Microsoft Brings Taskbar Changes to Windows 11 Beta Channel Testers

Microsoft has just released two new Windows 11 preview builds for Insiders on the Beta Channel. For the sub-group of Insiders receiving new features, the build 22623.870 brings a new solution to automatically change Braille drivers while switching between Narrator and third-party screen readers.

In this build, Microsoft is also rolling out a new Taskbar context menu that provides access to Task Manager. Microsoft previously introduced this change on the Dev and Release Preview channel, and it brings back an existing feature that disappeared in the original version of Windows 11.

Both groups of Insiders on the Beta channel are also receiving two quality updates today: First, the Microsoft Account experience in Settings now lets users manage their OneDrive subscription and see storage alerts. Additionally, Microsoft added new settings to keep storing or deleting biometric data on PCs where Windows Hello Face and Fingerprint authentication hasn’t been used in over 365 days.

Lastly, select Insiders will see an enhanced search experience on the taskbar that aims to improve discoverability. “This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow. Some devices might notice different visual treatments as we gather feedback,” the Windows Insider team explained.

All these changes plus the addition of Task Manager to the taskbar context menu are also available in the Windows 11 22H2 build 22621.754 that Microsoft released on the Release Preview Channel yesterday. Dev Channel Insiders also received a new build yesterday which brought Start menu and Widgets improvements.