Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309: Key Features and Enhancements

Microsoft has just rolled out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309 for the Dev Channel, bringing a host of new features and improvements. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s new in this update.

Highlights of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25309​

New Enhanced Volume Mixer in Quick Settings​

With this build, Microsoft has launched an advanced volume mixer into Quick Settings, making it easier to customize audio on a per-app basis. The new volume mixer offers quick access to swap audio devices on the fly. A keyboard shortcut (WIN + CTRL + V) has been added for faster access. Additionally,
enabling Windows Sonic experience and other spatial sound technologies like Dolby and DTS is now simpler.

Updated Touch Keyboard Settings​

The updated touch keyboard settings introduce a new dropdown menu with three options:

1. Never: Suppresses the touch keyboard even when no hardware keyboard is attached.
2. When no keyboard attached: Displays the touch keyboard only when the device is used as a tablet.
3. Always: Shows the touch keyboard even when the hardware keyboard is attached.

   Auto Color Management (ACM) Expansion​

   ACM is now available for more SDR displays, ensuring consistent color accuracy across all supported displays. The feature requires a
   WDDM driver version 3.0 or greater and GPUs including AMD RX 400 Series, Intel 12th Gen Integrated, and NVIDIA GTX 10xx series.

   Voice Access Improvements​

   The in-app command help page has been redesigned for easier navigation and understanding. Additionally, voice access now supports more English dialects and includes new text selection and editing commands, making it easier to control your PC with your voice.

   Changes and Improvements​

   • Start Menu: New text variants for badging are being tested.
   • File Explorer: A “pizza” icon indicates previewing the Windows App SDK version.
   • Snap Layouts: Tweaked treatments to improve discoverability and usage.
   • Widget
     Icons: Icons are now theme-aware to offer better visibility in dark and light modes.
   • Settings: Updated settings for physical power controls integration.

     Fixes​

     This build also brings a series of fixes:
   • General: Resolved USB device issues and crashes related to the taskbar and the Start menu.
   • File Explorer: Fixed issues with desktop icon arrangements and with the explorer jumping to the foreground.
   • Taskbar: Addressed display issues resulting in duplication and misplaced icons in multi-monitor setups.

     Known Issues​

   • Updating: Some users may experience longer update times.
   • Search on Taskbar: Issues with rendering and disappearing of search elements.
   • Snipping Tool: The "New"
     button may not work for some Insiders, but a temporary workaround is available.
   • Live Captions: Performance issues in non-English languages and delays in detection.

     Conclusion​

     This build is packed with enhancements aimed at improving user experience and system functionality. Users are encouraged to test these features and provide feedback via the Feedback Hub to help Microsoft fine-tune future updates. For a complete list of changes, known issues, and more detailed information, check out the official Windows Insider Blog. Feel free to discuss your experiences and share your feedback on these new features in this thread!