Two weeks ago, Microsoft released a new Windows 11 update for members of the Insider program in the Dev Channel. The build number was 26120.961, under KB5038575. At the time, the update was a minor one with only a number of unnamed general improvements.
Today, Microsoft will roll out new features, improvements, and bug fixes for people who have the Windows 11 Dev Channel build 26120.961 and have turned their toggle on in the Windows Update part of the Settings menu to receive the latest updates.
Microsoft added:
We’re starting the enablement of these at a small percentage at first so not all Insiders in the Dev Channel with this toggle turned on will see all these features right away. And some features may show up while others might not just yet. We hope to further expand the enablement of these new features, changes and improvements, and fixes with the next new Dev Channel build. Insiders will need to reboot to see if they have received the enablement of these features.
Here is the changelog. Keep in mind that the Dev Channel updates are based on the upcoming Windows 11, version 24H2.
New Features Gradually Being Rolled Out to the Dev Channel with Toggle On
Narrator Users Can Now Use Voice Access to Dictate Text Hands-Free
Narrator users can start using voice access in Windows 11 to dictate text with voice and hear what is dictated. In addition, you can also use voice access to give Narrator commands. For example, “Turn on Narrator,” “speak faster,” “read selection,” “read next line,” etc.
To know the entire list of Narrator commands supported with voice access, click the help icon (?) on the voice access bar, select “View all commands” and choose “Narrator commands.”
- What will work:
- Start and set up voice access which includes downloading a speech model.
- Read a list of voice access commands and Narrator commands from the voice access help menu.
- Changing voice access microphone state.
- Dictating text with voice and hearing back what was dictated.
- Tips:
- If you don’t use headphones for listening to the screen reader, the audio output from the screen reader may get picked up by the voice access microphone, leading to unwanted behavior.
FEEDBACK: Send us feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.
Auto Restart for Voice Access & New Voice Access Command for Windows Search
We are introducing auto restart for voice access in Windows 11. This feature ensures that voice access will automatically restart if it encounters any issues so that individuals with limited mobility can get back to using voice access as quickly as possible. Customers will no longer need to rely on alternative assistive technologies or assistance from others to reactivate voice access. Should voice access automatically restart due to a crash, we are making it easier to report those crashes once voice access restarts so the team can investigate and work on fixes.
We are introducing a new command for searching directly with Windows search. Users can now say the command Search “Entity”; Search Windows for “Entity”; or Search for “Entity” to search for their desired application or file in Windows (“Entity” is replaced with whatever application or file you want to search.)
FEEDBACK: Send us feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice access.
Changes and Improvements Gradually Being Rolled Out to the Dev Channel with Toggle On
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