Insider first beta is available with some surprises

She was eagerly waiting. Microsoft is offering Insider members the opportunity to pre-test Windows 11 with build 22000.51.

distance great show And the Equally noticeable connection problemsMicrosoft is ready to bring Windows 11 to the test. While waiting for the official release scheduled for the end of 2021, the company can count on members of the Insider Program to test the future operating system in beta and thus provide feedback on various issues and bugs encountered.

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Windows 11 is almost as displayed

Those who closely follow the development of Windows already know that the foundation of the system is almost complete. So the first build that Microsoft suggested here actually introduces many of the new features expected for Windows 11.

We find the new Microsoft Store, after updating the applications, the new start menu in the center, the tools that permanently replace the dynamic tiles or the graphic redesign of the system with its famous rounded edges. For the first beta, everything is already harmonious and should be recognized.

The new File Explorer is here too. You have to wait for the system restart to appear. It integrates the new Windows 11 interface with a new, consistent context menu. To maintain the integrity of the other programs while offering something harmonious, Microsoft simply relegated the respective applications to a submenu. Those used to “right click > extract with 7 Zip” or “right click > open with Notepad++” will have to add a step to their operations.

some surprises

This release is also an opportunity to discover some unexpected, but welcome, new features.

On the interface side, we noticed that the new taskbar presents a floating window when you leave the cursor on certain icons. For example, the search icon reveals a list of recently selected results and an option to type in the search, without clicking. We also have a floating window to quickly switch from one desktop to another from multitasking.

There is also an option Dynamic refresh rate Microsoft unveiled it in the official version of this release. This new option only applies to certain laptops at this time. It makes it possible to make the screen refresh rate dynamic, like what we know on an iPad or smartphone. The screen will therefore switch to 120 or 144 Hz if you are using the stylus or if you are using the screen very actively with a lot of scrolling, to make the screen smoother. On the other hand, to provide performance and autonomy, the computer will slow down the screen if it considers it necessary, for example in front of a movie.

And some problems

Be careful, like any beta version of the software, version 22000.51 is not free from bugs that can be annoying or blocking. Microsoft lists several on the official blog.

• The taskbar does not appear on screens other than the Home screen
• Settings may not be accessible if you installed Windows 11 from a computer with multiple user profiles
• Application icons may not load while searching
• New Microsoft Store Install button may not work

To give just a few examples of blocking problems. The full list is on the Microsoft blog which is highly recommended to read before installing the trial version.

Windows 11 build 22000.51 is available in the Windows Insider Program developer channel.