Windows 10 Insider Program: Latest Windows Builds, Updates, and News

windows recent insider builds creators update

Aaron Cassara/Digital Trends

Microsoft rolled out a new Windows Insider build to users on the Fast Ring on Tuesday. While this one doesn’t bring any blockbuster new features, it does include a ton of bug fixes and a few ease-of-use improvements.

As the eventual release of the Windows 10 Creators Update draws ever nearer, what does that mean for your Insider build? Let’s have a look and find out.

What’s new in the latest Fast Ring build

Build 15046 introduces a few new features, but as Microsoft prepares for the launch of the Creators Update later this year, what we’re seeing is a lot of house cleaning. According to Microsoft, this most recent build attempts to refine the look and feel of the upcoming Creators Update based on user feedback.

With that in mind, Cortana has received yet another change of wardrobe. The Cortana search bar has abandoned its brief foray into a slightly lighter color palette, in favor of a return to the classic dark gray. Additionally, it will do a better job of helping you pick up where you left off when you move from one Windows device to another.

More: Microsoft adds more intelligence to make Office 365 safer and easier to use

In the task bar, Cortana will proactively list apps, files, and websites from previous sessions of Microsoft Edge on other devices. This feature is, however, only available in the English version of the Windows Insider update.

Perhaps the biggest change in this build is a feature you Mac users will be familiar with — application installation control. In the settings menu under Apps & features, you will now be able to limit your PC to apps from the Windows Store, or make sure your PC warns you when you’re installing an app from an outside publisher.

 

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It’s minor, but it’s a good security measure for shared computers and reminds you when you’re about to install an app from an unverified source.

Speaking of security, Windows Defender also received a small update. Now the Windows Defender icon in your taskbar will let you know if you’re protected, unprotected, or have any security issues with the addition of a little badge on top of the white shield icon.

Like most Fast Ring updates, Build 15046 includes a number of bug fixes. You can check out the full list of bug fixes and new features here.

How to get it

Like most of the Windows 10 Insider builds, all you need to do to participate is make sure you’re enrolled in the Insider program. You can do so from the Windows Insider Program pane in the Settings panel.

There are two options when you do so. The first is the Fast Ring. This will always feed you the latest public version of Windows 10, but there’s risk involved there. This is often the build with the most bugs or fatal issues, so proceed with caution.

More: Windows 10 slated to get WiGig support as of the Creators Update

If you’d still like to try out new features, without as much risk, the slow ring is the right choice. Builds only go out to the slow ring sporadically, and only when they’ve been in the ecosystem long enough to be stable.

Once you’ve opted into either the fast or slow lane, check for updates to move up to the latest version.

The latest Slow Ring and finalized builds

The current Slow Ring build is 14986. The most recent Slow Ring build includes close-to-finalized versions of features included in the most recent Fast Ring build. Included in the Slow Ring update are the aforementioned advanced controls for Cortana, improvements to the Windows Game Bar, and a revamped Windows Defender app.