Windows 11’s search box can contrast with the Taskbar in latest Insider build
what you need to know
- Microsoft just shipped Windows 11 Insider Preview Build s22621.1470 and 22624.1470 to the beta channel.
- The builds include the option to have the search box in light mode while the taskbar is in dark mode.
Microsoft is in full swing when it comes to sharing insider builds of Windows 11. The company just shipped Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1470 and 22624.1470 to the Beta Channel. This build follows a Canary Channel build that adds support for three widget board columns and a Dev Channel build that adds the ability to see seconds on the taskbar clock.
Builds 22621.1470 and 22624.1470 add a new USB4 page to the Settings app. They also include several fixes and improvements. The search box in the taskbar should also be easier to see as it can now be set to light mode while the rest of Windows 11 is in dark mode. This can be achieved by setting the app mode and windows theme to light and dark respectively.
As a reminder, Microsoft ships beta builds in pairs, with one having new features disabled by default and the other having them enabled by default. In this case, build 22624.1470 is the one with new features enabled.
Microsoft shared the full changelog in a blog post:
Build 22624:1470: What’s new
We’re adding a USB4 hubs and devices settings page for users under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > USB > USB4 hubs and devices. USB4 enables new productivity scenarios for docking, high-performance peripherals, displays and charging. The USB4 settings page provides information about the system’s USB4 capabilities and attached peripherals on a USB4-enabled system. These insights are intended to aid in troubleshooting should users require assistance from their device manufacturer (OEM) or system administrator. The features provided by this page are:
- View the tree of connected USB4 hubs and devices.
- View attributes and capabilities associated with the USB4 domain.
- Copy the details to the clipboard so they can be shared with customer support or system administrators for troubleshooting.
If the system does not support USB4 using Microsoft USB4 Connection Manager, this page will not be displayed.
To confirm whether your system is USB4 ready or not, search for “USB4 Host Router” in Device Manager.
Build 22624:1470: changes and improvements
Generally
Users will now see a copy button to quickly copy two-factor authentication (2FA) codes in notification toasts from apps installed on PC or phones connected to PC. We use our best efforts to determine if a notification toast contains an authentication code, but please send us feedback if we were wrong or if we didn’t recognize the code in a notification toast.
Taskbar and taskbar
- Visible VPN status in system tray with system accent color.
- We’ve added a visible VPN status to the system tray when connected to a detected VPN profile (opens in new tab). The VPN icon, a small shield, is superimposed over the active network connection in your system accent color.
- In response to user feedback, we are introducing the ability to show seconds in the taskbar clock. This feature can be enabled by toggling the option listed below Settings > Personalization > Taskbarin the Taskbar Behavior section. You can also right-click the taskbar to quickly go to the taskbar settings. We’re starting to roll out this change, so not all Windows Insiders will see this change right away, but we hope to make it available to everyone soon.
Build 22624:1470 & 22624.1470: changes and improvements
Look in the taskbar
The search box on the taskbar becomes lighter when Windows is set to a custom color mode. Specifically, when Windows 11 mode is set to dark and app mode is set to light under Settings > Personalization > Colors, you will see a lighter search box in the taskbar.