A new build is live for Insiders in the Dev channel

Nov 18, 2021 06:57 GMT  ·  By

The most recent Windows 11 preview build released by Microsoft to users in the Dev channel comes with new theme customization options, as the company allows the themes for the touch keyboard to expand to other input experiences.

Windows 11, which is currently rolling out to devices out there, includes several new customization options, and by the looks of things, Microsoft wants to continue this approach in the coming updates.

Keep in mind, however, that the improvements which Microsoft includes in Dev channel builds don’t have an ETA, so while they’re available right now in the Windows Insider program, nobody knows for sure when they are supposed to go live for production devices.

New feature rolling out in stages

Microsoft is also rolling out the new theme customization options for insiders in stages, as the company says it wants to collect feedback and only then decide if it’s reliable enough for broad availability in the Windows Insider program.

“To further personalize your Windows text input experience, we have expanded the 13 themes for the touch keyboard to now apply to our other input experiences, including IMEs, the emoji panel, and voice typing. Also available for all themed experiences is the theme engine that allows you to create a fully customized theme including background images. You can find all this under the new “Text Input” section under Settings > Personalization. This isn’t available to all Insiders just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone,” the company explains.

Windows 11 is rolling out in stages to users out there, but Microsoft plans to complete the release by the summer of 2022.

Devices that aren’t eligible for the free upgrade can stick with Windows 10, whose support will continue until October 2025, according to the original support policy for this operating system.