Microsoft’s Windows 11 build 23419 seems to be testing several features under the hood. Aside from a new dedicated keyboard shortcut for the screen record feature in the Snipping Tool, the release also shipped with a hidden capability that will let users switch to a Cloud PC as spotted by XenoPanther on Twitter.
— Xeno (@XenoPanther) March 22, 2023
In the screenshot shared by the tipster, the settingshandlers_cloudpc.dll file is highlighted, confirming Xeno’s sentiments. This means, if Microsoft decides to release this new capability to general availability users will be able to transition from a host PC and a Cloud PC.
Another tipster, Albacore on Twitter, who’s also known for uncovering hidden features that Microsoft isn’t ready to announce publicly yet further disclosed that the feature is currently disabled in the registry.
This feature is force disabled in the registry but clever Insiders will know how to work their way around this
Beyond more hardcodes lies a settings entry that is for some reason not on the Taskbar page.. both this & the registry value name seem off
Is this an intern feature? pic.twitter.com/vGqrADovBD— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) March 22, 2023
The Twitter user however disclosed that it was possible for Windows Insiders to enable the feature. He went on to describe the offerings the new feature ships with, for instance, users will be able to determine what kind of resources they’d want the feature to access, with various toggles available including the Microphone, Camera, Location, USB portal, etc.
Cloud PC settings now have extra toggles for what kind of resources you'd like to share with it pic.twitter.com/eOgKitNAzi
— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) March 22, 2023
Microsoft has been gravitating toward AI and the cloud most recently, it even has its own dedicated cloud app, the Windows 365 app, designed to let Windows 11 users access cloud PCS conveniently from their devices. It recently hit general availability and is also available on the Microsoft Store.
While this might be a stretch, perhaps this could be Microsoft’s way of embracing new approaches thus giving way to bigger things, Windows 12 big! Ultimately allowing users to do more with less.