Microsoft is rolling out a new test version of Windows 10 20H2 for the Beta Channel (the old Slow Ring). The new build, 19042.421, includes some new features, especially in the UI domain, and a lot of fixes.
Microsoft officials previously said that Windows 10 20H2 would be a minor update to Windows 10 2004, also known as the May 2020 update. Since Windows 10 1909 was for Windows 10 1903, the next 20H2 version will look and feel like a Cumulative update for 2004, authorities said.
That’s why today’s Windows 10 20H2 trial build for Insiders is a bit surprising. It includes quite a few new features that Microsoft had been testing on the Dev Channel (Fast Ring). Until now, the 20H2 test versions didn’t have many new features, which seemed to be by design.
If Microsoft sticks to its previous programming with 20H2, that test build should have been “done”, aside from new fixes, as of June. Perhaps Microsoft is adding some of these features because there might not be a version of Windows 10 21H1? That’s just an assumption based on advice I recently received that Microsoft has declined to confirm or deny.
Anyway, let’s go back to today’s 20H2 trial version. Build 19042.421 includes themed tiles on the Start menu; and the ALT + TAB capability between apps and tabs in Microsoft’s new Edge version (if you have a Canary or Dev version of Chredge, i.e. version 83.0.475.0 or higher). It also adds improvements to sites anchored in Microsoft Edge (for those running Canary or Dev Channel Edge versions 85.0.561.0 or higher); and a more personalized taskbar (for new accounts or first login scenarios only at this time).
Today’s Insider 20H2 build also adds changes to the notification experience, allowing users to dismiss individual notifications by clicking an X in the upper right corner. Focus assist notification and summary toast will also be disabled by default.
Microsoft is migrating information from the System page of Control Panel to the Settings> System> About page. And you’re also updating the tablet experience for 2-in-1 devices and making changes to Modern Device Management (MDM) policy to be on par with what’s been available for managed devices with Local Group Policy .
The full list of changes, improvements, and fixes are listed in the July 24 blog post on the new build.
Microsoft is expected to make Windows 10 20H2 available sometime this fall. Version 20H2 will include the new Chromium Edge browser by default.
