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Insider preview for Microsoft HoloLens |
Learn how to get started with Insider builds and provide valuable feedback for our next major operating system update for HoloLens. |
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ITPro |
1/21/2021 |
laurawi |
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Welcome to the latest Insider Preview builds for HoloLens! It's simple to get started and provide valuable feedback for our next major operating system update for HoloLens.
We are excited to start flighting new features to Windows Insiders again. We will be flighting to the Dev Channel for the latest updates. We will continue to update this page as we add more features and updates to our Windows Insider builds. Get excited and ready to mix these updates into your reality.
| Feature Name | Short description | Available in build |
|---|---|---|
| New Microsoft Edge | The new, Chromium-based Microsoft Edge is now available for HoloLens 2 | 20279.1006 |
| New Settings app | The legacy Settings app is being replaced by an updated version with new features and settings | 20279.1006 |
| Default app picker | Choose which app should launch for each file or link type | 20279.1006 |
| Office web app | A shortcut to the Office web app is now listed in "All apps" | 20279.1006 |
| Swipe to type | Use the tip of your finger to "swipe" words on the holographic keyboard | 20279.1006 |
| USB-C External Microphone Support | Use USB-C microphones for apps and / or Remote Assist. | 20279.1006 |
| New AUMIDs for new apps in Kiosk mode | AUMIDs for new Settings and Edge apps | 20279.1006 |
| Improved Kiosk mode failure handing | Kiosk mode looks for Global Assigned Access before empty start menu. | 20279.1006 |
| Configure Fallback Diagnostics | Setting Fallback Diagnostic Behavior in Settings App | 20279.1006 |
The new Microsoft Edge adopts the Chromium open source project to create better compatibility for customers and less fragmentation of the web for web developers.
With this Insider preview, the new Microsoft Edge is available to HoloLens 2 customers for the first time! While the new Microsoft Edge will eventually replace legacy Microsoft Edge on HoloLens 2, both browsers are currently available to Insiders. Please share feedback and bugs with our team via the Send Feedback feature in the new Microsoft Edge or via Feedback Hub.
There are two versions of Microsoft Edge available to Insiders: the new Microsoft Edge 
(represented by a blue and green swirl icon) and legacy Microsoft Edge (represented by the white "e" icon). The new Microsoft Edge is pinned to the Start menu and will automatically launch when you activate a web link. If you would like to revert to using legacy Microsoft Edge as your default web browser, see the instructions below for resetting default apps.
Note
When you first launch the new Microsoft Edge on HoloLens 2, your settings and data will be imported from legacy Microsoft Edge. If you continue to use legacy Microsoft Edge after launching the new Microsoft Edge, that new data will not be synced from legacy Microsoft Edge to the new Microsoft Edge.
The new Microsoft Edge offers IT admins a much broader set of browser policies on HoloLens 2 than were previously available with legacy Microsoft Edge.
Here are some helpful resources for learning more about managing policy settings for the new Microsoft Edge:
- Configure Microsoft Edge policy settings with Microsoft Intune
- Microsoft Edge Legacy to Microsoft Edge policy mapping
- Google Chrome to Microsoft Edge policy mapping
- Full Microsoft Edge Enterprise documentation
Important
Because of the volume of browser policies supported by the new Microsoft Edge, our team is unable to guarantee that each new policy works on HoloLens 2. However, we've tested and confirmed that the new Microsoft Edge equivalent of each legacy Microsoft Edge policy previously supported on HoloLens 2 work as expected. See Microsoft Edge Legacy to Microsoft Edge policy mapping to find the new Microsoft Edge equivalent of each legacy Microsoft Edge browser policy you were using with HoloLens 2.
There are at least two new Microsoft Edge policies that we know will not work with HoloLens 2:
- EnterpriseModeSiteList
- EnterpriseSiteListServiceURL
Because the new Microsoft Edge is a native Win32 app with a new UWP adapter layer allowing it to run on UWP-only devices like HoloLens 2, some features may not be immediately available. We'll be supporting new scenarios and features over the coming months, so please check this space for up-to-date information.
