Windows Beta Update: UI Changes, Accessibility Fixes, and Performance Enhancements

28 Jun 2024

Changes and improvements are gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with a toggle on.

File Explorer

The preview thumbnail title in the taskbar, ALT + Tab, and Task View for File Explorer windows will now indicate if that window includes multiple tabs. This small yet significant UI change aims to enhance user experience by providing clearer navigation cues.

Windows Share

Minor UI changes are being rolled out to simplify the Windows share window, which now removes the search box. This streamlining effort is designed to make sharing files more intuitive and less cluttered.

For Developers

The logic for the “End Task” option in the taskbar has been updated. It no longer shows a Not Responding dialog to give confirmation before ending the task, making the process quicker and less intrusive.

Other

The Run dialog has been updated to now follow text scaling (Settings > Accessibility > Text size), addressing accessibility issues and making it more user-friendly for those with visual impairments.

Fixes Gradually Being Rolled Out to the Beta Channel with Toggle On

File Explorer

  • Addressed several accessibility issues where File Explorer, Common File Dialog (CFD), and Browse/Shortcuts Dialogs did not respond appropriately to your text size/scaling preferences.
  • Fixed an issue where the file name was getting clipped in the CFD and the Browse/Shortcuts dialog.
  • Resolved several accessibility issues in File Explorer impacting screen reader users, ensuring content is read out correctly and keyboard focus goes to the correct place.
  • Fixed an issue causing some people to see a thin line between the tab and address bar in File Explorer.
  • Improved File Explorer reliability for a small number of users.
  • Fixed an issue where the OneDrive icon in the address bar was blurry sometimes for some users.

Fixes for Everyone in the Beta Channel

Voice Typing

Fixed an issue believed to be the underlying cause of some Insiders seeing errors when attempting to use Voice Typing in certain languages such as Chinese with recent flights.

Taskbar

Updated the app icon flashing in the taskbar to be a bit easier to see, enhancing visual notifications for users.

Other

  • You can now use OneDrive as a RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop, expanding its utility for remote work scenarios.
  • This update improves the Virtual Filtering Platform (VFP) within Windows nodes, adding more support for packet drop collection, which will make troubleshooting network issues easier.
  • Fixed an issue where Group Policy would fail to detect when a network’s speed is slow, incorrectly assuming a fast link was present.
  • Resolved a deadlock issue that could stop you from signing in to Azure Virtual Desktop sessions.
  • Fixed an issue occurring when using Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) and Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) with SMBdirect in networks, which caused network failures and cluster management issues.
  • Addressed an issue where a firewall profile might drop from domain to public when multiple interfaces existed, and you added or removed an interface.
  • Fixed an issue where GPUs did not enter the idle state, preventing them from conserving power.
  • Resolved an issue where using Snipping Tool to record videos on some PCs resulted in audio distortions.
  • This update adds the registry key HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsDWM ForceDisableModeChangeAnimation (REG_DWORD). Setting its value to 1 (or a non-zero number) turns off the display mode change animation. If the value is 0 or the key does not exist, the animation remains on.
  • This update brings Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.

These changes and fixes aim to address various UI changes, accessibility issues, and performance improvements, ensuring a smoother and more efficient user experience across different functionalities of Windows.

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