- Windows 11 build 23471 is now rolling out in the Dev Channel.
- The update introduces a new File Explorer with tab tear out and add phone photos features.
- In addition, the Settings app and Lock screen receive new improvements.
- And the Windows Narrator is now available in Spain and Mexico.
Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 11 build 23471 for devices enrolled in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program. This is a minor release that ships with various visual changes, fixes, and new features and improvements.
Build 23471 for Windows 11, according to the official changes, introduces an updated version of File Explorer that includes a new option to set up your phone to show images in the “Gallery.” The Windows Narrator natural language is now available in Spanish for Spain and Mexico. The network flyout in the Lock screen receives a visual update to align with the design language of the operating system and more.
Windows 11 build 23471 changes
Here are all the new features and improvements for the latest release of Windows 11 in the Dev Channel:
File Explorer
Starting with build 23471, File Explorer updates the “Gallery” view with a new “Add Phone Photos” option in the command bar to connect your phone and access your images. When you click the button, it’ll open a link with a barcode that you can scan with your phone to get started.
As part of the tabbing system, you can now tear out and merge tabs in File Explorer.
Lock screen
The Lock screen flyout has been updated to align with the design language of the operating system and more, including rounded corners and mica material.
Settings
In the Settings app, it’s now easier to control whether to use cellular when Wi-Fi is available but poor, using a new toggle that has been added to Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular.
Windows Narrator
In this release, Windows 11 is introducing new natural voices in Spanish (Spain and Mexico) that allow Narrator users to comfortably browse the web, read and write mail, and do more. The new Spanish (Spain) voices are Microsoft Alvaro and Microsoft Elvira and Microsoft Jorge, and Microsoft Dalia for Spanish (Mexico).
Fixes and improvements
This flight also ships with a bunch of fixes and improvements for Taskbar, Input, Settings, File Explorer, and more.
Taskbar
- Fixed an issue that was causing the taskbar to get cut off when switching to and from the tablet-optimized taskbar.
- Fixed the issue causing Insiders to see an empty tooltip displayed momentarily in certain cases including while the gleam is hovered if the new hover behavior for the search box and search highlight gleam is enabled.
File Explorer
- Fixed an issue where pressing Shift + F10 wasn’t opening the context menu in File Explorer.
Fixed an issue where access keys appeared inconsistently if no button was pressed.- Fixed an issue that was causing explorer.exe to crash when opening the context menu for some Insiders. This same issue is believed to be the cause of some Insiders seeing an older design instead of the updated one.
- Fixed an explorer.exe crash in the last flight related to loading/interacting with the scrollbar in Gallery.
- Fixed an issue where Gallery may require clicking twice on the node in the navigation pane for initial load.
- Fixed an issue where minimizing and reopening File Explorer would lose your scroll position in Gallery.
- Hovering your mouse over pictures in Gallery should now show a tooltip with information about the picture.
- Live updates (including filtering) are now enabled and no longer require using the Refresh button manually.
- Fixed an issue where some file types (e.g., .heic) were not rendered correctly or performantly.
- Made the background for thumbnails a little lighter in light mode so it doesn’t stand out as much.
- If you have Narrator running when you open the details pane, it should now announce the file name.
- If the setting to show file name extensions has been enabled, that will now be reflected in the details pane too.
Other
- Fixed an issue where Narrator with Braille support wasn’t reading numbered lists correctly in Microsoft 365 apps.
This release also has known issues with the File Explorer, Dev Drive, Notifications, Taskbar, and Backup and Restore.
Install build 23471
If you want to download and install the Windows 11 build 23471, enroll your device in the Dev Channel using the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Windows Update” section.
Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download build 23471 from the “Windows Update” settings by clicking the Check for Updates button. However, you will need a device that meets the minimum system requirements to receive the update if you are new to the Windows Insider Program.
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].