Exciting New Features in Windows 11 Builds 22621.3951 & 22631.3951

Hello WindowsForum.com community, Exciting news for Windows Insiders! Microsoft has announced the release of Windows 11 Builds 22621.3951 and 22631.3951 (KB5040527) to the Release Preview Channel. Both these builds bring a plethora of new features and substantial improvements which are sure to enhance the overall user experience on Windows 11, especially for those on versions 22H2 (Build 22621) and 23H2 (Build 22631).

Key Features and Improvements​

1. Nearby Sharing Enhancements Notification for Windows Share in China: To optimize the Nearby Sharing feature, it is now mandatory to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. When these are turned off, Windows will prompt users to enable them for Nearby Sharing to function seamlessly. Please note, this feature is being gradually rolled out and might not be available to all users immediately.​

2. File Explorer Updates Duplicate Tabs: You now have the option to duplicate tabs in File Explorer by right-clicking on a tab. Again, this feature is being rolled out gradually.​

3. Start Menu Enhancements Drag and Pin Apps: Users can now drag apps from the Pinned section of the Start Menu and pin them directly to the taskbar. This convenience feature is also part of a gradual rollout.​

4. File Explorer Reliability​

Several critical issues have been addressed to improve the reliability of File Explorer:

• Memory leaks when interacting with archive folders.
• Unexpectedly wide spacing between desktop icons.
• Search initiated from File Explorer’s Home may show no results initially.
• Address bar dropdown appearing unexpectedly during operations like renaming.
• Blank area display in File Explorer after a Desktop Window Manager (DWM) crash.
• Non-reactive File Explorer when using mouse buttons over the Recommended Files section.
• Incorrect folder name display in the search box.
• Flashing or flickering pictures in the File Explorer Gallery while scrolling.
• Errors when using the save dialog to save a file to the Gallery.

  5. End Task Logic Update​

  The "End Task" option in the taskbar has been updated to streamline user experience. This feature now excludes the "Not Responding" confirmation dialog. Users can access it under Settings > System > For Developers.

  6. Internet Explorer FrameShutdownDelay​

  Microsoft has updated the behavior of the Internet Explorer’s FrameShutdownDelay. It now ignores values in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main registry key.

  7. Group Policy Preferences Issues​

  Several fixes have addressed:
• Inability to choose groups from target domains for Item Level Targeting in Group Policy Preferences.
• The target domain not appearing when there are multiple forests with a one-way trust relationship.

  8. TCP/IP Improvements​

  There have been vital TCP/IP fixes focused on addressing high CPU usage, packet loss, and issues affecting TCP connection success rates.

  9. NetAdapterCx Module Update​

  An important fix has resolved the issue of systems becoming unresponsive when large amounts of data travel over Wi-Fi, affecting devices with specific wireless network cards.

  10. Universal Print Enhancements​

  Microsoft addressed the failure of Universal Print clients to communicate with the Universal Print service. This was particularly an issue when utilizing Web Proxy Auto Discovery (WPAD).

  11. Print Support App Fixes​

  Using the Print Support App with a USB device often resulted in the app ceasing to respond, disrupting printing functions and limiting the user interface. This issue has now been rectified.

  12. Autopilot Provisioning Issues​

  With these builds, using Autopilot to provision Surface Laptop SE devices will no longer fail.

  13. Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)​

  Several WDAC-related issues have been addressed, including:
• A memory leak that could exhaust system memory over time.
• Failures in verifying the policies of some apps.

  14. Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist​

  The update includes additions to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b), enhancing protection against Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.

  15. Bluetooth Improvements​

  The new builds resolve the issue where users could not put calls on hold using Bluetooth peripherals.

  16. Windows Backup Enhancements​

  The Windows Backup functionality has been fortified, addressing failures that occurred when a device had an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) system partition.

  17. Cache Manager Fixes​

  An issue causing the Cache Manager to stop responding when using Hyperthreading on Windows Server 2022 has now been fixed.

  Conclusion​

  The release of Windows 11 Builds 22621.3951 and 22631.3951 marks a significant step forward for Windows Insiders, with focus laid on improving system reliability, enhancing existing features, and introducing new functionalities. These updates reflect Microsoft's continual efforts to refine the Windows 11 experience and address user concerns. We encourage all Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel to proceed with these updates to take advantage of the latest improvements and fixes. Keep an eye on your system update notifications, as some features and fixes are rolling out gradually and may not be available to everyone immediately. Feel free to share your experiences and any issues encountered with these new builds. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping future updates. Stay tuned for more updates and happy testing! Thanks, WindowsForum.com Community Team