Windows 11 24H2 Preview (KB5055627): New Share UI, Phone Link & Update Timer Features

Windows 11 24H2 Preview Now Testing Key Features

Microsoft is currently testing Build 26100.3902 with Release Preview Insiders, preparing for public release in late April. This update (KB5055627) introduces several notable improvements to Windows 11's functionality and user experience.

1. Smarter Windows Update Management

A significant quality-of-life improvement comes to update installation:

• New estimated duration timer for update installations
• Displays in both Settings > Windows Update and Start menu
• Helps users plan when to restart for updates
• Shows projected downtime before committing to restart

"Update will take approximately 12 minutes to install"
- New notification when preparing to restart

2. Phone Link Start Menu Integration

The floating companion panel brings smartphone connectivity to your desktop:

3. Enhanced Windows Share Experience

The sharing interface now includes built-in image editing:

• Crop/resize tools before sharing
• Basic filters and color adjustments
• Sensitive information redaction (blur tool)
• Presets for social media dimensions

4. File Explorer Improvements

Better text scaling addresses a long-standing pain point:

Before: Only window titles scaled with system settings
After: All dialog text (including file operations) respects display scaling

5. Widgets & Adaptive Cards

Developers gain new tools for interactive content:

• HTML-based adaptive card support
• Context-aware content suggestions
• Potential for Start menu companion panels

6. Narrator Enhancements

The screen reader adds conversation history:

• Review previous voice interactions
• Copy commands/output to clipboard
• Helpful for troubleshooting or documentation

Copilot+ PC Exclusive Features

Recall Returns (Preview)

Microsoft's AI timeline feature relaunches with:

• Opt-in requirement (disabled by default)
• Local encryption of snapshots
• Granular control over captured applications
• Exclusion filters for sensitive windows

Click To Do

New screen interaction tool allows:

• Selection of any screen area
• Contextual actions based on content
• Visual improvements with rounded corners

Additional Improvements

• Natural language search in Copilot
• Windows Studio Effects auto-framing
• Hyper-V CPU usage reporting fixes
• Start menu text scaling corrections

Release Timeline

Features will roll out gradually:

1. Windows Update timer (available to all at launch)
2. Phone Link integration (50% rollout initially)
3. Share UI improvements (phased through May)
4. Copilot+ features require compatible hardware

Final Thoughts

This update focuses on quality-of-life improvements rather than flashy changes. The Phone Link integration and enhanced sharing tools show Microsoft's commitment to cross-device productivity, while the update timer addresses a common user frustration. Enterprise users will appreciate the more reliable Hyper-V monitoring, and accessibility improvements continue to make Windows more inclusive.