Microsoft has just announced a new Windows 11 Insider Preview build for the Dev channel. Version 22504 is not the most exciting update, but it does bring a keyboard shortcut to the new taskbar mute button.
There are a lot of small features tucked in this Windows 11 Insider Preview build, such as improvements to the Your Phone app, personalized emoji, and more. But the thing that really caught our attention is the keyboard shortcut to toggle the new mute icon in the Taskbar when it's showing.
To use the new shortcut, you'll need to hit WIN + Alt + K to make it happen. You'll need to be in a Microsoft Teams call (or another app that supports the taskbar mute button) for it to work. It might sound small, but when you're panic muting because your child is screaming or your dog is barking, this is a big deal.
As far as the Your Phone app changes, it's getting an updated design. Notifications go down a sidebar on the left side of the screen for quick access. It has a new view, which Microsoft says, "In this new view, you'll always have access to your messages, calls, and photos with the added benefit to stay on top of important messages and other notifications more efficiently with this glanceable view."
Additionally, Microsoft is expanding the 13 themes for the touch keyboard to other input methods, including IMEs, the emoji panel, and voice typing. This is more of a visual change, but it's still welcomed.
Finally, Windows 11 is getting personalized combinations of emoji based on the face and skin tones of family members.
These changes are rolling out to Windows Insiders on the Dev channel, and assuming everything works correctly, we should see them in the final Windows 11 release in the future.