click—great for those who work across multiple devices. In addition, the preview build introduces third-party passkey API support, a significant step toward transitioning to a passwordless future on Windows 11, making it easier for users to access accounts and services securely.
A particularly interesting undocumented change is the addition of tabs in File Explorer, which allows you to open folders in new tabs, much like you would in a web browser. This change addresses a long-standing limitation where opening a folder from the desktop or Start menu while File Explorer was already open would result in a new window. The new tab feature streamlines navigation, and if you prefer separate windows, you can still hold Ctrl when opening a folder to keep that functionality.
Alongside this, several other File Explorer issues have been fixed, including problems with navigation via the address bar, full-screen mode overlaps, and various crashes. Another hidden feature in this update is the ability to pause OneDrive backup reminders, giving you more control over when you’re prompted to back up files to OneDrive. You can now choose to pause these reminders for a month or disable them entirely.
At the moment, these updates are only available to Windows 11 Insiders on the Beta Channel. There is no word yet on when they will be rolled out to the stable release for general users, so Insiders will have the chance to test and provide feedback on these exciting new additions before they become widely available.