Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 10 build 17101 for testers with devices enrolled in the Fast ring as part of the Redstone 4 development. This is a minor update, but it delivers a few new features, improvements, and a slew of fixes to begin stabilizing the new version for spring release.
Windows 10 Insider Preview build 17101, according to Microsoft brings changes to the emoji experience and the ability to globally allow or deny file access to apps. In addition, Windows 10 Pro for Workstations gets a few new features, and the software maker officially announces its new preview program for Windows apps.
Alongside the latest Redstone 4 preview, Microsoft is also making available Windows 10 build 17604 through the Skip Ahead option. This is the first test preview Insider are getting as part of the Redstone 5 development expected to release before 2018 ends.
What’s new on Windows 10 build 17101
Emojis
Starting with build 17101, Windows 10 updates the design of its emojis, and brings emojis to 150 more languages, including English (Great Britain), French (France), German (Germany), Spanish (Spain), and more. This will help you get the emoji you want easily and quickly.
File System
In the Privacy settings section, you’ll now find a new File System page that allows you to grant permission to Microsoft Store apps to have broad file system access. This capability will be granted on a per app basis by Microsoft. If an app has the broad file system access restricted capability, you will receive a consent dialog prompting you to accept or deny the request.
Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
Windows 10 build 17101 also brings two new features specifically for the edition for workstations, including a new power scheme and productivity and enterprise focused applications.
In order to provide the absolute maximum performance Windows 10 is introducing a new power policy in Control Panel called Ultimate Performance, which is based on the current High-Performance policy, but it goes a step further to eliminate micro-latencies associated with fine grained power management techniques. (The Ultimate Performance power policy is currently not available on battery powered systems.)
On Windows 10 version 1803, you will see for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations productivity and enterprise focused applications in place of consumer applications and games.
Additional improvements
This flight also introduces a few additional tweaks. For example, if you click the Reset button on the App volume and device preferences page, it’ll now also reset any app specific volumes you’ve set back to default (100%). Also, when your volume is muted, the volume icons in the Sound settings page will now appear muted.
The “Advanced graphics settings” link on the Display Settings page will now just say “Graphics Settings”. And the touch keyboard has been updated to prevent the shape-writing trail to appear on unsupported fields.
Windows 10 version 1809 (Redstone 5)
In build 17604, Windows 10 isn’t introducing any new features, but if you want to start receiving previews for the Redstone 5 update, you can join by selecting the Skip Ahead option using this guide.
Microsoft is listing the complete set of improvements, fixes, and known issues for Windows 10 Insider Preview build 17101 and build 17604 at the Windows Blog. In case you missed it, you can read all the changes for Windows 10 build 17093 in this article
Download Windows 10 build 17101
Although there are no ISO files for Windows 10 build 17101, the update is available immediately through the Fast ring for PCs. 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].