Windows 10 build 21286 rolls out to Insiders in the Dev Channel
Microsoft kicked off 2021 with plenty of new features for Insiders to try out.
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What you need to know
Microsoft released the first Windows 10 Insider build of 2021. Insiders in the Dev Channel can receiveWindows 10 build 21286. The build includes several new features, including the ‘news and weather’ widget that we’ve alreadycovered in more detail. That feature is particularly noteworthy as it is part of Microsoft’sSun Valleyeffort to reinvigorate Windows.
Apart from the news and weather widget, here’s everything else that’s new in Windows 10 build 21286:
Modernized Storage Spaces Settings
You can now create and manage Storage Spaces from within the Settings app. This includes creating storage pools and storage spaces, adding, and removing disks, and optimizing pools. This new experience provides an accessible, modern experience integrated with other storage features.
Run commands on start up in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
We have added an option that allows you to run any specified Linux command on startup of a WSL distribution. You can accomplish this by editing the /etc/wsl.conf file in your distribution and adding an option titled “command” under a section titled “boot”. This command will run whenever your specific WSL distribution starts up. The example below shows using this functionality to create a method to log the time and date for each startup of this WSL distro.
This command will run when a WSL distribution is first started. WSL distributions will remain running for a few minutes even after the last Linux process inside of them is closed. You can view if your WSL distro is running using wsl –list –verbose and you can manually shut down all WSL distributions using wsl –shutdown.
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Improving your experience when transitioning between time zones
Based on feedback, we’re making a couple small adjustments for users of “Set time zone automatically” in Date & Time Settings:
The update is available through Windows Update for Insiders on the Dev Channel. If you need to register as an Insider, you can learn how to join theWindows Insider Program in our how-to guide.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
