New Windows 11 Settings Homepage and Backup App Come to Beta Channel Testers

Microsoft has just released the Windows 11 Insider builds 22631.2262 and 22621.2262 on the Beta Channel. As usual, the second one comes with new features disabled by default, so I’ll be focusing on the first one, which adds more new features to what’s going to be the 23H2 update for Windows 11.

The build 22631.2262 brings the new Settings homepage to the Beta channel, which uses a card interface to provide quick access to recommended settings, cloud storage, personalization options, Bluetooth devices, as well as Microsoft 365 and Xbox subscriptions. Microsoft says that this new UI is only rolling out to a subset of Beta channel testers right now, and it won’t be available on devices managed by organizations.

Beta channel testers can also try the new Windows Backup app to save their folders, apps, settings, and credentials to the cloud. It’s an alternative to the existing backup feature available in Accounts/Windows Backup in Settings. Anyway, after backing up your personal data with this app, you can restore it during the Windows 11 out-of-box experience. However, backing up a work or school account isn’t supported.

Two other changes are worth mentioning in this build: The Cast flyout in Quick Settings now shows a support link for troubleshooting discovery and other casting issues. Moreover, users with devices with RGB lights can now sync them with their Windows accent color in Settings. This new “Dynamic Lighting” capability also lets users pick up a custom color for their devices right from the Settings app.

Last but not least, Microsoft is warning Beta Channel Insiders that due to a bug in the previous flight, the “Check for updates” button does not appear as expected in Windows Update. The current workaround to install this build is to open the Run dialog or Windows Terminal and enter the USOClient StartInteractiveScan command, which will make the OS check for updates. “Without doing this workaround, this new build will install automatically on its own over the next day or two,” the Windows Insider team said today.