- Windows 11 22H2 receives builds 22621.870 and 22623.870 (KB5018499) in the Beta Channel.
- This rollout adds the Task Manager option in the Taskbar menu and changes for Windows Narrator.
- The update also brings fixes for both flights.
Microsoft begins the rollout of build 22623.870 (KB5018499) with new features enabled by default and then build 22621.870 (KB5018499) with features turned off by default for Windows 11 devices in the Beta Channel.
In this release, build 22623.870 brings the option to open the Task Manager from the Taskbar context menu, and the company also added the ability for the Windows Narrator to continue working while switching between narrator and third-party screen readers as Windows Narrator will automatically change braille drivers. In addition, this flight brings visual changes to the search experience, updates for Windows Hello, and more.
Windows 11 build 22623.870
These are the fixes specific to build 22623.870:
Tablet-optimized Taskbar
- Improved how touch gestures and their animations with the tablet-optimized taskbar work with the touch keyboard.
System tray
- Fixed an issue causing explorer.exe to crash when dragging icons in the system tray.
Windows 11 builds 22623.870 and 22621.870
These are the fixes that the Windows team is shipping with builds 22623.870 and 22621.870.
- Added improvements to the Microsoft Account experience in Settings. For instance, you can manage your Microsoft One Drive subscription and related storage alerts.
- Added a new consent form for those of you enrolled in Windows Hello Face and Fingerprint. You have new choices for your biometric data. You can keep storing your biometric data or open Settings to delete the data if you have not used your face or fingerprint for authentication in over 365 days. You also have these options if you upgraded to Windows 11 and have not yet seen the new Hello Learn More Privacy text.
- Enhanced search visual treatments on the taskbar to improve discoverability.
- Updated DriverSiPolicy.p7b for the Windows kernel vulnerable driver blocklist. This update includes drivers that are vulnerable to Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
- Extended original equipment manufacturer (OEM) control of Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) enforcement for targeted hardware configurations.
- Fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD) Application Proxy connector. It cannot retrieve a Kerberos ticket on behalf of the user. The error message is, “The handle specified is invalid (0x80090301).”
- Fixed an issue that affects cached credentials for security keys and Fast Identity Online 2.0 (FIDO2) On hybrid domain-joined devices, the system removes these cached credentials.
- Fixed an issue that might cause vertical and horizontal line artifacts to appear on the screen.
- Fixed an issue that affects title bars when you use third-party tools to customize them.
- Fixed an issue that might fail to sync the audio when you record game play using the Xbox Game Bar.
Microsoft is looking into issues with the tablet-optimized Taskbar and System tray problems as part of the known issues.
Install build 22623.870
If you want to download and install the Windows 11 build 22623.870, you need to enroll your device in the Beta Channel using the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Update & Security” section.
Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download build 22623.870 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. If the device receives build 22621.870, you can check again for updates to download build 22623.870.
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 14 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 20 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].