On Friday, Microsoft rolled out two new builds for testing new Windows 11 features, aimed at Copilot+ PC owners and the broader Windows user base. These builds introduce an upgraded cloud search feature and a revamped sharing and Start menu interface, improving the overall user experience.
The two builds are as follows: Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (KB5052078), now available in the Beta Channel for those who missed January’s release, and Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291 (KB5052080), which is an optional release headed to both the Beta and Dev Channels. In the second half of the year, Microsoft plans to combine these two releases.
Cloud Search for Snapdragon PCs
Let’s start with the simpler 26120.3291 build. It introduces the semantic search feature, which allows users to search the cloud using descriptive terms instead of file names. This expands on the search capabilities already available in apps like Photos, where you can search for images by description (e.g., searching for “beach” to find vacation photos). The feature is currently limited to Qualcomm-powered Snapdragon PCs, leaving AMD and Intel-powered devices out of the mix for now.
One downside to this build is that Recall, the feature for taking snapshots, is being upgraded. Unfortunately, this means that all your Recall snapshots will be erased. Microsoft hasn’t revealed the specifics of the Recall upgrade, but the snapshots will temporarily disappear.
New Share Interface and Start Menu Tweaks
The more advanced 22635.4950 build brings a new sharing interface and tweaks to the Start menu. The new Share interface offers a more intuitive drag-and-drop mechanism for sharing files. Instead of having to right-click and choose from various sharing options (email, OneDrive, USB), you can now drag a file to the top of your screen to select how to share it, much like the Snap feature in Windows.
Additionally, Microsoft is testing changes to the Start menu, offering a new grid view and categories view. The grid view presents an alphabetized list of apps, while the categories view automatically organizes apps based on usage and relevance, making it easier to find the most frequently used ones.
Microsoft plans to roll out these features soon to Windows Insiders using Windows 11, version 24H2 in both the Dev and Beta Channels.
How to Get the Latest Features
As always, new features may not be available right away, even for Insider users. Ensure your Windows Update toggle is turned on to receive the latest builds as they become available.
