Microsoft has just released another Windows 11 incremental update for testers in the Canary channel. This new build is part of the ongoing August 2023 bug bash, which is scheduled to run until Monday, August 7. Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25921 comes with a bunch of new features and changes, here are all details about the new update.
Microsoft is pushing the new Canary build to the eligible systems with Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25921.1000 (rs_prerelease) build number. Just like the previous updates, you can quickly install it on your PC, thanks to the small size. If you are a tester in the Canary channel, you may have already received the new update.
Moving to the changes, then today’s build bring HDR background support, which means if you have an HDR display, then you can set JXR files as your desktop background, they will render in full HDR. Microsoft shares the steps to check HDR display and apply high resolution background on your desktop.
First – make sure your device has an HDR display or is connected to a HDR display that supports HDR. You can check this by going to Settings > System > Display and checking the HDR toggle.
Next, download an HDR .JXR file to your device. Then right-click on your desktop, choose “Personalize” and then “Background”, and under “Personalize your background” – go and select the .JXR file you downloaded to your device.
The next change coming with today’s update is to the cloud files on Start, they will start previewing thumbnails when you hover the mouse on the supported file (such as Word documents) in the Start Menu. The feature is limited to users logged into a Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise editions with an AAD account (soon Microsoft Entra ID).
Speaking about the other changes and improvements, then the update brings an option to uninstall Cortana, new mini experience for Microsoft Teams, new sliding animations when switching between desktops, and more.
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25921 – Changes and Improvements
- General
- Cortana can be uninstalled in this build. For more on the end of support for Cortana, click here.
- Taskbar & System Tray
- Beginning to roll out with this build, Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free. Microsoft Teams – Free is pinned by default to the taskbar and can be unpinned like other apps on the taskbar. Windows Insiders who click to launch Teams will discover a mini communications experience making it possible to chat, call, and meet with their people within just a click or two. Not only does its compact size make it easy to place the window anywhere on desktop, but you can passively keep tabs on your conversations with the ability to have it visible as they browse the web or connect with your communities. Phone Link integration is coming soon to Microsoft Teams (free) as well.
- Task View & Destop
- When navigating between desktops in Task View (WIN + CTRL + left or right arrows), labels will be shown. New sliding animations will also show when you change your desktops using trackpad gestures, touch gestures, hotkeys and by clicking on the Task View flyout.
- Networking
- A new asynchronous error-handling feature in the DHCP client service will allow for faster response time for some runs of ipconfig /renew on the Windows command line. Improvements will vary depending on system and network conditions, but ideal cases will improve from ~4.1 seconds to ~0.1 seconds per run.
If your PC is running on Windows 11 with the canary channel in Windows Insider Preview Program, then you can install the new release preview build on your system. You can check for the new update by visiting Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
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