Windows 10 20H1 build 18845 brings emoji updates to Skip Ahead Insiders

Laurent Giret

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Windows Insiders in the Skip Ahead ring can download the 20H1 build 18845 today. Previous 20H1 brought no new features, but this new one introduces some Emoji 12.0 updates. The Unicode organization finalized the set of new emojis included in the Emoji 12.0 update earlier this month, and starting with the build 18845 you can now easily find these new emojis by pressing WIN+(period) or WIN+(semicolon) and then using keywords like otter, sloth, waffle, ballet shoes, and more.

This new 20H1 build also comes with the usual bug fixes, which you can find below. Please note that Microsoft still hasn’t fixed the anti-cheat software issue causing some GSODs with some games, as well as the audio problems affecting users with Creative X-Fi sound cards.

General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC

  • We fixed an issue which would cause the Bluetooth Hands-Free audio driver to hang.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders not being able to access the Quests section of the Feedback Hub.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in a decrease in Start menu reliability in the previous flight.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Microsoft Edge crashing on launch for some Insiders in the previous flight.
  • We’ve made some small tweaks to make the help icon in File Explorer look a bit better when dark theme is enabled.
  • We fixed an issue where in certain languages if you pressed WIN+V before having opted into clipboard history the clipboard history UI would be truncated.
  • We fixed an issue with the new Adlam keyboard resulting in not being able to type certain common words.
  • We fixed an issue where, when typing Vietnamese, the touch keyboard was auto-capitalizing every word in certain apps.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in unexpected flickering if you used pen or touch in certain win32 apps to launch a second instance of the app when in tablet mode.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in DWM crashing after enabling high contrast.
  • We fixed an issue where, when friendly dates were enabled in File Explorer, in certain languages (such as Japanese and Chinese) Insiders would see the wrong day name displayed.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in an unexpected and non-functional Family Safety icon in the notification area of the taskbar.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the taskbar search box text becoming black on a black background.
  • We fixed an issue where Start menu would crash when using Narrator to navigate pinned folders in Start.

Known issues

  • Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
  • Please note that while we’ve made some improvements to night light reliability in this flight, we’re continuing to investigate reported issues in this space.
  • For display calibration scenarios, monitors may be missing in the built-in Color Management application. As a work around, please use the Settings app to select color profile instead, under the Display Settings page.
  • When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled, the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
  • Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
  • In Windows Sandbox, if you try to navigate to the Narrator settings, Settings app crashes.
  • Mouse pointer color might be incorrectly switched to white after signing out and signing back in.
  • Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue.

Known issues for Developers

  • If you install any of the recent builds from the Skip Ahead and switch to either the Fast ring or the Slow ring, optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings.

This is the third 20H1 build that Microsoft has shipped to Skip Ahead Insiders so far, and we’re still waiting to see any big new features being introduced on this development branch. According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, the early testing of 20H1 builds with Skip Ahead Insiders is the result of Microsoft wanting to align schedules between Windows and Azure development, but Microsoft still plans to release 19H2 builds to Insiders later this Spring once the 19H1 update is out.