Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870 to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. Lock screen widgets are now supported, and a new group policy named "Disable Widgets On Lock Screen" enables IT administrators to disable lock screen widgets while maintaining the functionality of widgets in other areas on the managed PCs. This policy is currently applicable solely within EEA regions, with plans for future expansion to additional regions. File Explorer now displays people icons for Windows Insiders who are signed in with a work or school account. When hovered over or clicked, a people icon reveals the Live Persona Card for that individual from Microsoft 365. Gradual rollouts are underway for fixes related to the Start menu, File Explorer, and USB cameras. Feedback may be submitted in the Feedback Hub under Desktop Environment > Lock screen.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870 (Beta Channel)

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

Choose what Lock screen widgets appear

We’re beginning to roll out support for lock screen widgets (

Customization settings for lock screen widgets shown in Settings.

As part of this, we’re also adding support for a new group policy called “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen” that will allow IT administrators to disable lock screen widgets without disabling widgets elsewhere on PCs they manage. To edit this policy, please launch the Local Group Policy Editor app and navigate to Computer Configurations > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets. This policy is only supported in EEA regions at this time but will expand to include other regions in the future as well.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Lock screen.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[File Explorer] 

• For Windows Insiders signed in with a work or school account (Entra ID), File Explorer will begin showing people icons under the “Activity” column on File Explorer Home and on “Recommended” at the top of File Explorer Home. When you hover or click over a people icon, it will display the  Live Persona Card for that person from Microsoft 365.

Activity column under File Explorer Home showing people icons highlighted in a red box.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue causing Start menu to crash for some Insiders when interacting with the letters in the apps list.
• Fixed an issue where the colors were not correct when opening the account manager flyout on the when using a mixed dark and light custom mode in Settings > Personalization > Colors.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where if you opened a File Explorer window and minimized it, it might not be rendered correctly when you restored it.
• Fixed an issue which was impacting File Explorer reliability for some Insiders.
• Fixed an issue which was causing explorer.exe to crash when dropping files into File Explorer sometimes in the latest flights.

[Other]

• Fixed a high hitting background sihost.exe crash in the latest flights.

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

[Other]

This update includes fixes for the following issues:

• [USB cameras] Fixed: Your device does not recognize the camera is on. This issue occurs after you install the January 2025 security update.
• [USB audio device drivers] Fixed: The code 10 error message, “This device cannot start” appears. This occurs when you connect to certain external audio management devices.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870 (Beta Channel)