Windows 10 build 18980 (codename Vibranium) is now rolling out for devices enrolled in the Fast ring of the Windows Insider Program. This is the update number 29 that Microsoft is making available as part of the 20H1 development coming in spring 2020.
This flight, according to the software giant, expands the new Optional Features changes to all testers, Cortana becomes an app available worldwide, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux ships with new improvements.
Windows 10 build 18980 changes
Here are all the features and changes coming to the next version of Windows 10:
Optional Features
Starting with Windows 10 build 18980, the Optional Features changes, such as new design, option to install multiple features at once, and easier navigation, previously available for a select number of users are now available for all testers.
Cortana
Although the Cortana app doesn’t include new features, beginning with this flight, the experience comes available worldwide. In a future update, users will have the option to use Cortana if they speak a supported language, regardless of their OS display language.
Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2)
As part of the 20H1 development, with build 18980, WSL2 brings support for ARM64 devices. Microsoft has also added the ability to set your distribution’s default user using the “wsl.conf” file.
Other changes
Alongside the new improvements, Windows 10 build 18980 also ships with some other tweaks, including Microsoft Paint and WordPad officially become optional features, which means that you can now remove them.
The Apps & features page has some performance improvements for search.
Ease of Access settings no longer sync across devices, and as a result, you’ll no longer find the option to synchronize these settings from the “Sync” settings page.
Magnifier reading now works better in applications like Google Chrome and Firefox. Also, Magnifier reading no longer clicks the application when using the “Read from here” button or the Ctrl + Alt + Left Mouse Click keyboard shortcut.
As part of the Narrator updates, this flight improves the ability to read the title of the window with Narrator while reading messages in Outlook, and auto-reading in Outlook with Narrator is more reliable.
Microsoft made changes to more reliably read the message headers using Narrator while reading when using the Shift + Tab command while in Scan Mode. And it has improved the verbosity of Narrator when reading lists at verbosity level one.
Microsoft is listing the complete set of improvements, fixes, and known issues for Windows 10 Insider Preview build 18980 at the Windows Blog.
Download Windows 10 build 18980
Although there are no ISO files for Windows 10 build 18980, the update is available immediately through the Fast ring. This preview build will download and install automatically on your device, but you can always force the update from Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button.
You can also check out these resources:
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].