Windows 11 Insider Build 23486 Improves Passwordless Experience

Microsoft has just released the Windows 11 Insider build 23486 for Dev Channel testers. This builds improve the passwordless experience by allowing Windows Insiders to use Windows Hello to create and sign in using passkeys on any app or website that supports them.

Google, Best Buy, and eBay are some of the websites that support passkeys as an alternative to passwords for login. Microsoft has been working with the FIDO alliance and other major platforms to make passkeys a common passwordless sign-in method, and Windows Hello on Windows 11 can make that pretty seamless with a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint.

“Once a passkey is created, users can use Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, PIN) to sign in. In addition, users can use their phone to complete the application logon process,” the Windows Insider team explained.

Starting with this build, Insiders can also manage saved passkeys for apps and websites by going to Settings > Accounts > Passkeys. There, they can search and delete any saved passkey.

The build 23486 also introduces Wave, Wheel, and Gradient effects in the new Dynamic Lighting section of the Settings app. Introduced in the build 23475 earlier this month, Dynamic Lighting settings let Insiders control RGB devices without the need for third-party apps.

Microsoft is also reverting a change that removed various legacy settings in File Explorer in the build 23481. “As is normal for the Dev Channel, we will often try things out and get feedback and adjust based on the feedback we receive, the Windows Insider team said.

That’s it for the main changes included in the build 23486 for Dev Channel Insiders. Microsoft also released the build 22631.1906 on the Beta Channel today, which adds the ability to hide the time and date in the system tray. This build also adds a way to view Wi-Fi passwords for known wireless networks in Settings.

Microsoft announced at its Build developer conference last month that Windows Copilot would enter public testing in June. It’s still nowhere to be seen as of this writing, but there are still 8 days left in June so we hope to get an update soon.