Windows 11 has a new preview release, but there’s only one real change (aside from bugfixes and such), though it’s useful to help speed up connections that use a double layer of security .
We are talking about two-factor authentication (or 2FA for short), i.e. in addition to a password, a second verification measure is used in the form of a code sent to the person who logs in. In this case, even if a hacker got hold of your password, they will not get this code.
Now, starting with Windows 11 preview build 25295, when this code appears in the notification panel on the right, this notification is accompanied by a small pop-up window that allows you to simply click on it to automatically paste the numbers code to clipboard.
So instead of having to enter the code manually, you can just paste it in, saving you time and effort. Like we said, it’s a small change, but a useful one.
What else is new in build 25295? Only expanding the rollout of a previously introduced feature (as of build 25252), namely the search box on the taskbar (as seen in Windows 10). This is now available to all Windows 11 testers in the Dev channel, as opposed to a select few.
On top of that, there’s a bunch of bugfixes here, including the fix for an issue with updates installing slowly, and a fix for an issue where apps could crash when using them for that a game is running. For the full list of fixes and remaining known issues, see the Microsoft website. blog post (opens in a new tab).
Analysis: A paste of convenience
The ability to delete the 2FA code directly to the clipboard for immediate pasting is a nifty time saver, and it’s something that’s sure to make a difference for the full version of Windows 11 eventually. (Remember that not all testing features see the light of day).
This is going to be especially handy for those who have their Android phone plugged into their Windows PC (using Telephone link), because it means that they will get the codes sent to this smartphone (which is often the case). This will always be a handy feature for those who have apps installed on the Windows 11 PC that also use 2FA, naturally.
It’s good to see bugfixes coming in for some nasty issues, but there are also some new glitches introduced. If you have an ARM-powered PC and Windows Hello face recognition has stopped working, don’t panic – this is a known issue (and you should just use the PIN option instead for now). Likewise, if you’re worried about the system tray clock no longer showing seconds, don’t worry, that feature is coming back in a future release, Microsoft promises.