Scenarios and features expected to work:
- First-run experience, sign-in to profile, and sync
- Websites should render and behave as expected
- Most browser functionality (Favorites, History, etc.) should work as expected
- Dark mode
- Installing web apps to the device
- Installing extensions (please let us know if you use any extensions that don't work properly on HoloLens 2)
- Viewing and marking up a PDF
- Spatial sound from a single browser window
- Automatic and manual updating of the browser
- Saving a PDF from the Print menu (using "Save to PDF" option)
Scenarios and features coming soon:
- WebXR and 360 Viewer extension
- Content restoration to correct window when browsing across multiple windows placed in your environment
- Joining a Microsoft Teams call via the browser with video, mixed reality capture, or screen-sharing (joining calls with audio works well)
Scenarios and features not expected to work:
- Spatial sound from multiple windows with simultaneous audio streams
- "See it, say it"
- Printing
Top known browser issues:
- Resetting your device will remove the new Microsoft Edge
- The magnifier preview in the holographic keyboard shows incorrect content
The Microsoft Edge team makes three preview channels available to the Edge Insider community: Beta, Dev, and Canary. Installing a preview channel doesn't uninstall the released version of Microsoft Edge on your HoloLens 2, and you can install more than one at the same time.
Visit the Microsoft Edge Insider homepage to learn more about the Edge Insider community. To learn more about the different Edge Insider channels and get started, visit the Edge Insider download page.
There are a couple methods available for installing Microsoft Edge Insider channels to HoloLens 2:
Direct install on device (currently only available to unmanaged devices)
- On your HoloLens 2, visit the Edge Insider download page
- Select the Download for HoloLens 2 button for the Edge Insider channel you wish to install
- Launch the downloaded .msix file from the Edge download queue or from your device's "Downloads" folder (using File Explorer)
- App installer will launch
- Select the Install button
- After successful install, you will find Microsoft Edge Beta, Dev, or Canary as a separate entry in the All apps list of the Start menu
Install via PC with Windows Device Portal (requires developer mode to be enabled on HoloLens 2)
- On your PC, visit the Edge Insider download page
- Select the drop-down arrow button next to the "Download for Windows 10" button for the Edge Insider channel you wish to install
- Select HoloLens 2 in the drop-down menu
- Save the .msix file to the "Downloads" folder of your PC (or another folder you can easily find)
- Use Windows Device Portal on your PC to install the downloaded .msix file on HoloLens 2
- After successful install, you will find Microsoft Edge Beta, Dev, or Canary as a separate entry in the All apps list of the Start menu
Note
During this Windows Insider preview for HoloLens 2, the version of Microsoft Edge on your device may be higher than those available in some (or all) of the Microsoft Edge Insider channels. This is to ensure new features and fixes specifically targeting the web browser on HoloLens 2 are getting to our Windows Insiders as quickly as possible. Shortly after the public release of the next Windows update, the Microsoft Edge Insider channel builds will surpass, and stay ahead of, the version of Microsoft Edge on your HoloLens 2.
With this release, we're introducing a new version of the Settings app. The new Settings app includes new features and expanded settings for HoloLens 2 in the following areas: Sound, Power & sleep, Network & Internet, Apps, Accounts, Ease of Access, and more.
Note
Because the new Settings app is distinct from the legacy Settings app, any Settings windows you previously placed around your environment will be removed upon update.
New features and settings
- Settings search: search for settings from the Settings homepage using keywords or the setting's name
- System > Sound:
- Input and output audio devices: independently choose your input and output audio devices (for example, listen to audio via Bluetooth headphones or use a USB-C microphone for audio input). Note: Bluetooth microphones are not supported by HoloLens 2.
