microsoft Windows 11 Insider has been released Experimental Preview Build 26300.8497which introduces several new accessibility features. These include a Screen Tint option, Voice Isolation in Voice Access, and improvements to Magnifier and Narrator.
The update also fixes several issues reported in previous versions.
New Screen Tint Accessibility Settings in Windows 11 Build 26300.8497
A new Screen Tint setting adds a color overlay across the entire screen to help reduce screen glare. Microsoft describes it as a tool for users who experience eye strain or light sensitivity during long periods of use.
The settings can be found under Settings under Accessibility in the Vision section. Users can select from six preset colors or customize their own and adjust the tint intensity from a light wash to full intensity.
Screen Tint works independently of Night Light. While Night Light reduces blue light to support sleep cycles, Screen Tint reduces overall screen brightness to reduce eye fatigue during the day. Both functions can be used at the same time.
It is important to note that Screen Tint cannot be enabled at the same time as color filters. Activating one will automatically deactivate the other. Users who rely on color filters should keep screen tinting disabled.
Plug?and?Play Braille display support in Narrator
Narrator now supports refreshable braille displays that use the open industry standard HID. USB-connected HID-compliant displays work immediately as plug-and-play devices, with no additional drivers or configuration required.
Bluetooth pairing is supported through Settings, Bluetooth & Devices. Compatible models include Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.
HID braille displays can now also be used during the initial Windows setup process via USB. This update allows deafblind users to set up a new Windows 11 PC regardless of the first screen. Braille input and output preferences can be adjusted in Settings, Accessibility, Narrator, Braille.
Bug fixes in this build and availability
The build fixes several issues from previous versions. Fixes a recurring bug in explorer.exe that caused the screen or taskbar to refresh repeatedly:
- The Power Saving quick settings no longer appear twice. Both
- Win + X and right-clicking the Start button in the taskbar now work as expected.
- Resolved an issue that caused audio to be muted unexpectedly on some devices. The update also improves the reliability of Simple Service Discovery Protocol notifications and improves the stability of the dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command.
Build 26300.8497 is now rolling out to the Windows 11 Insider Experimental channel. Microsoft has not announced when the new accessibility features will be available to broader Windows 11 users outside of the Insider Program.
Complete release notes, including known issues, are available through Microsoft’s Insider documentation.
