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Microsoft releases Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305 (19H1) to the Fast ring

The simplified Start menu in all its glory. (Image source: Microsoft)
The simplified Start menu in all its glory. (Image source: Microsoft)
A simplified Start menu, Windows Sandbox, Kaomoji and more are rolling out to the Insider Preview Fast ring in the latest 19H1 build. Build 18305 is available to download now from Windows Update.
by Alex Alderson, 2018/12/19
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Microsoft has announced today that it has released build 18305 to Insider Preview Fast ring, which brings a host of changes and updates. The company has picked up the pace with its Windows 10 19H1 builds, having released Build 18298 just last week.

Microsoft has refined the Start menu to give it a more simplified look. The Start menu will now default to a one-column design with reduced top-level tiles for new devices, user accounts and installs of Windows 10. Microsoft stresses that your start menu will not switch to the new layout when upgrading to Build 18305 because they "want everything to be exactly as you left it before you did the update". You can switch the slimmer Start menu in Settings though.

The new kaomojis (Source: Microsoft)
The new kaomojis (Source: Microsoft)

Build 18305 also integrates Windows Sandbox, which we have covered in detail in a separate article. Moreover, the new Build adds kaomoji, which we are sure will make some people feel (o^▽^o). Clipboard history has gotten a UI update too with Microsoft shrinking the height of each entry to limit excessive scrolling. Finally, Microsoft has made it easier to reset a PIN, which now should look like signing into a Microsoft account on the web for Windows 10 Home Users.

There are also plenty of known issues, which is typical for early Insider Builds. Please see the Windows Blog for a full list of fixes, issues, improvements and updates that Build 18305 brings.

The new PIN reset experience (Source: Microsoft)
The new PIN reset experience (Source: Microsoft)

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> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2018 12 > Microsoft releases Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305 (19H1) to the Fast ring
Alex Alderson, 2018-12-19 (Update: 2018-12-19)
Alex Alderson
Alex Alderson - News Editor - @aldersonaj
Prior to writing and translating for Notebookcheck, I worked for various companies including Apple and Neowin. I have a BA in International History and Politics from the University of Leeds, which I have since converted to a Law Degree. Happy to chat on Twitter or Notebookchat.