- Windows 11 has a new build in the Release Preview channel
- This brings changes that will likely debut in next month’s update.
- There aren’t many new features in terms of breaking changes, but there is notable activity to refine and fix the operating system.
We’ve gotten a glimpse of what’s next for Windows 11, with a ton of new features, and while there’s nothing very exciting in that regard, there is evidence that quite a few fixes are being made.
Remember how Microsoft recently announced that it will “improve Windows in ways that matter to people,” meaning it will go back to basics to fix bugs and performance issues with the operating system?
Well, what we seem to be seeing here is the first result of that work. There are a number of moves to shore up various parts of Windows 11 in the latest incarnation of the operating system in the Release Preview channel, as detailed in Microsoft’s blog post.
That channel is the final stage of testing before release, as the name suggests, and what’s happening here is likely to roll out to Windows 11 very soon. In fact, much of this work may be included in the next March update, due in a few weeks.
Do you want to know exactly what awaits you here? I’m going to summarize the tweaks Microsoft is making, grouping them into two broad categories: reliability improvements and performance increases. Individually, these are minor tweaks, but they will add up to some useful improvements overall, particularly for sleep mode and printers.
After that, I’ll address some of the new incoming features for Windows 11, which, as noted, aren’t particularly earth-shattering or notable. However, there is an interesting addition to the taskbar, and also some new emojis, plus one disappointing extra that is worth complaining about and that, frankly, I could live without.
Reliability improvements
Microsoft says it is fixing issues with the reliability of the login screen in Windows 11. The company is also making sending larger files with Nearby Sharing a more reliable process.
Microsoft further notes that it is improving the “reliability of displaying the project panel after pressing the Windows plus P key.”
Some work has also been applied to File Explorer in this build, introducing greater reliability when displaying the various devices listed on the Network page.
Additionally, Windows 11 is being tweaked for when they wake from sleep in a specific niche scenario, namely those who use their laptop with the lid closed while it’s connected to a docking station (in other words, viewing the desktop on an external monitor, not the laptop screen).
Microsoft explains: “For laptops used with a docking station while the lid is closed, the reliability of waking from sleep mode when connected to AC power has been improved, without needing to open the laptop lid.”
Performance improvements
The settings page for Windows Update options is being modified to run smoother and more responsive, Microsoft told us. Additionally, in Storage Settings, Windows 11 will have faster performance when scanning temporary files.
For those using a printer, Windows 11 is getting some tweaks that, in Microsoft’s words, should “ensure smoother performance and prevent slowdowns during high-volume printing,” which sounds like it could be useful for offices.
And again, sleep mode is getting some attention here, with some display-related performance tweaks that will mean a PC wakes up more quickly in situations where the system is working a lot (with a bunch of apps open, for example), and also in other unspecified scenarios. In short, resuming sleep should be a little more streamlined in the near future. (Notably, this is all due to some nasty bugs with sleep mode as of late.)
New features and an unwanted intrusion
As mentioned, there are quite a few new features here, but many of them are pretty unobtrusive or not that relevant to the average user (in other words, business-related stuff).
Notable introductions are new emoji for those who use them regularly via the Windows 11 emoji picker. Emoji version 16.0 brings a “handpicked set” of new creations, one of which is added to each major category.
A new network speed test is also coming to the taskbar. You can access it via the network icon in the system tray (far right of the taskbar) and the test launches in the default browser, giving you a readout of the current Ethernet, Wi-Fi and cellular speeds (whichever of these connections are available on your PC). This way you can quickly check for poor performance and it’s a convenient touch for Windows 11 users.
I mentioned one downside in terms of the new introductions coming to Windows 11, and it’s this: “A new entry point in the account menu in the Start menu now directs you to the benefits page” where you can “browse and manage the benefits associated with your Microsoft account.”
In other words, this is a further promotion for why you should sign up for an account if you haven’t already, and there’s already enough of this kind of unwanted nonsense and general cajoling from people on Windows 11 as it is.
It would be nice if Microsoft’s solution to Windows 11 not only included bug elimination, reliability improvements and performance increases, but also a simplification of the interface, without adding more.
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