Windows Mixed Reality Flashlight lets you peer into the real world at will

WMR Flashlight
WMR Flashlight (Image credit: Microsoft)

The latest Windows Insider build now available on the Fast and Skip Ahead rings contains a nifty new feature for Windows Mixed Reality that will help mix a bit of the real world with your virtual one. Called Mixed Reality Flashlight, the feature lets you quickly peer into the real world so you can see what's going on around you without having to take your headset off.

Mixed Reality Flashlight can be accessed at any time with the Start menu, a button shortcut, or a voice command. Once activated, you'll see a portal into the real world that uses the camera feed on your headset to let you peek into the real world around you. The portal is tied to your controller, allowing you to shift it around with a wave of your hand.

This could come in handy for a number of different scenarios, whether you want to say hi to someone who just walked in the room, or if you're simply looking to grab a nearby drink or look at your phone.

If you own a Windows Mixed Reality headset and want to give the flashlight feature a shot, you can check it out now with Insider builds 17723 and 18204 on the Fast and Skip Ahead rings, respectively.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl