Share this article

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Don’t upgrade to Windows 11 build 22449, it’s unstable

15 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

If you are also a Windows Insider and conduct most of your testing work within the Dev Channel, you’re about to start getting less stable, more experimental builds of Windows 11, likeMicrosoft already warned.

Therefore build 22449, which wasjust released today, is actually a big leap in version numbers is because it is the first to come from the active development branch (RS_PRERELEASE).

If you were wondering why the Redmond tech giant has moved on to more unstable preview builds, the answer is that it plans to test the first Windows 11 major update, 22H2, through the Dev channel.

As you remember, the upcoming OS is scheduled to start rolling out to compatible devices on October 5th.

This one of the builds that Microsoft warned users about

So let’s see what’s new in build 22449, starting with the main new addition, which is an SMB compression behavior change.

If you aren’t familiar with the term, know that SMB compression allows a user, or application to request compression of files as they transfer over the network.

From this build, if compression is required, Windows 11 will attempt to compress the contents, overcoming an issue which saw smaller files not being compressed previously.

Some of the other changes and improvements to this new software version also include:

Fixes brought through build 22449

Next, let’s have a quick gander at the important bug fixes that Microsoft managed to release within this new patch:

[Taskbar]

[Input]

[File Explorer]

[Settings]

[Logging in and Authentication]

[Bluetooth and Devices]

[Windowing]

[Microsoft Store]

The following issues were fixed in the most recent Store updates:

[Chat from Microsoft Teams]

[Other]

Know issues for build 22449

What kind of software release would we be talking about if it wouldn’t come with some issues of its own?

The Redmond-based tech company also provided a detailed list of some of the problems that are still present within this new build, so that users will know exactly what to expect from it.

Here’s what we know so far:

[General]

[Start]

[Taskbar]

[Search]

[File Explorer]

[Widgets]

[Windows Sandbox]

[Microsoft Store]

[Localization]

Microsoft releases two different major Windows upgrades at the same time

The tech giant also released Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 21H2 to business customers in commercial preview.

Clearly, this is one of the final steps before Microsoft officially finalizes its desktop Windows releases, and is perhaps the first time ever it has released two different major Windows upgrades at the same time.

Organizations enrolled in the Windows Insider Program for Business can access these builds through all standard channels, including Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Azure Marketplace, and the Windows Insider Program ISO download page. Along with commercial pre-release availability, we are also offering free support for commercial organizations running these builds. This means you can test these releases—and your preferred deployment methods—while remaining supported prior to general availability.

Thus, commercial PCs that are enrolled in the Windows Insider Program Release Preview channel will be offered Windows 11, assuming that they meet the strict new minimum requirements for that release.

On the other hand, commercial PCs in the Release Preview channel that do not meet those requirements will be offered Windows 10 version 21H2 instead.

Naturally, organizations can choose to remain on Windows 10 and not upgrade to Windows 11, as we said before.

And since these updates are both optional, they can also stick to their current Windows 10 version. If that’s the case, they will continue to receive preview builds of quality updates for that version instead.

How do I install build 22449 ?

Keep in mind that this build is only available for Insiders within the Dev channel, so before you start, make sure you are in the right place.

After checking this important detail, follow the steps below:

Have you already installed the new Windows 11 Insider build? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below.

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Don’t upgrade to Windows 11 build 22449, it’s unstable#

This one of the builds that Microsoft warned users about#

Fixes brought through build 22449#

Know issues for build 22449#

Microsoft releases two different major Windows upgrades at the same time#

How do I install build 22449 ?#