Windows Update Preview: Cross-device continuation and MIDI 2.0

Microsoft has released previews of the non-security portion of upcoming Windows updates for the February patch day. They are currently available for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. The manufacturer is improving cross-device app continuation and bringing MIDI 2.0 support to everyone.

Microsoft announces the changes in KB article KB5074105. After installation, Windows will be on builds 26200.7705 and 26100.7705, respectively. The biggest new features, officially slated for everyone in February, include continuing Android apps on Windows 11. Initially, the feature was limited to Spotify, but Microsoft now also allows continuing work in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, as well as further browsing in the web browser.

Microsoft explicitly mentions the Vivo browser and continuing work on files that were opened in the Copilot app on Honor, Oppo, Samsung, Vivo, or Xiaomi phones. These will open in the corresponding Microsoft 365 apps if they are installed; otherwise, in the default web browser on the PC. However, this does not work with files stored offline on the phone.

The second major change concerns the Windows MIDI services. Microsoft is improving MIDI support with extended support for MIDI 1.0 and 2.0, including full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support. Features such as translation, MIDI ports shared across applications, changeable port names, loopback, and even app-to-app MIDI are supported. Additionally, the developers have worked on performance and included bug fixes. “This provides musicians with a better experience,” writes Microsoft. An App SDK and Tools package is available as a standalone download on the Windows MIDI Services website, but it is currently unsigned, which could lead to security warnings during download and installation – this is expected to be resolved by the official release in February. Microsoft announced the development a year ago and included an initial raw version in a Windows Insider preview; now it seems the software is ready for use.

Windows Update Preview: Further Minor Improvements

Many smaller improvements have also been incorporated. For example, the settings agent on Copilot+ PCs is said to support more languages and offers extended support for German, as well as Chinese, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Voice control is intended to provide more control through finer setting options. Furthermore, Windows now supports Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) with supported external fingerprint readers. The company has only been testing this in Insider preview versions since October, and it is now ready for use. Microsoft lists many other improvements and fixes in the KB article.

Microsoft last provided a preview of upcoming updates in November a preview of the upcoming updates. At the end of December, the company grants admins a break and then continues the distribution of update previews in January.

(dmk)