Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18323

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18323 (19H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. Please note that due to a small outage in our build publishing system, this build will be rolling out to Windows Insiders over the next few hours so it may not be immediately available at the time of publish of this blog post.

The 19H1 Bug Bash has officially kicked off as of yesterday! It will run from January 23th, 2019 to February 3rd, 2019. Head to the Feedback Hub for Quests to try out. There will also be a special Bug Bash edition webcast on Tuesday, January 29th at 10am PST.

REMINDER: As is normal with builds early in the development cycle, builds may contain bugs that might be painful for some. If this makes you uncomfortable, you may want to consider switching to the Slow ring. Slow ring builds will continue to be higher quality.

If you are looking for a complete look at what build is in which Insider ring – head on over to Flight Hub. You can also check out the rest of our documentation here including a complete list of new features and updates that have gone out as part of Insider flights for the current development cycle (which currently is 19H1).

What’s new in Build 18323

Improved RAW image format support

Do you like taking pictures in Raw image formats and wish that the Raw files from your camera were natively supported by Windows?

Good news! Targeting 19H1, we’ve been working hard to release a new store-delivered Raw codec package that dramatically improves native raw file format support in Windows.

By downloading the new Raw Image Extension (Beta) package from the store, you can now view image thumbnails, previews, and camera metadata of previously unsupported raw files right in File Explorer. You can also view your raw images – at full resolution – in apps such as Photos or any other Windows app that uses Windows Imaging Component framework to decode raw images.

How to test

Please note – to install the package, 19H1 Build 18323 or later is required. Open the following link in Edge to install the current beta package: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9NCTDW2W1BH8. We have also created a 19H1 Bug Bash quest for directions. If you are running Build 18323 or later, click on this link to open the quest in Feedback Hub.

Known issues

1. Exposing camera properties stored as EXIF/XMP metadata is not currently working for some raw image formats.
2. File Explorer hangs when the view state is changed to “Details Pane” and a raw file that activates the new raw codec package is selected.
3. Opening some raw images in Photos app using the new store-delivered raw codec pack gets stuck at low resolution thumbnail image.

How to provide feedback

We would love to get your feedback. Please send your feedback through Feedback Hub under “Devices and Drivers > Video Playback” category.

Improving Light Theme

We introduced the new Light Theme in Windows 10 with Build 18282 and today’s build has some improvements to Light Theme worth taking note of based on your feedback:

• We fixed an issue where the text in the battery flyout might become unreadable in light theme due to it being white.
• We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in the network flyout wasn’t visible in light theme.
• We fixed an issue where the autoplay icon in the systray wasn’t visible in light theme.
• We fixed an issue where impacting the network and volume icons in the notification area where after switching to light theme they wouldn’t update from white to black until explorer restarted.
• We fixed a similar issue where not all supported app icons in the taskbar would switch colors on the taskbar when switching between light and dark theme (particularly on the secondary monitor).
• We’ve made some adjustments to address issues where when using light theme white icons in notifications weren’t readable.
• We’re updating the Settings icon to now be dark grey in the taskbar when light theme is enabled rather than black.

