Microsoft capped off last week with a series of new Windows 11 Insider Builds that surely caught the attention of tech enthusiasts. If you’re exploring the Canary Channel, you’re looking at an upgrade to Build 27802. Meanwhile, those basking in the Beta Channel might notice Build 22635.5015 or Build 26120.3360, contingent on your update preference for Windows 11 version 24H2. It’s worth noting that the last build is also making its rounds in the Dev Channel.
Let’s dive into some exciting updates, starting with enhancements to the Windows 11 Task Manager. For those still on an older Insider build, there’s an interesting observation you can make. Pop open the Task Manager and glance at the CPU usage displayed under the Processes tab. Then, hop over to the Performance or Users tab and compare those CPU figures. Notice any discrepancies? Three distinct CPU usage numbers might appear, reflecting how Task Manager previously calculated things differently across tabs. Microsoft is poised to change that. In their blog detailing Windows 11 Insider Build 26120.3360, Microsoft revealed that Task Manager is moving toward a unified approach for CPU calculations. This shift promises to standardize CPU workload display across all pages, aligning with what you see in third-party tools. Plus, for the nostalgically inclined, an optional column named CPU Utility will display old values, a subtle nod to backward compatibility.
But that’s not all on Microsoft’s plate! Bringing emojis into the user experience, the team is channeling efforts to simplify accessing these fun icons. Though Windows 11 already hosts a shortcut for the emoji panel (just press Windows + .), plans are in motion to unveil a system tray icon. This new feature will pave the way for inserting emojis, gifs, and special characters with just a few clicks.
In the spirit of freshness, let’s look at what’s new with Windows 11 Build 26120.3360. Excitingly, support for lock screen widgets, once labeled “Weather and more,” is rolling out to Windows Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA). These widgets are customizable, allowing insights from Weather, Watchlist, Sports, and Traffic right from the lock screen. Users can personalize this by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Notably, a fresh group policy titled “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen” empowers IT administrators to toggle off these widgets without affecting others—a feature exclusively available in the EEA, with plans for broader availability.
Peering into minor yet significant adjustments, an enhancement mirrors the revamped approach in the Task Manager, making CPU usage easier to comprehend. Consistency and industry standard alignment are key here, echoing the broader improvements Microsoft has championed across their builds.
Lastly, say hello to a nifty feature in development: sharing directly from File Explorer or the desktop to apps supporting sharing in Windows. Right-click those local files, and presto, share them hassle-free.
Windows 11 Build 22635.5015 also has its share of additions. There’s a newfound emphasis on amplifying the visibility of emojis (and more) with a brand-new system tray icon on the taskbar. This innovation aims to ease content sharing across applications. It’s about expressing yourself effortlessly, whether it’s through emojis, GIFs, or Kaomojis, supplementing the already familiar WIN + . shortcut.
There’s a lot to explore with these updates, and it’s compelling how Microsoft continues to refine the Windows 11 experience, making it more intuitive and user-friendly for everyone.
