Microsoft Introduces Windows Studio Effects for Windows 11 with KB5044376 Update

Microsoft has unveiled the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200 (KB5044376) to users in the Dev Channel. This update brings a host of new features, enhancements, and fixes, highlighting the highly anticipated Windows Studio Effects.

The Windows Studio Effects, introduced in Build 26120, offers AI-driven enhancements for both audio and camera functionalities on devices that feature a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Users can now find this feature conveniently located in the Quick Settings via the system tray on the taskbar. Additionally, when an application utilizing a Studio Effects-enabled camera is active, an icon will appear in the system tray; hovering over it provides a tooltip to identify the application using the camera.

Another notable addition in this build is the Dynamic Lighting feature, which animates your keyboard and mouse with rich, dynamic effects that react to the content displayed on your screen. If no compatible devices are connected, the Dynamic Lighting settings will display a placeholder message, and controls for Brightness and Effects will be disabled. Furthermore, the Dynamic Lighting settings now incorporate directional options including Forward, Backward, Outward, and Inward for the Wave effect, alongside a Forward direction option for the Gradient effect.

On the fixes front, KB5044376 resolves an issue where clicking or tapping on a letter in the All apps list of the Start menu could cause it to malfunction, as well as addressing a problem where explorer.exe crashed for some Insiders when hovering over particular open apps in the taskbar. Additionally, it rectifies an issue concerning a blank entry in Privacy & Security settings that crashed the Settings app when selected. The update also enhances the mouse setting for “Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key,” ensuring that the circles shown are now DPI-aware, thus appearing appropriately sized on high DPI screens.

However, KB5044376 also introduces a couple of new known issues:

• An unexpected spacing may be noticed between items in the Start menu apps list.
• Microsoft is actively working on resolving a fundamental issue preventing access to Dev Drives within WSL.

To delve deeper into the new features, improvements, fixes, and known issues of this build, check out Microsoft’s comprehensive blog post on the Windows Insider Blog.

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