Windows 11 is in a new preview version that makes some notable improvements in wireless communications, including a feature that makes it easy for visitors at home to log into your Wi-Fi network.
Preview build 25977 is available on the Canary Channel (the first test build of Windows 11) and comes with the ability to let someone connect to your Wi-Fi by simply scanning a QR code.
How it works is you go to Wi-Fi properties and if you look at the Wi-Fi password it will now show a QR code. All guests have to do to log into the Wi-Fi network is scan the QR code with their device’s camera, and you’re done.
So you don’t have to manually enter the password for your Wi-Fi router or dive into Settings and the Network and Sharing Center and mess around in those submenus. In short, it is a much more convenient method.
There’s another Wi-Fi-related change happening in this preview build, this time related to privacy.
Microsoft has introduced functionality that allows you to manage the apps that access the list of Wi-Fi networks in your local area (as these networks can be used to determine where you are in the real world). If you don’t want an application to have that power, you can simply block it (this option can be found under Settings > Privacy & security > Location).
There’s more on the wireless front, but this time with Bluetooth, as this Windows 11 preview has ushered in support for using Bluetooth Low Energy Audio hearing aids.
If you own such a device, you can now pair it directly with your PC to stream audio, answer calls, and so on, which is very cool. However, you need a Windows 11 device that supports Bluetooth Low Energy Audio.
For the full list of changes and minor tweaks here and there, there’s the usual long list blog post provided by Microsoft.
Analysis: Also a new twist on the world
Some of those additional tweaks include a small but quite useful tweak that’s also worth mentioning. You know the Internet connection icon in the notification area, on the far right side of the taskbar?
If there is currently no connection it will be a disconnected globe icon, but the small change is that if the PC is connecting (but not yet connected) you will see an animation to indicate this. In other words: the globe only appears if you are definitively offline and no connection is available or is in the process of being established.
So there’s some useful work on the networking side here, especially the addition of quick logins for Wi-Fi with that QR code (something that’s been available on Android for a while, as you may know).
While we’re noting smaller details, it’s worth mentioning that for testers who actually plan on getting their hands on this Canary build, there’s a big problem on the gaming front. Microsoft notes that “some popular games may not function properly” with build 25977 (and possibly even recent builds just before that).
We’re not told which of the best PC games this might be, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for if you’re ever gaming on your computer.
Through Windows Latest