Microsoft releases Windows 10 build 14328 to the Fast ring for PC and Mobile. The new flight includes a slew of new features and improvements over the last the previous build of Windows 10, which was also packed big changes.
In build 14328, part of the Anniversary Update arriving later this summer, Microsoft is finally delivers an improved version of the Start menu, Action Center and notifications start getting revamp and new features begin to emerge. The taskbar gets new features as well, such as calendar integration and badge notifications, the Lock screen receives major tweaks, and a lot more.
Here are all the new features and changes Microsoft is officially announcing in the latest Insider preview of Windows 10.
Start menu
Windows 10 build 14328 brings the new Start menu experience that reduces scrolling and clicking. The new experience is also more consistent across devices, including PC, tablet, and phone.
As the company previously detailed, the new Start menu merges the app list and the “All apps” list into a single scrollable view. Similar to the Universal Windows Platform app, the new menu features a left rail with option surfacing the Power, Settings, File Explorer, and buttons to your places that chose to appear from the Settings app.
Tablet mode
The full screen menu Tablet mode is also getting updated. In the new preview for the Anniversary Update, Microsoft is bringing back the full screen “All Apps” list from Windows 8.1, but instead of showing the list using the entire screen, the new list only has three rows and it’s centered on the screen.
On the left rail, there are also two buttons that will help users to switch between the list apps and Live Tiles in the Start screen making the experience more consistent.
There is also a new option on Settings > System > Tablet Mode that allows you to choose to auto-hide the taskbar in tablet mode. With this new option the taskbar will automatically hide to let apps take advantage of the screen real estate.
Cortana
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Cortana on the Lock screen: Windows 10 build 14328 places Cortana on the Lock screen by default for simple tasks. However, tasks that require more interaction will require to unlock the device. If you want to disable or enable Cortana on the Lock screen, open Cortana’s settings and under Lock screen options turn on Let me use Cortana even when my device is locked.
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Cortana new reminders: You can now create a Photo Reminder, and using the share capability on the Universal Windows Platform apps, you can also set reminders on content. You can also try this feature on Microsoft Edge, News and even with the Photos app.
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Cortana cross-devices features: Your personal assistant now syncs correctly between devices, which means that you will now get alerts when your Android or Windows phone is low in battery. And, you can now ask Cortana to find and ring your phone, and you can share maps across all your devices.
- Cortana improvements: Starting with Windows 10 build 14328, Cortana no longer requires a Microsoft Account to help you with common questions and search queries. However, you’ll need to sign in with your Microsoft account in order for the assistant to learn more about you and be more helpful.
Deep search
On the new version of Windows 10, Microsoft is now enabling deeper file search, which means that you can now get results for files stored on your PC or on OneDrive from the search box in the taskbar.
Action Center & Notifications
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Action Center new button: The Action Center icon has now been relocated to the far bottom-right of the notification area to the left of the clock. It now features a badge displaying the number of notifications you missed. The icon will also rotate displaying an icon of the app that has missed notifications, even if you the app doesn’t show a toast.
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Action Center visual changes: App notifications in Action Center no longer repeats the icon on each notification. Instead, Action Center now groups all the notifications for a single app displaying a header with the name of app and a single icon to allow more space to show more notifications.
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Action Center with Cortana notifications: Important Cortana notifications will now appear on Action Center to ensure you don’t miss anything.
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Action Center Quick Actions: On Settings > System > Nonfictions & actions, you can now rearrange the Quick Actions button anyway you like by simply dragging and dropping each button in the position you want. You can also click the “Add or remove quicks actions” to do just that.
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Wi-Fi Quick Action button: Now clicking the Wi-Fi Quick Action button will take you to the “View Available Network” flyout instead of disabling your wireless connection.
Taskbar
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Taskbar clock calendar integration: Microsoft is making the Clock in Windows 10 more useful displaying calendar events. Once you click the Clock, you will see you daily schedule and clicking and event will open Calendar app. In addition, you can also click the “+” button to add a new event.
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Taskbar clock on all monitors: Now the operating system displays the clock all monitors in the taskbar.
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Taskbar badges for apps: Starting on Windows 10 build 14328, Universal Windows Platform apps now show badges with the number of missed notification in that particular app.
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Taskbar settings in the Settings app: All taskbar settings have now been moved to Settings > System > Taskbar. Now when you right-click the taskbar, you’ll see option to open Settings instead of Properties.
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Taskbar playback controls: The volume flyout has been updated to let you switch between multiple audio output devices.
Windows Ink
While the operating system includes pen support for a long time, starting build 14328, Microsoft introduces a new experience that we now know as Windows Ink. The new experience, puts all the “power of Windows in the tip of your pen” enabling you to write virtually anywhere on the screen that being on virtual paper, sticky notes, whiteboard, and on apps such as on Maps, Microsoft Edge, and Office.
The new Anniversary Update preview on a Surface devices, the Windows Ink Workspace will be enabled by default and it’ll become accessible from the pen button located in the notification area of the taskbar. Or via the right-click context menu Show Windows Ink Workspace button option for those devices without an active pen.
Virtual desktop
Users can now quickly switch between virtual desktops swiping with four fingers left or right on the precision touchpad. If you need to refer two adjacent desktops, keep your fingers down and drag back and forth.
Settings app
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Icons on every setting: All pages in the Settings app now features individual icons to easily identify the group of settings. Icons will also appear when you pin individual settings to Start. And there is also a dropdown flyout suggesting settings as you type in the search box.
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Pen settings page: The Pen settings page on Settings > Devices > Pen has been modified to offer the ability to control the pen shortcuts, new option to ignore touch input when using a stylus, and Windows Ink Workspace settings. Furthermore, the touch keyboard and handwriting panel settings have been separated and you can select to ignore touch input when using the pen.
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App reset: Microsoft is adding a way to reset apps when they stop working on Settings > App and features. Just select the app, click Advanced options, and click the Reset button.
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Windows Insider Program settings page: The Windows Insider Program page now has its own page under Update & security.
Lock screen
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Hide email address on the Lock screen: If you don’t want to display your email address on the Lock screen, you can now easily go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn off the Privacy option.
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Media controls on the Lock screen: When playing music a new media controls will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Other Windows 10 build 14328 improvements
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Updated credential & UAC dialog UI: There is a new UAC dialog box when credentials are required to perform certain tasks.
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Updated Skype app: You can now to create and send group messages, and you can also make group audio and video calls.
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Updated File Explorer icon: Windows 10 build 14328 also includes a new updated File Explorer icon with a monochrome design. In addition, in order to make more space available in the taskbar the operating system will no longer pin File Explorer.
- Japanese IME improvements: In this version of Windows 10, Microsoft is also improving prediction capability, typing history management, and cloud suggestions for Japanese IME.
Windows 10 build 14328 is available immediately through the Fast ring of updates. It will download and install automatically on your PC, but you can always force the update from Settings > Update & security > Windows Update and clicking the Check for updates button. This build also includes a number of bug fixes and known issues that users need to be aware before installing.
What do you think about all the features including in this preview release of Windows 10 Anniversary Update? Let us know in the comments below.
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].