Windows 11 adds Spanish dictation

Microsoft on May 15 released Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8493, adding Spanish and French support for Fluid Dictation for testers in its Experimental channel. The company said the feature makes voice dictation “smoother and smarter” by automatically correcting grammar, punctuation and filler words as a user speaks. The same build also expands taskbar controls, letting testers move the taskbar to the top, left or right side of the screen and switch to a smaller taskbar mode. Microsoft published the changes in release notes on Microsoft Learn. ### Which Windows users are getting this first? The May 15 release applies to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel, which Microsoft said was formerly known as the Dev Channel. Microsoft said the new channel labels are part of a transition in the Windows Insider Program, and noted that some users who were previously in Dev may not yet have been moved over even though release notes now use the new naming. (learn.microsoft.com) Pavan Davuluri, writing on the Windows Insider Blog on March 20, said Microsoft was changing the Insider Program to provide “clearer channel definitions,” easier access to features and higher-quality builds. In the same post, he said taskbar repositioning was one of the “top asks” Microsoft had heard from users. ### What exactly changed in dictation? (learn.microsoft.com) Microsoft’s May 15 release notes said Fluid Dictation is now available in Spanish and French for Windows Insiders. The company said the feature automatically corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words while a person is speaking, reducing the need for manual editing. (blogs.windows.com) The company’s official release notes visible through Microsoft Learn do not, in the material reviewed, say that Portuguese, Italian or German were added in this specific build. The verified change in Build 26300.8493 is the addition of Spanish and French support. ### How does the new taskbar option work? (learn.microsoft.com) Build 26300.8493 adds an alternate taskbar position setting under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors, Microsoft said. Users can choose bottom, top, left or right placement, according to the release notes. Microsoft said most customization settings, including small taskbar and never combine taskbar icons, work across all locations. (learn.microsoft.com) The company also said support for touch gestures, the Search box and Ask Copilot in alternate positions is still in progress, while auto-hidden taskbar and touch-optimized taskbar are not yet supported there. ### What is the smaller taskbar mode for? Microsoft said the smaller taskbar is aimed at users who want more screen space, particularly on smaller devices. The setting reduces both icon size and taskbar height while keeping core elements such as Start, Search and the system tray scaled to fit, according to the release notes. (learn.microsoft.com) The company said users can turn it on through Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Show smaller taskbar buttons. When set to “Always,” both the icons and the taskbar height shrink, Microsoft said. ### What else does this say about Microsoft’s Windows roadmap? Microsoft on March 20 said it would preview more taskbar customization, including top and side positions, in Insider builds during March and April. (learn.microsoft.com) Davuluri said the company had spent months reviewing feedback and would use Insider builds to test changes before broader rollout. The next step is feedback. Microsoft asked testers to file comments in Feedback Hub under Desktop Environment > Taskbar for the taskbar changes, and the Build 26300.8493 release notes remain the company’s public record for what is in this Experimental release. (learn.microsoft.com) (blogs.windows.com)