Microsoft is currently rolling out the build 22635.4660 (KB5048808) for Windows 11 in the Beta Channel with some visual changes for the About page in the Settings app, File Explorer, and Magnifier.
Usually, the company takes a little more time during the holidays to release preview builds in the Windows Insider Program. However, this time, we are getting previews faster with the release of the Windows 11 build 22635.4660 in the Beta Channel and build 27766 in the Canary Channel.
Windows 11 build 22635.4660 (Beta)
Officially, the update KB5048808 rolls out an updated version of the File Explorer that ports labels the common actions in the context menu, such as Cut, Copy, Rename, Share, and Delete. These labels made their first appearance with the release of version 24H2, but now they are coming to version 23H2 to make it easier to identify the actions in the context menu.
This preview also adds the reset zoom to fit the screen and reset the zoom to the last modification buttons to the Magnifier interface.
Furthermore, this release deprecates the “Suggested actions” feature, which was the inline menu that appeared when copying phone numbers or future dates on Windows 11.
Also, unofficially, Windows 11 build 22635.4660 shows a few other changes. For example, in the About page for the Settings app, Microsoft is now working on a card view at the top of the page to highlight some of the key hardware specifications, such as storage, graphics card, installed memory, and processor details.
The visual change is a work in progress, and you have to enable it manually by running the vivetool /enable /id:51784082,54618938 command using the ViveTool and restarting the computer.
Microsoft is also experimenting with a new icon for the Spotlight feature and dynamic text related to the current wallpaper.
This is also a feature that the company is testing, and you have to enable it manually using the vivetool /enable /id:52145430 /variant:X command with the ViveTool. You will also have to change “X” to 1 for the updated icon and dynamic text or 2 for the updated icon only and no dynamic text.
Although this isn’t part of this release, recent preview builds for the Beta Channel also included a new option in the Taskbar settings page that allows you to show an icon in the System Tray to open the Emoji panel in addition to using the “Windows key + ;” keyboard shortcut.
You also have to enable this option manually using the vivetool /enable /id:48504539 command with the ViveTool.
Windows 11 build 27766 (Canary)
Microsoft also released the Windows 11 build 27766 in the Canary Channel, but this preview doesn’t include new features or significant changes, only general fixes.
Installation process
To download and install these Windows 11 builds, enroll your device in the Beta or Canary Channel through the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Update & Security” section. Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download the build from the “Windows Update” settings by turning on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option and clicking the “Check for Updates” button.
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].