Discover the Latest Features in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25217

Hello WindowsForum.com community! Exciting news for all Windows enthusiasts as Microsoft has just announced the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25217 to the Dev Channel. Here’s a rundown of the prominent features, updates, and fixes that this build brings to the table.

Key Highlights​

Support for 3rd Party Widgets​

Developers can now start building and testing 3rd party widgets on the latest Insider Preview builds using WinAppSDK 1.2 preview 2. This is a significant expansion from the initial introduction of the Widgets board in Windows 11. Features:

• Win32 app developers can create and test widgets locally if
  their machine is in Developer Mode (Settings > Privacy & security > For developers).
• Updated widgets require version 521.20060.1205.0 or higher. Limitations:
• 3rd party widgets can currently only be tested on the latest Dev Channel builds.
• Support for PWA widgets will be introduced in a future Microsoft Edge release. For more information, developers are encouraged to check out the Widget Design Docs and Widget Dev Docs.

  Cloud Suggestions in Simplified Chinese IME​

  An improved cloud suggestion and integrated search suggestion for typing in Simplified Chinese is being tested. The cloud suggestions incorporate relevant words from Bing directly into the IME
  candidate window, providing fresher and more precise suggestions.

  Microsoft Store Update​

  The Microsoft Store is rolling out an update (version 22209) with enhancements such as:
• Clear indication when games are "available with Game Pass."
• Improved Library experience with simplified options and better performance.

  Sneak Peek: New Video Calling Experience​

  A new, streamlined video calling experience for Chat from Microsoft Teams on Windows 11 is currently being tested with a subset of users. It features a more intuitive interface focusing on ease of use and immediate connection options, even with people not on Teams.

  Changes and Improvements​

  Input​

• The Tamil Anjal
  keyboard is now available for all Insiders in the Dev Channel.
• The new touch keyboard setting introduced in Build 25188 has been temporarily disabled for further design refinements.

  Tablet-Optimized Taskbar​

  Improvements and fixes specific to the tablet-optimized taskbar include:
• Fixing taskbar collapse issues without running windows.
• Preventing explorer.exe crashes when switching apps or entering overflow flyout.
• Correcting issues with taskbar gestures and UI overlaps.

  Windowing​

• Fixes include better rendering of window preview thumbnails in Task View and resolving Miracast video quality issues.

  System Tray Updates​

• Quick Settings items can now be rearranged via touch again.

  Network & Internet​

• Corrected link
  speed display errors in Advanced Network Settings.

  Known Issues​

  General​

• Audio issues reported post-update.
• Crashing issues in various apps and disappearing/reappearing UI elements.

  Input​

• Text cursor visibility issues when hovering over text fields.

  Widgets​

• Animation and alignment issues in right-to-left display languages.

  System Tray​

• Dragging icons might crash explorer.exe. For detailed information and a complete look at ongoing issues, developers and insiders are encouraged to check the known issues listed in the release notes and provide feedback via the Feedback Hub (WIN + F).

  For Developers​

  Developers can download the latest Windows Insider SDK from aka.ms/windowsinsidersdk, including SDK NuGet packages
  accessible via NuGet Gallery.

  Get Involved​

  Stay updated and engage with more Windows Insider content and updates through resources like the Inside Windows 11 website and the Flight Hub. For a deep dive into how these features are shaping up and to join in the conversation, feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback, both here on WindowsForum.com and via the official feedback channels. Stay tuned for more updates and happy testing!