Microsoft has unveiled a new Windows 11 build, designated 26120.1542, for participants in the Windows Insider Program within the Dev Channel. This update, identified under KB5041872, introduces enhancements to the Widgets feature on the taskbar, addresses various bugs, and outlines some known issues that users should be aware of.
Changelog Highlights
The latest build brings several noteworthy changes and improvements:
- Widgets Entry-Point Adjustment: A new position for the Widgets entry-point is being rolled out for left-aligned taskbars. This adjustment places the entry-point to the left of the system tray, expanding its width to showcase richer content directly on the taskbar. When users launch the Widgets board, it will now fly out from the right side, enhancing accessibility.
- Taskbar Navigation Enhancements: The taskbar now supports first letter navigation. Users can set keyboard focus to the taskbar using WIN + T and press a letter to jump to the corresponding open or pinned app. This feature also accommodates uncombined taskbars, utilizing window names for navigation.
Bug Fixes and Improvements
In addition to new features, the update addresses several issues:
Input Improvements:
- Resolved an issue with text suggestions for hardware keyboards that caused unexpected concatenation.
- Fixed a problem where the emoji panel would close unexpectedly when switching sections or selecting an emoji.
Registry Editor Fix:
An issue in the Registry Editor that affected saving HEX values has been corrected, ensuring that pasted values are accurately saved.
General Fixes for Dev Channel Users:
- Addressed an issue where adding languages or optional features could fail with error 0x800f081f.
- Driver Vulnerability Blocklist Update: The update expands the list of drivers at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
- Group Policy Preferences Targeting Issues: Resolved issues related to selecting groups from target domains in multi-forest deployments.
- DNS Security Hardening: This update enhances DNS server security to mitigate vulnerabilities, addressing potential SERVFAIL errors.
- PowerShell and VBScript Limitations: Fixed an issue preventing the use of Windows Update Agent APIs in scripts.
- BitLocker Firmware Update Failures: Resolved issues that could cause firmware updates to fail when BitLocker is enabled.
Known Issues
As with any update, there are known issues to keep in mind:
- Repair Version Notice: Insiders joining the Dev Channel on PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2 Build 26100.xxxx will see “(repair version)” next to the latest build in Windows Update. This indicates that an in-place upgrade will occur to bring the PC up to date.
- Task Manager Crashes: Users may experience crashes when navigating between different pages in Task Manager.
For those eager to explore the full details of this update, a comprehensive blog post is available for further reading.
