Microsoft drops Windows 11 Insider build 23466 during the middle of Panos Panay’s keynote

Build 2023 is in full swing, with a focus today on Windows 11 and Windows Copilot, and joining in on the party is the Windows Insider program with a new Dev Channel build, 23466.

It’s a build chock full of new features, let’s check out the highlights:

Dev Drive

Dev Drive, the “new form of storage volume available to improve performance for key developer workloads,” build on ReFS (the Resilient File System) comes to the Dev Channel. Here’s how to set it up:

To setup a Dev Drive, you can create one in free space on an existing drive or create a VHD/VHDX. This is done via Settings app under System > Storage > Advanced Storage Settings > Disks & Volumes, or via the command-line. A Dev Drive must be at least 50GB or higher in size and we recommend having 8GB or higher RAM on your device.

Performance mode, a new capability of Microsoft Defender Antivirus, is designed for Dev Drive to minimize impact on developer workloads.

Backup and Restore improvements

Backup and restore has been updated with these improvements:

• Windows Backup app – we’re introducing this new app to quickly get your current PC backed up and ready to move to a new PC.
• App pins – your Store apps from your prior PC will be pinned where you left them, both on taskbar and in the Start menu.
• Settings – Settings from your previous device will restore to your new PC to help you get back into the flow as quickly as possible.

New text authoring in voice access

User can now say “correct” to fix a piece of text or the last dictated text, or say “click [number]” to select an option from a list, “spell that” or “spell out.”

New natural Chinese voices in Narrator

These new Narrator voices can be downloaded only once and be used offline.

There are a number of changes and fixes, too, so be sure to check out the Windows Insider Blog post for all the details.