- Microsoft releases Windows 11 build 22509 in the Dev Channel.
- This flight brings better recommended options to show more pins.
- The Taskbar will now show the clock across all desktops.
- The Settings app gets updated with more Control Panel settings.
Microsoft is currently making Windows 11 build 22509 accessible for devices registered in the Dev Channel as part of the active development branch. Despite being just another small update, the visual modifications it makes to the Taskbar and Start menu make it noteworthy. (Watch the hands-on films that show off all the adjustments made during this flight as well.)
The official notes state that Windows 11 build 22509 introduces much-needed cosmetic updates to the Taskbar and Start menu for multi-monitor installations. There are a number of repairs, enhancements, and known problems, and the Settings app is updated with additional settings from the Control Panel.
What s new on Windows 11 build 22509
New settings to personalize the Start menu’s Recommended section are included in Windows 11, build 22509. Although the Recommended section cannot be disabled, you may now select from three choices in the Start settings to display more pins and less recommended items. For instance, the More pins option lets you display more pins but only displays one row of things. Whereas the More Recommendations option displays two rows of pins and additional suggested things, the Default option displays three rows of recommended items and three rows of pin items.
The clock will now show on all monitors
The clock with the date and time will now appear on all monitors in a multi-monitor setup thanks to build 22509, eliminating the requirement for third-party software to achieve the same effect as in earlier Windows editions.
Windows 11 notification improvements
The notification system is also being updated by Microsoft. Apps that notify users of calls, reminders, or alarms, for instance, will now display all three high-priority alerts at once. This implies that three high-priority and one regular priority notification could appear on your screen at the same time.
Settings app gets more Control Panel options
This flight also moves more options to the options app as part of an ongoing push to eliminate the Control Panel. Network discovery, file and printer sharing, and public folder sharing are just a few of the additional sharing options that are now available on the Advanced Network Settings page.
More information about the printer and scanner is now displayed on the Printers & Scanners settings page. Additionally, the Settings app will now open some of the Control Panel’s network and device settings entry points.
Additionally, a new option to order the list from Name (Z to A) has been added to the Installed Apps settings page. As a result, the previously available Alphabetically option has been changed to Name (A to Z).
In Windows 11, turning on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi while in airplane mode will now be remembered. The radios will then remember your preference the next time you switch to airplane mode.
Lastly, Windows Sandbox’s virtualized environment now allows reboots.
Narrator app changes
Beginning with build 22509, Windows 11 is bringing a number of enhancements to the Narrator experience when using Microsoft Edge to browse the web. Because Narrator scan mode will now shut off more quickly, Microsoft made it simpler to enter in edit fields, including the address bar. After deleting a character, the narrator will now read the character that the cursor is now at.
The company claims that as you browse the web, you will also receive more contextual information. For example, more details about lists, such as list levels and precise list indices, will now be read aloud, along with necessary radio buttons and edit areas.
Ultimately, better heading navigation, a more consistent scan mode navigation experience with fewer item loops, and a more consistent hyperlink reading experience while moving forward and backward will all contribute to a more consistent navigation experience.
Build 22509 fixes and known issues
Along with the new aesthetic adjustments, Windows 11 build 22509 includes a number of feature fixes. When the system scaling is set to 125%, the Start, Search, Task View, Widgets, and Chat icons in the Taskbar shouldn’t be surprisingly enormous anymore. To open programs in the Taskbar, press the Windows key + number like it should. Additionally, the functionality will now alert you of desktop information when the Task View button is selected as the Narrator focus and the Desktops flyout opens.
This flight corrects the Chinese Simplified IME candidates to be center aligned, mitigates mouse bugcheck issues, fixes touch keyboard issues with PowerShell, and fixes handwriting issues in Chinese.
Hovering over several desktops in Task View will no longer cause the content area and thumbnails to suddenly shrink as part of the windowing experience. It resolves context menu animation problems and eliminates strange tilt motion that appears when you click down on a corner of the New Desktop button.
Finally, build 22509 resolves language-specific text overlap on the Settings app’s Installed Apps tab. A confirmation box will now appear when you click the Uninstall button in grid view on the Installed Apps page. Additionally, it modifies the newms-settings:To prevent conflicts, use installed-appsURI toms-settings:appsfeatures.
According to Microsoft, there are a few reported problems with this flight, including the Start menu not opening when search is used, the Taskbar flickering occasionally, and Windows Search occasionally not opening.
Install Windows 11 build 22509
You must use the Windows Insider Program settings from the Update & Security section to enroll your device in the Dev Channel in order to download and install Windows 11 build 22509.
After enrolling the computer in the program, click the Check for Updates button in the Windows Update settings to download build 22509. If you are new to the Windows Insider Program, however, you will need a device that satisfies the minimal system requirements in order to receive the update.
With all the new features Microsoft has been working on for the upcoming version of Windows 11 (22H2), you may also read this tutorial.
Update December 3, 2021: As part of update KB5008918, Microsoft is currently releasing build 22509.1011. The update is merely intended to test the update mechanism via the Dev Channel; it contains nothing new.