Windows 11 Build 25120 Released With Search Widget On Desktop

Windows 11 Insider UpdateWindows 11 Insider Update

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Preview Build 25120 on the Dev channel. Insiders can use this opportunity to try out experimental features that may or may not make their way to Windows 11 23H2 , which will presumably be released the following year.

With that said, we would also like to remind our audience that you can now no longer switch to the Beta channel from the Dev channel since they are both now separately again.

Build 25120 introduced one new experimental feature, along with several fixes. However, it still has a few known issues that you should consider before installing this release. Furthermore, Microsoft has also released its ISO image, which you can download using the given guide below, then use it to perform a clean install.

Windows 11 Build 25120 is also being offered to ARM64 devices, unlike the last release.

New in Windows 11 Build 25120

Experimental Search Widget on Desktop

Note: This feature is currently not available to every insider.

Microsoft is now experimenting with new concepts in the Windows operating system. With this flight, they introduced a new floating widget located right in the center of your desktop. This is a search widget that allows you to explore the Bing web search conveniently.

Experimental Search widget on desktop
Experimental Search widget on desktop. Source: Microsoft

Remember that this is an experimental feature and could be removed by Microsoft. Therefore, the feature’s existence relies on your, the Insider’s, feedback. To provide feedback, use the Feedback Hub.

To get this new search bar, install the build and then restart your computer. If you do not see this automatically after the reboot, you might not be one of the chosen ones just yet. However, if this feature continues to stay, you will surely receive it on a future flight.

That said, if you do not want this search widget, you can get rid of it by right-clicking on a blank space on the desktop, clicking “Show more options,” and then toggling “Show search.”

Other Improvements and Fixes

Other changes and fixes have also been made with this flight:

  • [Suggested Actions]
    • Suggested Actions should now appear for more date and time formats.
    • Any issues with certain formats when copying the date and/or time have been addressed.
    • The performance and reliability of the feature has been improved.
  • [Settings]
    • An issue that could crash the Settings app when opening and looking at the battery usage graph has been fixed.
    • The performance of displaying the Wi-Fi networks after enabling Wi-Fi from the Wi-Fi section of Quick Settings has been improved.
  • [Task Manager]
    • An issue leading to unreadable text on the Performance page when a contrast theme is enabled has been taken care of.
  • [Other]
    • An issue that could cause Windows Update to stall and roll back updates for WSA users has been fixed.
    • Some work has been done to address a stutter in the progress wheel animation when upgrading to a new build.

Microsoft intimates its users that some of these fixes might make their way to servicing updates for Windows 11. With that, let us now see the issues that accompany this flight.

Known Issues

  • [General]
    • Some games that use Easy Anti-Cheat may crash or cause your PC to bugcheck.
  • [Live captions]
    • When using certain apps in full-screen mode (e.g., video players), live captions may not appear.
    • If apps are positioned near the top of the screen and closed before live captions run, they will re-launch behind the live captions window positioned at the top. If you experience these issues, use the system menu (ALT + Spacebar) while the app has focus to move the app’s window further down.

How to Install Windows 11 Build 25120

To install this update, you either need to be running Windows 11 and subscribed to the Dev channel, or perform a clean install using the ISO image provided by Microsoft.

Windows Update

If you have enabled Windows updates, you will automatically get a “New features are ready to install” prompt.

Follow the steps below to upgrade to this build:

  1. Navigate to the Settings app and then click Windows Update on the left.

  2. Here, click Check for updates on the right side of the window.

    check for updates Windows 11
    Check for pending updates
  3. You will then see the following update available under Updates available to download:

    Windows 11 Insider Preview 25120.1000
    
    
    
     (rs_prerelease)

    Click Download and install.

    Download and install
    Begin downloading
  4. The update will now begin to download and then install. Once complete, click Restart Now.

    Restart now 2
    Restart computer
How to install Windows 11 with rede...
How to install Windows 11 with redesigned UI

Once the computer restarts, you can verify that the OS has been updated by typing in winver in the Run Command box.

Updated 2
Windows successfully updated to build 25120

Download Windows 11 Build 25120 ISO Image

You can also download the ISO image for Windows 11 Build 25120 and perform a clean install. Here is how:

  1. Open the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page and log in with your Microsoft account registered with the Windows Insider program.

  2. Once logged in, scroll down and select Windows 11 Insider Preview (Dev Channel) – Build 25120 from the drop-down menu and click Confirm.

    Select ISO and confirm 1
    Select ISO and confirm
  3. Now select the language you want to download it in and click Confirm.

    Confirm language 1
    Confirm language
  4. Finally, click 64-bit Download to begin downloading the ISO image.

    Download ISO 1
    Download ISO

You are now set to perform a fresh installation of Windows 11 Dev Build 22598 using the downloaded ISO image.

Learn how to create a multiboot USB installation media using Ventoy.

Rollback/Remove Windows 11 Insider Preview Update

If you do not wish to keep the installed preview update for some reason, you can always roll back to the previous build of the OS. However, this can only be performed within the next 10 days after installing the new update.

To roll back after 10 days, you will need to apply this trick.

Cleanup After Installing Windows Updates

If you want to save space after installing Windows updates, you can run the following commands one after the other in Command Prompt with administrative privileges:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
dism cleanup
DISM cleanup

Windows 11 Insider Preview updates history

BuildRelease DateFeatures added
Windows 11 Build 2522719-Oct-22Improvements to Windows Update management, pop-up trailer preview in Microsoft Store, monoline icons in widgets board.
Windows 11 Build 252176-Oct-22Supports third-party widgets, new video calling experience in the taskbar, Simplified Chinese IME cloud suggestions, and Microsoft Store improvements
Windows 11 Build 2521129-Sep-22New Widget Settings and Widget Picker, New Outlook for Windows experience, Task Manager in the taskbar context menu
Windows 11 Build 2520621-Sep-22SMB authentication rate limiter and dynamic refresh rate
Windows 11 Build 2520114-Sep-22Expandable widgets board and sign-in option in Game Pass widget
Windows 11 Build 251978-Sep-22Tablet-optimized taskbar restored, animated icons introduced in the Settings app, system tray icons updated
Windows 11 Build 251931-Sep-22New Braille support for Narrator and Xbox subscription management from the Settings app
Windows 11 Build 2518824-Aug-22Intelligent touch keyboard when the physical keyboard detached
Windows 11 Build 2516928-Jul-22Added App lockdown feature
Windows 11 Build 2512625-May-22Improved account settings page
Windows 11 Build 2512018-May-22Added search widget on Desktop/
Windows 11 Build 2511511-May-22Added suggested actions feature
Windows 11 Build 226165-May-22Improved Xbox controller bar
Windows 11 Build 2259813-Apr-22Improved Windows Media Player, Windows Spotlight default background
Windows 11 Build 225936-Apr-22Homepage to Windows Explorer
Windows 11 Build 2257918-Mar-22Allows naming start menu folders
Windows 11 Build 225729-Mar-22Introducing Microsoft Family and Clipchamp
Windows 11 Build 225672-Mar-22Smart App Control, Focuses On Renewable Energy
Windows 11 Build 2255716-Feb-22Folders of pinned apps, DnD, Focus, Live captions, quick access to Android apps, pin files to Quick Access, and more.
Windows 11 Insider Preview dev channel updates history
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Subhan Zafar is an established IT professional with interests in Windows and Server infrastructure testing and research, and is currently working with Itechtics as a research consultant. He has studied Electrical Engineering and is also certified by Huawei (HCNA & HCNP Routing and Switching).

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