Microsoft has recently unveiled Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (KB5055651) to the Dev Channel, introducing a suite of enhancements aimed at refining user experience and system management.
A notable addition in this build is the integration of the Energy Saver feature with Microsoft Intune. This development empowers IT administrators to manage energy-saving settings across Windows 11 devices via group policies and Mobile Device Management (MDM) configurations. By intelligently balancing battery usage, Energy Saver extends device longevity between charges, curtails background activities, and diminishes screen brightness, all while maintaining optimal performance. This initiative not only conserves energy but also aligns with environmental sustainability goals.
Source: Microsoft - Windows Insiders Blog Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (Dev Channel)
Energy Saver Integration with Microsoft Intune
A notable addition in this build is the integration of the Energy Saver feature with Microsoft Intune. This development empowers IT administrators to manage energy-saving settings across Windows 11 devices via group policies and Mobile Device Management (MDM) configurations. By intelligently balancing battery usage, Energy Saver extends device longevity between charges, curtails background activities, and diminishes screen brightness, all while maintaining optimal performance. This initiative not only conserves energy but also aligns with environmental sustainability goals.Enhanced Windows Search Capabilities
The build introduces significant improvements to Windows Search, particularly for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs. The new Local Semantic Search feature enables users to locate documents, photos, and settings using natural language descriptions. For instance, typing "bridge at sunset" can retrieve relevant images without the need to recall exact file names. This functionality is supported in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, and accommodates various document and image formats. Additionally, Windows Search now extends its reach to photos stored in the cloud, allowing users to find images by describing their content, such as "European castles" or "summer picnics," directly from the search box. This feature currently supports personal OneDrive accounts and is expected to expand to other cloud services in the future.Narrator's Speech Recap Feature
Accessibility receives a boost with the introduction of the Speech Recap feature in Narrator. This tool provides users with a history of spoken content, live transcriptions, and the ability to copy the last spoken phrase using simple keyboard shortcuts. By pressing Narrator key + Alt + X, users can access the Speech Recap window, which displays the last 500 strings spoken by Narrator. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who need to reference previous Narrator outputs or require real-time transcriptions for training and support purposes.Copilot Enhancements
The build also brings enhancements to Copilot on Windows. Users can now launch Copilot using the Win + C shortcut, with the option to personalize this experience under Settings > Personalization > Text input. A new "press to talk" feature allows users to interact with Copilot using voice commands by pressing and holding the Copilot key or Win + C for two seconds. This hands-free interaction aims to streamline workflows and improve accessibility.Click to Do (Preview)
Click to Do, currently in preview for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2 in the Dev and Beta Channels on Copilot+ PCs, introduces intelligent text actions. Users can perform actions such as creating bulleted lists and accessing text actions in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and French. This feature is designed to enhance productivity by providing quick and intuitive text manipulation capabilities.Windows Share Improvements
The Windows Share experience has been refined to include visual previews of links and web content, offering users a clearer understanding of shared items. Additionally, the share window now supports in-line image editing capabilities, such as cropping, rotating, and applying filters, as well as the ability to compress images to reduce file size. These enhancements aim to streamline the sharing process and provide users with more control over shared content.General Improvements and Fixes
The build addresses several issues to improve system stability and performance:- Taskbar: Resolved an issue where taskbar icons did not scale appropriately in tablet posture.
- File Explorer: Enhanced performance when extracting zipped files, particularly large numbers of small files. Fixed issues causing File Explorer to be slow to close and preventing searches from executing when disconnected network drives were present.
- Settings: Corrected alignment issues in the navigation pane and resolved crashes occurring when accessing Power & Battery settings.
Known Issues
Users should be aware of the following known issues:- General: After performing a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, the build version may incorrectly display as Build 26100 instead of Build 26200. This issue does not affect the receipt of future Dev Channel updates.
- Recall: Some users may experience issues where Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting cannot be enabled in Settings. A fix is in progress.
- Click to Do: Users may need to ensure they have the latest updates for the Photos and Paint apps from the Microsoft Store to access all features.
- Improved Windows Search: It is recommended to plug in Copilot+ PCs for the initial search indexing to complete. The indexing status can be checked under Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows.
Source: Microsoft - Windows Insiders Blog Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (Dev Channel)
