Windows 10 build 18242 heads out to Skip Ahead Insiders

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

Now that the Fast and Slow rings have received Windows 10 preview updates of their own today, Microsoft is making it a triple threat with a new build for Skip Ahead Insiders. Today's build is rolling out as build number 18242 and doesn't include any major new features. Instead, Microsoft has focused on ironing out a number of bugs. There are also a couple of known issues to be aware of.

What's new

  • We fixed an issue resulting in the background of notifications and the Action Center losing color and becoming transparent in the last two flights.
  • We fixed an issue where thumbnails and icons might not be rendered if there were any video files saved to the desktop.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in the back button in Settings and other apps becoming white text on a white background if you hovered over it.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in certain apps crashing when you tried to save a file from the app.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in nearby sharing not working for local accounts where the account name contained certain Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in rendering issues in certain types of PDFs in Microsoft Edge.
  • The Emoji Panel is now draggable if you would like to move it to a different position.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Narrator not reading selected word choices when typing using an IME (for example, in Japanese).
  • Some Insiders who have opted in to Skip Ahead may notice differences when using the Japanese IME in today's build. We're trying something out and will have more details about it later. If you have any feedback about your experience when using the IME, please let us know via Feedback Hub.
  • We fixed an issue where certain Bluetooth audio devices wouldn't play sound in apps that also used the microphone.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in slower resume from hibernation on certain devices in the last few flights.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Windows Hello spending more time in the "Getting Ready" state in recent builds.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in an unexpectedly increased use of battery recently when using certain apps like OneNote.
  • We fixed an issue in PowerShell where it wasn't displaying characters correctly in Japanese.

Known issues

  • Task Manager is not reporting accurate CPU usage.
  • Arrows to expand "Background processes" in Task Manager are blinking constantly and weirdly.

Known issues for developers

  • If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to 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.

The Windows 10 October 2018 Update is now in its final stages of development ahead of its release, so we should start seeing Skip Ahead builds (codenamed 19H1) ramp up and eventually expand to the other rings ahead of that update's release, expected early next year.

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