Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 18894 with File Explorer and Accessibility improvements

Windows 10 19H1 -- aka the May 2019 Update -- is currently undergoing testing in the Release Preview ring, with the aim being to start rolling it out to all by the end of the month.

In the meantime, the software giant is working on builds from the 20H1 branch, the feature update set to be released a whole year from now.

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Build 18894, released today, is introducing some File Explorer improvements, but they won’t be available to all, at least not to begin with. Microsoft explains:

Over the next few days we’ll be starting to roll out a new File Explorer search experience -- now powered by Windows Search. This change will help integrate your OneDrive content online with the traditional indexed results. This rollout will start with a small percent, and then we’ll increase the rollout to more Insiders as we validate the quality of the experience.

What does that mean for you? Once you have the new experience, as you type in File Explorer’s search box, you’ll now see a dropdown populated with suggested files at your fingertips that you can pick from.

File Explorer’s design has been updated to go with the changes.

This build also introduces some Accessibility improvements:

• Narrator table reading improvements: Narrator is now more efficient when reading tables. Only the deltas are read when navigating. Entering and exiting tables is also less verbose.
• Narrator web page summary: There’s a new command in Narrator to give a webpage summary! (Narrator + S). Currently this command will give information about hyperlinks, landmarks and headings.
• Magnifier text cursor setting: Windows Magnifier has a new ability to keep the text cursor in the center of the screen making it easier and smoother to type. Centered on the screen is on by default and can be changed in the Magnifier settings.

Other changes, improvements, and fixes in this build include:

• Fixed an issue resulting in scrolling with the mouse wheel or touchpad not working reliably across the system in the last few flights.
• Fixed an issue where opening the Memory Integrity page in Windows Security would crash the app.
• Fixed an issue where the Windows Update icon in taskbar system tray is not high DPI optimized.
• Fixed a recent issue where the "Add someone else to this PC" window would crash if an MSA-attached user would try to add a local user to the PC.
• Fixed a typo in the WIN+(period) kaomoji section category names.
• Fixed a race condition that could result in users getting stuck with an outdated version of the search relevancy logic, impacting subsequent search results.
• Fixed an issue where Start menu wasn’t launching if the "continue experiences on this device" group policy was "disabled".
• Fixed an issue where navigating using Narrator + R command got stuck in PowerPoint Edit View.
• Narrator no longer reads "null" after each command listed in the Narrator + F2 list.
• Fixed a problem where Narrator was at low volume and could not be increased.

Known Issues are:

• Due to an OS bug, the Your Phone app will not work on this build (20H1 Build 18894). This issue does not impact the Your Phone app if you are in the Slow and Release Preview rings. Microsoft expects to have this issue resolved in the next flight to the Fast ring.
• There has been an issue with older versions of anti-cheat software used with games where after updating to the latest 19H1 Insider Preview builds may cause PCs to experience crashes. To minimize the chance of running into this issue, make sure you are running the latest version of your games before attempting to update the operating system. Microsoft is also working with anti-cheat and game developers to resolve similar issues that may arise with the 20H1 Insider Preview builds and will work to minimize the likelihood of these issues in the future.
• Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly.
• If you use remote desktop to connect to an enhanced session VM, taskbar search results will not be visible (just a dark area) until you restart searchui.exe.
• Microsoft is investigating reports that on certain devices if fast startup is enabled, night light doesn’t turn on until after a restart. (Note: The problem will occur on a "cold" reboot or power off / power on. To work around if night light doesn’t turn on, use Start > Power > Restart.)
• There’s a noticeable lag when dragging the emoji and dictation panels.
• Tamper Protection may be turned off in Windows Security after updating to this build. You can turn it back on.
• Some features on Start Menu and in All apps are not localized in languages such as FR-FR, RU-RU, and ZH-CN.
• In the Ease of Access settings, selecting a color filter may not take effect right away unless color filters option is turned off and back on again.
• The IME candidate window for East Asian IMEs (Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and the Japanese IME) may not open sometimes. Microsoft is investigating the issue. In the meantime, going to Task Manager and ending the "WindowsInternal.ComposableShell.Experiences.TextInput.InputApp.exe" task from the Details tab should unblock you if you experience this issue.
• Microsoft is aware of an issue with the Bopomofo IME where the character width is suddenly changed to Full width from Half width and is investigating.

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