14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new Windows 10 preview build for users enrolled in the Windows Insider Program, and testers can download it right now from Windows Update.
More specifically, the new release is Windows 10 build 20152, and it’s available today for the Dev channel.
According to Microsoft’s recent Windows Insider program changes, the Dev channel is the new name of the Fast ring.
The first thing you need to know is that features that are released for users in the Dev channel come without an ETA. In other words, while Dev channel users can try out new features in Windows 10, they don’t have a release date, and Microsoft says it would only ship them when they are ready.
Right now, some of the improvements that are being tested in the Dev channel could go live in Windows 10 version 21H1, albeit as said, this is something that’s not certain. Windows 10 version 20H2 is being tested as part of the Beta channel, formerly known as the Slow ring.
Windows 10 build 20152 comes without any new features but includes four major fixes.
Microsoft has resolved a bug that broke down Notepad on devices where users launched a system reset. In other words, if you wanted to restore Windows 10 to scratch and turned to the system reset feature, there was a chance that Notepad was no longer available when you returned to the desktop.
While this issue has already been fixed in this new update, you can also reinstall Notepad from the Optional Features screen.
Microsoft says it has also included Windows Update improvements. In some cases, users running the previous Windows 10 builds as part of the Windows Insider program were no longer provided with a Windows Update icon in the system tray when an update was waiting for a reboot to complete the installation. Beginning with version 20152, everything should work as expected.
Then, Microsoft has also resolved a small bug that removed the “Continue” button in the dialog telling you that “Windows needs space to continue.”
And last but not least, there’s a new issue for the IME typing.
“We fixed an issue that could result in an IME typing as if it was ON, when it was actually in OFF state, and tapping the IME mode indicator in the taskbar wouldn’t change the mode,” Microsoft says.
There are 8 different known issues in this update, and you can check them out in full in the changelog after the jump. But one very important problem concerns some apps and games that run on the device and which could crash all of a sudden. This is the reason you’re not supposed to install Dev channel builds on production machines, as such bugs could substantially affect your device’s performance.
“Starting with the last build, some games and applications may crash at launch or fail to install. We’ve identified the root cause and are working on a fix for a future flight,” Microsoft says.
There are also other issues, including a BSOD that is encountered when connecting an Xbox controller to the computer.
Windows 10 build 20152 comes with a welcome set of improvements for users trying out Dev channel builds, but on the other hand, it also includes issues that need to be resolved as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the best way to try out Dev channel builds is on a testing computer or in a virtual machine, especially because of these errors that could break down OS features or affect the system performance.