Microsoft has announced the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 to the Dev Channel Windows Insiders. The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 has started to push a new enhanced volume mixer in Quick Settings including updates for touch keyboard settings, File Explorer, Graphics, and Input. The flight also comes with voice access improvements and considerable bug fixes.
Audio enhancements
The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 has added a new enhanced volume mixer experience in Quick Settings. Windows 11 will be updated with a modern volume mixer, which facilitates quick customization of audio on a per-app basis. You will also be able to work with additional control to swap devices quickly.
The new WIN+CTRL+V keyboard shortcut directly opens the volume mixer for an improved user experience. After the installation of this update, you will be able to customize the audio experience with more control and fewer clicks for the management of apps. The update also includes a quick access list of installed spatial sound technology, which enables users to work with the Windows Sonic experience.
Touch keyboard improvements
The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 has re-introduced the new touch keyboard setting that was originally introduced with Build 25188. Microsoft disabled this feature in Build 25217 based on the feedback. It replaces the “Show the touch keyboard when there’s no keyboard attached” checkbox located under Settings | Time & language | Typing | Touch keyboard with a new dropdown menu with three options.
The Never option suppresses the touch keyboard even when no hardware keyboard is attached. The “When no keyboard attached” option will display the touch keyboard only when the relevant device is used as a tablet without the hardware keyboard. The Analysis option will display the touch keyboard even when the relevant hardware keyboard is attached.
Better color management
After the installation of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309, you will be able to activate Auto Color Management on select provisioned SDR displays. You will be able to activate ACM on the SDR displays with all colors across all Windows apps. You should navigate to Settings | Display | Advanced Display to activate ACM. You should select correct display and switch on Automatically manage color for apps. Microsoft recommends ACM devices to have display panels with a wider than sRGB gamut and 10-bits per color channel or greater.
Voice-enabled apps
The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 has completely refreshed the in-app command help page in voice access. The main aim is to make voice access simple to use and comprehend. The search bar enables users to quickly fetch commands. You should note that every command has a description and examples of its variations. You will be able to navigate the command help page from Help | View all commands on the voice access bar. You can also make use of the voice command “What can I say”.
The redesigned in-app help page in voice access will not consist of all commands and information could be inaccurate. Microsoft has extended voice access to provide support for English (UK), English (India), English (New Zealand), English (Canada), and English (Australia).
You will be prompted to download a speech model to activate on-device recognition of voice data when voice access is activated for the first time. If the voice access is not displaying a speech model that matches your display language, you should choose voice access in English (US) language. You can navigate to a different language by navigating to Settings | Language on the voice access bar. Microsoft has added useful commands to simplify text selection and editing processes with voice access.
Search improvements
After the installation of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309, you will find different text variants for the search treatment. This feature was rolled out along with Build 25290. Microsoft urges users to provide feedback.
Microsoft has started to try more personalized second-chance out of box experience (SCOOBE) with a small fraction of Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. In the latest flight, the Taskbar search box will be lighter when Windows is set to a custom color mode. You will view a lighter search box on Taskbar when the mode 11 mode is set to Dark.
File Explorer updates
There were rumors in the wild about the imminent makeover of the File Explorer. You will notice a pizza icon on the command bar in File Explorer, which denote that a Windows Insider is previewing the Windows App SDK version of File Explorer. The File Explorer will be changed from WinUI 2 to WinUi 3 without changing the functionality.
Test drive new Snap Layouts
Microsoft has reintroduced Snap Layouts with Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309. If you are in the Dev Channel, you will be able to view several new Snap Layouts treatments. Microsoft is currently working to improve the usage of Snap Layouts such as decreasing the hover time required to invoke the flyout.
Windows Spotlight
The different Windows Spotlight treatments that started to roll out with Build 25281 have been disabled. The product team is planning to re-introduce an updated Windows Spotlight for Windows Insiders. You should navigate to Settings | Personalization and re-enable Windows Spotlight as part of these treatments.
Microsoft has updated the Simplified handwriting recognition engine to work faster and accurate including supported characters defined in GB18030-2022. The theme-aware icons for Taskbar Widgets have started to roll out. You will view icons based on light or dark mode with a higher contrast ratio. The Power & Battery dashboard has been updated to include settings for events that could happen with your PC’s physical power controls.
Microsoft also added several bug fixes and you can check them out from the official blog post. You will view the Windows 11 watermark on the bottom right-hand side and that’s normal for all new flights. Why are you waiting for? Windows 11 is really cool and Microsoft is regularly adding new features. Check them out today.
