Microsoft releases Windows 10 build 17101 and 17604 for Insiders in Fast and Skip Ahead

Windows Insider program settings
Windows Insider program settings (Image credit: Windows Central)

Microsoft has today released two new builds for Insiders in the Fast ring and Skip Ahead rings today. This is a significant release, as it marks the final development stages of Redstone 4 as well as the first development stages of Redstone 5. Insiders in the Fast ring are receiving build 17101 from the RS4_RELEASE branch, whereas Skip Ahead users are receiving 17604 from the rs_prerelease branch, a Redstone 5 build.

Right now, both builds are more or less identical since development has only just been forked. Here's what's new:

  • Emoji design updates: Based on your feedback and to improve consistency, we've made adjustments to the design of some of our emoji. Examples of updated emoji include:

  • Emoji search comes to more languages: Earlier in RS4, we updated the Emoji Panel to support browsing and picking emoji in many new locales. With today's build, we're bringing search support to more locales too! Now you can find an emoji by keyword in over 150 locales, including English (Great Britain), French (France), German (Germany), Spanish (Spain), and more. This will help you get the emoji you want easily and quickly. As a reminder, to bring up the Emoji Panel set focus to a text field and press WIN + (period) or WIN + (semicolon).
  • UWP File System Access: With this build we're giving you more control so you can now decide which UWP apps can access your full file system. Particular UWP apps will be granted permission to have broad file system access. This capability will be granted on a per app basis by Microsoft. If a UWP app has the broad file system access restricted capability, you will receive a consent dialog prompting you to accept or deny the request.

As always, you can check out the full changelog at the Windows Blog!

Zac Bowden
Senior Editor

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter and Threads