USB Drive Exclusion From Encryption
BitLocker is a full volume encryption feature on Windows, first introduced with Windows Vista. The application helps users encrypt their data easily, helping protect against unauthorised access. Although, users can also encrypt their data accidentally, specially on removable USB drives. To fix this, Windows 11 Build 22579 introduces a new policy option that allows admins to exclude specific removable USB drives. With the policy enabled, BitLocker wont be able to encrypt storage on the exclusion list, nor will send prompts for the same. To enable the feature, first gather the Hardware IDs of the devices to be excluded from BitLocker. Then create a profile from Devices > Configuration Profiles (in Endpoint Manager Portal). Select “Windows 10 and later” and in Profile type: “Templates” and in Template Name — “Custom”. Then assign a name and description for the new policy from the basic tab. After that, click the Configuration Settings tab and go to “Add”, and fill the following tabs.
Oma-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/BitLocker/RemovableDrivesExcludedFromEncryptionData type: StringAnd in value, input the relevant Hardware IDs.
Updates for Media Player and Your Phone App
The new insider build also brings an update for Windows Media Player, finally adding support for CD playback. The update also improves the app’s theme engine, and drag and drop controls for media content. Your Phone App also gets new features, showcasing an even deeper Android integration with Windows. In an earlier update, Microsoft announced the Recent Apps feature which showcases the three most recently used apps on your phone, on Windows. After the recent update, even Office Documents will show on the recently used tab on Windows, and users will be able to access them right from there and continue editing seamlessly. Supported documents include Word, Excel and PowerPoint files saved in OneDrive. Unfortunately, like many Your Phone App features, this too is limited to Windows Insiders for now, on select Samsung devices (OneUI 3.1.1 or above).
Other Changes and Improvements
With the new update, Win32 apps that used the older CprintDialog will now use the modern print dialogue on Windows 11. The modern print dialogue now also discovers local network printers automatically.
In an earlier Windows 11 Preview Build, the ‘Open With’ dialogue tab was updated with a more modern UI with dark/light themes. Microsoft is now reverting back to the older ‘Open With’ dialogue tab for the time being, due to some performance issues. The Run New Task button is now available on all pages of Task Manager with an updated icon. New Fluent-style icons for on-screen keyboard and Magnifier.
Users can now name folders of apps in the start menu.
Get Started is a built-in Windows Store app that helps users learn about various features in the OS. The app is now going to showcase pinned site suggestions, helping users easily access them from the taskbar.
Microsoft has increasingly updated UI elements in recent Insider builds to optimize them for touch-enabled Windows devices. These include an updated taskbar design and new multi-finger touch gestures. With the most recent insider build, Microsoft has added yet another gesture to go back and forth between recently used Windows, using three fingers to swipe left and right.