- App volume: independently adjust the volume of each app
- System > Power & sleep: choose when the device should go to sleep after a period of inactivity
- System > Battery: manually enable battery saver mode or set a battery threshold at which point battery saver mode turns on automatically
- Devices > USB: you can disable USB connections by default
- Network & Internet:
- USB-C Ethernet adapters will now appear in Network & Internet
- USB-C Ethernet adapter settings are now available, including its IP address
- You can now enable airplane mode on HoloLens 2
- Apps: you can reset the default apps used for file and link types. See Default app picker for more information.
- Accounts > Other users: device owners can add users, upgrade standard users to device owners, downgrade device owners to standard users, and remove users.
- Ease of Access: change text size and some visual effects
Known issues
- Previously placed Settings windows will be removed (see note above)
- Visiting the Notifications page may crash the Settings app (investigating)
- The Ethernet page currently doesn't show up (to be fixed soon)
- Battery usage for the new Microsoft Edge may not be accurate, due to its nature as a Win32 desktop application supported by a UWP adapter layer (no fix anticipated soon)
When you activate a hyperlink or open a file type with more than one installed app which supports it, you will see a new window open prompting you to select which installed app should handle the file or link type. In this window you can also choose to have the selected app handle the file or link type "Once" or "Always."
If you choose "Always" but later want to change which app handles a particular file or link type, you can reset your saved defaults in Settings > Apps. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the Clear button under "Default apps for file types" and/or "Default apps for link types." Unlike the similar setting on desktop PCs, you can't reset individual file type defaults.
The Office web app has been added to the "All apps" list in the Start menu. This web app can also be pinned to Start or uninstalled. Because this is a web app, its functionality matches exactly what you'd experience by visiting https://www.office.com. Office web app functionality is only available when your HoloLens 2 has an active internet connection.
Some customers find it faster to "type" on virtual keyboards by swiping the shape of the word they intend to type, and we're previewing this feature for the holographic keyboard. You can swipe one word at a time by passing the tip of your finger through the plane of the holographic keyboard, swiping the shape of the word, and then withdrawing the tip of your finger from the plane of the keyboard. You can swipe follow-up words without needing to press the spacebar by removing your finger from the keyboard between words. You will know the feature is working if you see a swipe trail following your finger's movement on the keyboard.
Please note, this feature can be tricky to use and master because of the nature of a holographic keyboard where you don't feel resistance against your finger (unlike a mobile phone display). We are evaluating this feature for public release, so your feedback is important; whether you find the feature useful or you have constructive feedback, please let us know via Feedback Hub.
Important
Plugging in a USB mic will not automatically set it as the input device. When plugging in a set of USB-C headphones users will observe that the headphone's audio will automatically be redirected to the headphones, but the HoloLens OS prioritizes the internal microphone array above any other input device. In order to use a USB-C microphone follow the steps below.
Users can select USB-C connected external microphones using the Sound settings panel. USB-C microphones can be used for calling, recording, etc.
Open the Settings app and select System -> Sound.
Important
To use external microphones with Remote Assist, users will need to click the “Manage sound devices” hyperlink.
Then use the drop-down to set the external microphone as either Default or Communications Default. Choosing Default means that the external microphone will be used everywhere.
Choosing Communications Default means that the external microphone will be used in Remote Assist and other communications apps, but the HoloLens mic array may still be used for other tasks.
Unfortunately Bluetooth microphones are still not currently supported on HoloLens 2.
Be aware that some USB-C microphones incorrectly report themselves as both a microphone and a speaker. This is a problem with the microphone and not with HoloLens. When plugging one of these microphones into HoloLens, sound may be lost. Fortunately there is a simple fix.
In Settings -> System -> Sound, explicitly set the built-in speakers (Analog Feature Audio Driver) as the Default device. HoloLens should remember this setting even if the microphone is removed and reconnected later.
When including apps in in Kiosks, an IT Admin often adds the app to the Kiosk but using it's App User Model ID (AUMID). Because both the Settings app and Microsoft Edge app are considered new apps and different that the older apps Kiosks that use AUMIDs for those apps will need to be updated to use the new AUMID.
