Windows 11 Release Preview Channel Gets a Feature-Packed Update

Microsoft just released new builds for Windows 11 and Windows 10 Insiders on the Release Preview Channel. If you’re on Windows 11 version 23H2 or 22H2, you’ll be getting the KB5034848 update and a separate February Windows Configuration Update (KB5035349) that will turn on a lot of new features that Microsoft has been testing on other Insider channels in recent weeks.

While this is not explicit in the release notes, today’s Windows 11 Update for the Release Preview Channel appears to be the latest “Moment” update for the OS. That is, a feature-packed update that Microsoft will ship to the public in March, months ahead of the release of the next annual update for Windows 11 (24H2).

Here are the main new features coming to Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2:

Copilot in Windows shortcut: Microsoft is moving the Copilot shortcut in the taskbar to the right side of the system tray. Additionally, the “Show desktop” option at the rightmost corner of the taskbar will now be off by default.

New Voice Access improvements: The new accessibility feature is now available in French (France, Canada), German, and Spanish (Spain, Mexico), and all voice access features can be used on multiple displays. Voice access can also be used to open apps, dictate text, command Narrator, and more.

Windows Share improvements: The Windows share window will now use the account you use to sign in for apps like Teams that are in the “Share using” section, which is also adding WhatsApp as a new sharing option.

Nearby Share improvements: Nearby Share can now be enabled in Quick Settings or the Settings app, and Microsoft has also improved transfer speed for users on the same network.

Snap Layouts suggestions: When you need to snap multiple apps together, Windows 11 will now suggest the best way to do that.

Snipping Tool notifications: Windows 11 will now show notifications suggesting you to edit your most recent photos and screenshots from your Android device in Snipping Tool.

Phone Link settings page: The Phone Link settings page has been renamed to “Mobile devices”, but it’s still available in Settings > Bluetooth & devices.

Microsoft is rolling out all these new features via the February Windows Configuration Update (KB5035349), which will appear in Windows Update after toggling the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option. If you just install today’s KB5034848 patch without also installing this Windows Configuration Update, these new features will roll out gradually on your device.

That wraps it up for today’s update for Windows 11 Insiders on the Release Preview Channel, which is a pretty big release. But that’s not all, as Windows 10 Insiders on the Release Preview Channel are also getting an update today.

The Windows 10 22H2 build 19045.4116 (KB5034843) includes two changes that Microsoft previously introduced on Windows 11: The first one is the option to use Windows Spotlight images as your desktop background, and the second one is the ability to share URLs to apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, Facebook, and LinkedIn in Windows Share. Support for X/Twitter is also coming soon, the Windows Insider team said today.