Windows 11 build 22631.2191 (KB5029336) rolls out in Beta Channel

Windows 11 22H2 receives builds 22621.2191 and 22631.2191 (KB5029336) in the Beta Channel.
This update introduces a slew of new features and changes coming to version 23H2.
Some of them include HDR wallpapers, new Narrator voices, Windows 365 Switch, and more.
The update also brings several fixes and improvements.

Windows 11 build 22631.2191 (KB5029336) is now available with new features enabled by default, expected to arrive with version 23H2, and the preview build 22621.2191 (KB5029336) with features turned off by default for computers enrolled in the Beta Channel.

Build 22631.2191 for Windows 11, according to the official changes, introduces the ability to use JXR files as desktop backgrounds, and if you have an HDR display, they will render in full HDR. If you have multiple displays attached to your device, the background will show as HDR or SDR, depending on each display’s capabilities. This makes it possible for your device to intelligently dim your screen when you look away and brighten it again when you look back.

Microsoft is introducing new natural voices in French, Portuguese, English (India), German, and Korean that allow Windows Narrator users to comfortably browse the web, read and write mail, and more.

The new French voices are Microsoft Denise (Female) and Microsoft Henri (Male), and the Portuguese voices are Microsoft Francisca (Female) and Microsoft Antonio (Male). The new English (India) voices are Microsoft Neerja (Female) and Microsoft Prabhat (Male). The new German voices are Microsoft Katja (Female) and Microsoft Conrad (Male), and the new Korean voices are Microsoft SunHi (Female) and Microsoft InJoon (Male).

Windows 11 build 22631.2191 introduces the first Windows 365 Switch preview, which is a feature that provides the ability to easily move between a Windows 365 Cloud PC and the local desktop using the same familiar keyboard commands and mouse.

Windows 365 Cloud PC in Task View / Image: Microsoft

In addition, build 22631.2191 changes the behavior that enables the Window Spotlight feature when using the default Windows 11 background or solid color before an operating system update. If you turn off the feature, the system won’t try to enable the feature again in future updates.

Finally, File Explorer adds a “Share” to the context menu, in addition to having the share icon at the top of the context menu. Also, the flight adds more fields to show in the “Details” pane, including image dimensions for pictures, number of pages for .docx, space used and free information for drives, and many others.

Windows 11 build 22631.2191 fixes

This rollout also brings a bunch of fixes and improvements for both builds:

File Explorer

Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to crash when navigating to Home, as well as some other issues causing crashes.

Fixed a memory leak in File Explorer with the latest updates which could cause explorer.exe crashes and other issues over prolonged usage.

Fixed an issue where after refreshing Home, actions to pin and unpin favorite files might not work.

Fixed an issue where the tooltip would get stuck on the screen when you scrolled Home with touch.

Fixed an issue where collapsing and expanding the sections of Home didn’t always work.

Fixed an issue where Home and Gallery could get stuck in the wrong colors if they were open when changing between light and dark mode.

Fixed an issue where thumbnails in Gallery might not load after changing the view to a smaller icon size (for example, medium to small).

Made some small adjustments to the size of elements, including reducing the size of the text.

The ALT + D, CTRL + L, and F4 keyboard shortcuts should work now to set focus to the address bar.

Fixed an issue where typing drive letters, %localappdata%, and certain other things in the address bar wasn’t causing suggested paths to appear in a dropdown.

Fixed an issue where the icons displayed in the tabs in File Explorer could become out of sync with the current folder after navigating.

Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer to show “Working on it” in an empty folder.

Fixed an issue where the image in the Details pane might get blurry after resizing the File Explorer window.

Fixed an issue where the design of the details pane was displaying from left to right instead of right to left when using Hebrew or Arabic display languages.

Fixed an issue where the text box for naming newly created files or folders on the desktop was showing in the wrong position (far away or way too close) relative to the thumbnail.

Fixed an issue where ALT + P and Shift + Alt + P keyboard shortcuts weren’t working when focus was set to one of the images in Gallery.

Fixed an issue where right clicking items in the navigation pane wouldn’t open a context menu after you changed folders.

Fixed an issue which was causing explorer.exe to crash when trying to access an FTP address.

Fixed an issue where selecting the dropdown arrows in the address bar was opening a blank menu.

Dynamic Lighting

Fixed an issue where devices might show as empty squares in Settings > Personalization > Dynamic Lighting.

Microsoft also points out various known issues regarding File Explorer, Taskbar, Input, and the Windows Narrator.

Install build 22631.2191

To download and install the Windows 11 build 22631.2191, 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 22631.2191 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 22621.2191, you can turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch to switch to build 22631.2191.