With KB5041881, Windows 11 adds a way to switch Microsoft accounts in seconds

Microsoft launched a new build, 22635.4145 under KB5041881, for Windows 11 Insider Program members in the Beta Channel. It includes significant changes to the Windows Spotlight feature and other enhancements.

For those who might not be familiar with Windows Spotlight, the capability adds a bit of zest to your desktop background and locks the screen with beautiful, automatically changing images. But now, it seems there’s even more to get excited about.

KB5041881 adds the ability to sign out from your Microsoft account directly from the Start panel, making switching profiles easier and faster.

The Redmond-based tech giant also added a new keyboard that supports using the Xbox controller to navigate and type.

However, the keyboard is hidden for some Beta users for now, but there is a way you can uncover them with a special command. You’ll have to use the third-party app ViveTool. Thanks to Insider @phantomofearth, here is the command:

vivetool /enable /id:50692135

One of the standout additions is the introduction of hotspots to the Windows Spotlight experience. Imagine right-clicking on the Windows Spotlight icon and discovering hotspots that, when interacted with, reveal additional information or whisk you away to the Bing landing page for a deeper dive – if you remember, Microsoft previewed it earlier this year.

The KB5041881 update doesn’t stop at making your desktop a bit more interactive. It also includes tweaks to the mouse settings and touch gestures, allowing users to turn off enhanced mouse pointer precision or adjust the scrolling direction.

For those who need to share content directly to Notepad or Clipchamp from the Windows share window, we also have good news: the Redmond-based tech giant added the apps to the list of places where we can share files now, alongside Facebook, WhatsApp, or X. Windows enthusiast, @phantomofearth, also published a special command which you can use to enable it.

With KB5041881, Microsoft has addressed several issues to smooth out the user experience. These include fixing File Explorer crashes and ensuring the Start menu text remains readable, especially when displaying Phone Link features. It’s all about making the Windows 11 experience as seamless as possible.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing. A known issue has been identified with the Start menu’s All apps list. If you click or tap on a letter, the list may break, but a quick reboot or restart of explorer.exe should set things right again.

You can check out KB5041881’s full blog post here.

Photo credits: @phantomofearth