Microsoft Issues New Windows 11 Build to Insiders in the Beta Channel

The Windows 11 Insider Preview Beta channel represents Windows 11 version 23H2, so every build is interesting at this point. And Microsoft issued build 2631.2271 today, taking us one step closer to the final release.

The Microsoft Store gets a few updates in this release, including a new Game Pass page that lets users explore and subscribe to PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate. “With the new experience, you can learn about Game Pass benefits, such as exclusive games, deals, free perks, EA Play, and more,” Microsoft notes. “It’s also easier to discover, jump in, and play your next favorite game, including Day One games, new games on Game Pass, Bethesda games, and more.”

Aside from that, there’s not much in the way of new features. But the Windows Ink improvements that were introduced with Build 22631.2050 back in late July have been temporarily disabled so that Microsoft can fix some bugs impacting the usability of this experience. (These changes allowed users to use Windows Ink to handwrite anywhere you can type with a keyboard.) Presumably, they will return before Windows 11 version 23H2 is finalized.

Otherwise, Microsoft offers only bug fixes. And key among those is a long list of fixes for File Explorer, which I’ve identified as the single most problematic component of 23H2. Microsoft fixed 7 (!) File Explorer bugs in this release, so those who have been suffering with its many reliability issues will want to install this build as soon as possible and hope that it fixes the most glorious performance and reliability issues.

Microsoft has also fixed bugs in Windows Copilot, Settings, Dev Drive, Task Manager, and other Windows components. Nothing major, in other words.