Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Preview Build 18985 With Better Bluetooth Pairing, Key Optional Updates Tweak

Microsoft has launched a new Windows 10 Insider Preview build 18985 (20H1) that is now in the Fast ring for Insiders. There are numerous improvements in the latest build with one major improvement being a better Bluetooth pairing experience for users. The update brings a Bluetooth pairing experience that is performed entirely via notifications that pop up from the right side of the screen.

The user no longer needs to go to the Settings app to finish pairing. Pairing time is faster thanks to a notification being eliminated. A dismiss button has also been added to give more control when using Swift Pair. Microsoft says that the new Bluetooth pairing experience is being rolled out to 50% of insiders and for now, only a few peripheral devices support the new experience (all are Microsoft-branded).

The new Windows Insider build also has tweaks to make it easier to see all optional updates for your machine. Optional updates detected for a PC are placed in Settings - Update & Security - Windows Update - View optional updates area. Users no longer have to navigate to the Device Manager for a specific device to update.

Other updates for insiders include a Snip & Sketch app update that is coming to 100% of Insiders after spending time in the Fast and Slow rings. This update will roll out to "a small percentage" of users on retail builds. The app has a pair of improvements that were based on customer feedback, including single-window mode and zoom support.

Numerous improvements and fixes are added in this build, and the full list can be seen here. There are some known issues with this insider build. One issue might impact gamers using older versions of anti-cheat software leading to PC crashes. A couple of issues are present that may impact Windows Mixed Reality users. A recent patch Tuesday update from Microsoft broke WiFi for some users.