In my old version, if i selected an imported.png and clicked on Image properties; i could change that image by altering the text in the Url. This no longer works in the current version, changing the text and hitting enter does nothing.

Has the functionality been changed or should it still do it?

The image was inserted as linked, if i insert as embeded; then i get no url at all.

How can Inkscape find the linked image when you change its name in xml?

i am changing nothing in XML

Please see the attached pdf as a hopefully better description.

I can reproduce this issue with Inkscape 1.3 (0e150ed6c4, 2023-07-21) :

• I can change image URL by clicking on folder icon and browsing to the wished image
• but modifying or copy pasting text in textfield doesnt work (tried clicking enter, tab and CR)

But you can achieve the manual change in the image url by using xml editor :

• select the image and press ctrl + shit + X or do edit > xml editor)
• Modify xlink:href value : copy-paste the new url or modify -R1 into -R2 in your case and press enter

It seems to be a new feature. 

Previous versions of Inkscape  ( I checked with 1.1 ) did not have the folder browse icon to the right, but they did allow of editing and instant update of the image.

You can still do this however via the XML editor ( Ctrl + Shift + x ) 

I've always used the XML editor method.

Thanks for the information, just trued using the XML way, and it does indeed work for me, just a pity the old function no longer does.

You should send a bug report : the textfield in 1.3 is certainly intended to work the "old way".