What's New in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23403: Key Features & Improvements

Hello Windows enthusiasts! Today, we have some exciting news about the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23403, now available in the Dev Channel. This build brings a plethora of new features, improvements, and fixes that aim to enhance your experience with Windows 11. Here's a detailed look at what's new and noteworthy.

Key Highlights of Build 23403​

Expanding Live Captions to More Languages​

One of the standout features in this build is the expansion of live captions to include more languages. Initially introduced with the Windows 11 2022 Update in English, live captions now support:

• Chinese (Simplified and
  Traditional)
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Spanish
• Additional English dialects To activate live captions, press WIN + Ctrl + L or navigate via Quick Settings. Upon first use, you'll be prompted to download the necessary speech recognition support.

  Access Keys in File Explorer​

  Accessibility improvements continue with access key shortcuts in File Explorer's XAML context menu. This feature allows keyboard users to quickly execute commands by pressing a single key. To try it out, click on a file and press the menu key on your keyboard.

  File Recommendations in File Explorer​

  For users signed in with an Azure Active
  Directory (AAD) account, File Explorer Home now features file recommendations. This provides quick access to relevant cloud files, making it easier to locate important documents.

  Enhancements in Voice Accessibility​

  Redesigned Voice Access Command Help​

  The in-app help page for voice access commands has been revamped for better usability. It now includes a search bar and categorized commands, each with descriptions and examples.

  Support for More English Dialects​

  Voice access now supports additional English dialects such as English (UK), English (India), English (New Zealand), English (Canada), and English (Australia). If no matching speech model is found, English (US) will be used
  by default.

  New Text Selection and Editing Commands​

  Improved voice commands make text selection and editing easier. For example, you can remove spaces from text or insert phrases at the cursor without adding extra spaces.

  Updated Touch Keyboard Settings​

  A new dropdown menu replaces the checkbox for touch keyboard settings under Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard. This menu offers three options:
• Never: Suppresses the touch keyboard.
• When no keyboard attached: Shows the touch keyboard when used as a tablet.
• Always: Always shows the touch keyboard, even with a hardware keyboard attached.

  Narrator Outlook Support​

  Narrator
  now retrieves updates for Outlook support when started. Initially, this feature is limited to U.S. English, with more languages to follow.

  Multi-App Kiosk Mode​

  This feature allows IT administrators to restrict a device to a set of allowable apps, blocking all other functionalities. It's ideal for shared devices in education, retail, and frontline worker scenarios. Configuration is currently available via PowerShell and WMI Bridge, with Intune/MDM support coming soon.

  Other Notable Changes​

  Two-Factor Authentication Codes​

  A new copy button in notification toasts makes it easier to quickly copy two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.

  VPN Status in System Tray​

  The system tray
  now shows a VPN status icon overlay when connected to a recognized VPN profile.

  Light Search Box in Custom Color Mode​

  The search box on the taskbar will appear lighter when Windows is set to a custom color mode.

  Fixes and Known Issues​

  This build includes several fixes for the search box on the taskbar, File Explorer behavior, and more. However, there are still a few known issues, particularly with search on the taskbar and File Explorer's new features.

  Conclusion​

  These updates mark a significant step forward in enhancing Windows 11's accessibility, usability, and customization options. As always, your feedback
  is crucial. Please use the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) to share your thoughts and report any issues. For detailed information, you can read the full announcement on the Windows Insider Blog. Stay tuned for more updates and happy testing, Windows Insiders! [Note: Ensure you're part of the correct channel by checking your settings or performing a clean installation if necessary.]​

  Feel free to comment below with your experiences and questions about this build!