When modifying a Kiosk to include the new apps, we recommend adding in the new AUMID as well as leaving the old one. This will create an easy transition when users update the OS and won't need to receive new policies to keep using the Kiosk as intended.
| App | AUMID |
|---|---|
| Old Settings App | HolographicSystemSettings_cw5n1h2txyewy!App |
| New Settings App | BAEAEF15-9BAB-47FC-800B-ACECAD2AE94B_cw5n1h2txyewy!App |
| Old Microsoft Edge app | Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MicrosoftEdge |
| New Microsoft Edge app | Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MSEDGE |
In older builds, if a device had a kiosk configuration, which is a combination of both global assigned access and AAD group member assigned access, if determining AAD group membership failed, the user would see “nothing shown in start” menu.
Starting in Windows Insider release, the kiosk experience will fallback to global kiosk configuration (if present) in case of failures during AAD group kiosk mode.
Now in Settings App, a user can configure the behavior of Fallback Diagnostics. In the Settings app navigate to Privacy -> Troubleshooting page to configure this setting.
Note
If there is MDM policy configured for the device, user will not be able to override that behavior.
Note
If you haven’t updated recently, please reboot your device to update state and get the latest build.
- The “Reboot device” voice command works well.
- You can also choose the restart button in Settings/Windows Insider Program.
We had a bug on the back-end that you may have encountered and this will get you back on track.
On a HoloLens 2 device go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program and select Get started. Link the account you used to register as a Windows Insider.
Windows insider is now moving to Channels. The Fast ring will become the Dev Channel, the Slow ring will become the Beta Channel, and the Release Preview ring will become the Release Preview Channel. Here is what that mapping looks like:
For more information, see Introducing Windows Insider Channels on Windows Blogs.
Then, select Active development of Windows, choose whether you'd like to receive Dev Channel or Beta Channel builds, and review the program terms.
Select Confirm > Restart Now to finish up. After your device has rebooted, go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates to get the latest build.
If you encounter an update error 0x80070490 when updating on the Dev or Beta channel, try the following short-term work around. It involves moving your insider channel, picking up the update and then moving your Insider channel back.
- Settings, Update & Security, Windows Insider Program, select Release Preview Channel.
- Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update, Check for updates. After the update, continue on to Stage two.
- Settings, Update & Security, Windows Insider Program, select Dev Channel.
- Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update, Check for updates.
To test with a flight signed ffu, you first have to flight unlock your device prior to flashing the flight signed ffu.
-
On PC:
-
Download ffu to your PC from https://aka.ms/hololenspreviewdownload.
-
Install ARC (Advanced Recovery Companion) from the Microsoft Store: https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9P74Z35SFRS8
-
-
On HoloLens - Flight Unlock: Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program then sign up, reboot device.
-
Flash FFU - Now you can flash the flight signed FFU using ARC.
Please use the Feedback Hub app on your HoloLens to provide feedback and report issues. Using Feedback Hub ensures that all necessary diagnostics information is included to help our engineers quickly debug and resolve the problem. Issues with the Chinese and Japanese version of HoloLens should be reported the same way.
Note
Be sure to accept the prompt that asks whether you'd like Feedback Hub to access your Documents folder (select Yes when prompted).
You are welcome and encouraged to try developing your applications using Insider builds of HoloLens. Check out the HoloLens Developer Documentation to get started. Those same instructions work with Insider builds of HoloLens. You can use the same builds of Unity and Visual Studio that you're already using for HoloLens development.
If you no longer want to receive Insider builds of Windows Holographic, you can opt out when your HoloLens is running a production build, or you can recover your device using the Advanced Recovery Companion to recover your device to a non-Insider version of Windows Holographic.
Caution
There is a known issue in which users who un-enroll from Insider Preview builds after manually reinstalling a fresh preview build would experience a blue screen. Afterwards they must manually recover their device. For full details on if you would be impacted or not, please view more on this Known Issue.
To verify that your HoloLens is running a production build:
-
Go to Settings > System > About, and find the build number.
To opt out of Insider builds:
-
On a HoloLens running a production build, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program, and select Stop Insider builds.
-
Follow the instructions to opt out your device.