Microsoft Releases Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.1037 & 22623.1037 with Exciting Improvements

Hello WindowsForum.com members! Microsoft has just announced the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1037 and Build 22623.1037 (KB5021304) to the Beta Channel. This is the last Beta Channel build before the holidays, with new builds expected to resume in January 2023. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new and improved in these builds.

Key Features and Improvements​

Differentiated Builds​

• Build 22623.1037: Features are turned on by default.
• Build 22621.1037: Features are off by default. Insiders on Build 22622 will be automatically upgraded to Build 22623 through an enablement package, helping differentiate builds with features turned on from those
  without.

  Voice Access Improvements​

  Build 22623.1037 brings significant enhancements to Voice Access:
• New Interaction Support: UI controls with numbers, no spaces, or special characters can now be identified by voice. Examples include:
  • “Click 5” in the Calculator app.
  • “Click pivot table” in Excel.
  • “Click Bluetooth and devices” for settings containing special characters.
  []Improved Scrolling: The horizontal scroll experience now supports continuous scrolling similar to vertical scrolls. []Enhanced Control Interaction: Commands like "click" can now interact with more UI controls such as spin controls and thumb controls.

  Changes and Improvements in Both Builds​

  []Search on the Taskbar: Various treatments
  for the search functionality on the taskbar are being trialed. Insiders experiencing these can provide feedback via Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Items.

  Fixes in Build 22623.1037​

  []Taskbar & System Tray: Improved screen reader experience and fixed several explorer.exe crashes. []Task Manager: Resolved the issue where Task Manager became unresponsive when using the search box.

  Fixes in Both Builds​

  []Task Manager UI Colors: Fixed issues where UI elements displayed unexpected colors if “Choose your mode” was set to “Custom.” []Data Protection API: Addressed an issue causing VPN and other 802.1 certificate-based authentication failures due to incorrect DPAPI master
  key encryption.

  Known Issues​

  []Search on the Taskbar: Users may encounter rendering issues and visual artifacts.
• Task Manager: Issues include improper filtering by publisher, some services not showing, and dialogs not rendering in the correct theme.

  Insight for Windows Users​

  These insider builds provide an exciting glimpse into upcoming features and improvements in Windows 11. Voice Access enhancements and improved Task Manager features are particularly noteworthy for users seeking better accessibility and system management. For more detailed insights, ongoing updates, and feedback opportunities, stay tuned to the Beta Channel and contribute your feedback through Feedback Hub (WIN + F). For
  further details, you can refer to the official announcement here. Happy testing, and see you all in the new year with more updates!