General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC

• REMINDER: The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. You may see a new recommendation in the Windows Security app suggesting you turn this setting on.
• We fixed an issue causing Update Orchestrator Service to stop working periodically. As a result of this issue, you might have seen an error on Windows Update Settings saying that the update failed to restart. This issue also resulted in restart using Update and Restart to sometimes just restart you back into the base OS.
• [UPDATED] We fixed an issue where clicking your account in Cortana Permissions didn’t bring up the UI to sign out from Cortana (if you were already signed in). This issue also impacted the Change My Name button.
• We fixed an issue resulting in night light not working recently.
• We fixed an issue where the quick actions section of Action Center would be missing sometimes recently.
• We fixed an issue where closing an open Excel window from the taskbar might cause Excel to go non-responsive.
• We fixed an issue an issue where the WIN + Ctrl + <number> hotkey wasn’t working.
• When using your accent color on the taskbar has been enabled, the taskbar and start jump lists will now also be accent-themed.
• For the time being we’re returning the Volume Mixer link in the volume button context menu to its October 2018 behavior while we look at improving the experience based on feedback.
• We fixed an issue where themes and Microsoft Edge extensions downloaded from Microsoft Store wouldn’t appear in their respective locations after the download finished.
• We fixed an issue impacting Action Center reliability in recent builds.
• We fixed an issue where you might see multiple Focus Assist notifications in the Action Center at a particular time.
• We’re adding Nearby Sharing to the list of default Focus Assist exceptions.
• We fixed a recent issue where if you used the screen snip quick action in the Action Center then the resulting screenshot would have the Action Center in it.
• We fixed a recent issue that could result in not being able to launch UWP apps from the Start menu sometimes.
• We fixed a recent regression resulting in File Explorer sometimes hanging when interacting with MP4s and folders that had MP4s in them.
• We fixed an issue where Cortana would close immediately if opened from the Start screen when using tablet mode.
• We fixed an issue impacting Snipping Tool reliability.
• We fixed an issue resulting in Ctrl + P not activating the Print command in Snip & Sketch in recent flights.
• We fixed an issue resulting in Snip & Sketch potentially crashing when closing many Snip & Sketch windows in a row.
• We fixed an issue where rebooting would set Nearby Sharing back to an off state if it had been turned on.
• We fixed an issue where the lock screen preview in Lock Screen Settings wasn’t showing in recent builds.
• We fixed an issue where the scrollbar in Settings was overlapping the text fields when manually configuring your IP address.
• We fixed a rare issue that could result in the screen locking up when using the Surface Dial.
• We fixed an issue where the tooltips in the Emoji Panel were truncated on the bottom.
• We fixed an issue where the Windows feature update might fail but would still be listed as a successful update in Windows Update history page.
• We fixed an issue where you might see a Windows Update icon in the notification area saying there was an update when no update was available.
• We fixed an issue where you couldn’t type on the touch keyboard when “Turn on Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse” since focus would move away from the text field and set to the keyboard itself.
• We fixed an issue on certain devices that could sometimes result in the screen staying black on boot until CTRL + Alt + Del was pressed.
• We fixed an issue resulting in certain devices experience increased battery drain on the last few flights when in Disconnected Standby Mode.
• We fixed an issue for devices with multiple monitors resulting in Task View (WIN + Tab) sometimes showing UWP app thumbnails on the primary monitor rather than the monitor where the app was open.
• We fixed an issue where some key labels were cut off in Armenian full touch keyboard layout.
• We fixed an issue when using the full touch keyboard layout in Korean where pressing the FN key unexpectedly highlighted the IME ON/OFF key. We also fixed an issue for this language where tapping the tab key wouldn’t insert a tab.
• Thanks everyone who shared feedback about the new Japanese Microsoft IME we’ve been working on. With today’s build the IME and settings pages are returning to the ones that we shipped with the October 2018 Update, while we take your feedback into consideration.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator sometimes did not say anything when reopening Action Center after it was dismissed using the Esc key.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator did not speak the volume level value when using the hardware volume button to change the volume setting.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator command read from current location did not work when on a heading in Wikipedia.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator announced read-only at the end for links.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator continuous reading command read the last word of a sentence twice on a web page in Microsoft Edge.
• We fixed an issue impacting a small number of users enrolled in Microsoft Intune where they might not receive policies.
• We fixed an issue where signing out from inside Windows Sandbox resulted in a blank white window.
• We fixed an issue resulting in running c:\windows\syswow64\regedit.exe not launching regedit in recent builds.
• Settings header rollout update: This is now available across most regions for Insiders in Fast using Home edition and Pro editions of Windows that are not domain joined.
• Small app update: Thanks everyone who reached out about the grid alignment issue in the Calculator – this has been fixed with the 1812 version of the app.

Known issues

• While with Build 18323 we fixed the recent spike in Update Orchestrator Service crashes, if you’re on a base OS that’s impacted by the crash, you will still see the symptoms described above until you’re on 18323.
• The Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This may occur after upgrade, restart, or settings changes.
• Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
• Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue.
• While night light functionality is back up and running, you may still find issues with other blue light reduction software not working.
• When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
• Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
• USB devices, including mice and keyboards, may no longer work after updating. Possible workarounds are to change which USB port it is plugged into or connect the device through a USB hub.
• You may consistently see black screens when using Remote Desktop, DisplayLink, or Miracast if you are on an AMD or Nvidia driver. We’re working on a fix, but in the meantime, you can work around this issue by running the following command: reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm /v EnableFrontBufferRenderChecks /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f. (Updated – thanks Rafael for the recommendation.)
• The value in Narrator Settings “Change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and control” might be empty.  To work around this issue, use the Narrator command Narrator key + v to change the verbosity level, then close and reopen Settings app again.
• After upgrade, there might be two Narrator voices talking at the same time.  Reboot the machine once, this issue will go away.
• Windows Sandbox may launch to a black screen for some users.
• The Insider Program Settings pages currently have a bug preventing Narrator and Screen Reader programs from properly reading the page. A fix will be available in an upcoming build.
• Taskbar icons may stop loading and appear blank.
• Desktop Window Manager will crash if multiple Office and/or video playback applications are running on the same screen on devices that have Multiplane Overlay Support.

Known issues for Developers

• If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings.

REMINDER: Getting the latest Windows 10 app updates

We have locked down the inbox apps in 19H1. These simplified versions of some of the inbox apps are what will ship with 19H1 when it is released. As a result, Insiders may have noticed that some features have disappeared from these apps. This was probably most noticeable with the Photos app. Insiders can get these features back by going into the settings of an inbox app like Photos and clicking the “Join preview” button.

Join the Bing Insider Program

Welcome to the world of words. Whether you’re trying to win a game of Scrabble or just learn new words, Bing can help. Discover words that start with, contain, or end with certain letters, and sort them by length or popularity.

If you want to be among the first to learn about these Bing features, join our Bing Insider Program.

Microsoft Ignite | The Tour

The Windows Insider Team is hitting the road for Ignite The Tour! If you can be in Johannesburg on January 28th-29th, Washington D.C. on February 4th-5th, or in Sydney on February 13th-14th, please come and see us. We will be hosting an Insider session at each conference as well as an “off hours” event for Insiders in each city!

No downtime for Hustle-As-A-Service,
Dona <3