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1. Yes, connected accessories are security risks, too

   Yesterday, we looked at how tariffs might well make connected accessories more expensive and leave existing devices less secure as the companies that made them exit the market.

   Today, we discover why these accessories need to be protected and find out they can already be attacked. If nothing else, it should encourage any consumer or enterprise user relying on connected accessories to take the time to verify that all of them are truly secure.

   Those that are not should be removed from use – and from your network.

   All the forgotten endpoints

   Wired tells us that Oligo security researchers have discovered flaws in Apple’s AirPlay system that could allow hackers to gain access to your Wi-Fi network to infect AirPlay-enabled smart home accessories.

   That’s a danger, given how infrequently smart accessory manufacturers actually publish security updates for those devices — and it will likely get worse in the future as accessory developers exit the market when tariffs make business unprofitable.

   Given that some connected device users have spent a great deal of money on their systems, it’s unrealistic to expect they will swiftly give up their accessories. That means those potentially very vulnerable endpoints will remain in use for some time to come.

   The problem Oligo found

   The problem Oligo identified consists of bugs in Apple’s AirPlay SDK that hackers can exploit to gain access to smart gadgets, including speakers, receivers, set-top boxes, televisions and other network devices that connect using AirPlay. That could mean, for example, using your device’s microphone to listen in on your conversations.

   The good thing is that this isn’t a remote attack; attackers need to gain access to your Wi-Fi network first, which is more of a problem when it comes to shared public Wi-Fi networks than at home. 

   The researchers shared their findings with Apple, which has patched the vulnerability on its own devices and issued an updated developer SDK. But third-party firms haven’t yet said anything about their plans to adopt the code. “Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch — or they will never be patched,” said Oligo’s CTO, Gal Elbaz.

   Sweet home accessory, never been patched

   It’s a fact that some third-party accessories might never be patched, which should make anyone with connected home or workplace smart accessories pay attention. That cavalier attitude is a problem waiting to happen, turning a seemingly benign little smart plug into a potential Trojan Horse hackers and other attackers can use to subvert the security of your home or business. 

   While this particular exploit might have been identified and mitigated against, there will be others, and in the absence of timely security updates for connected devices, let’s just say one day more connected access endpoints will be exploited.

   Some might already have been compromised.

   What can you do to protect yourself? 

   Assuming you make sure to install software updates as they appear, the next step is to monitor the devices you use. That means making a list of them, determine when they were made, and figure out whether the accessory manufacturer still supports them. If they do, it also means ensuring your device is running the latest available software updates. 

   What about devices that are no longer supported? It’s a judgment call, but if security is a priority, it makes sense to cease use of orphaned devices — security in the home or in the workplace is only ever as good as the weakest link. Devices that are not being kept up to date pose a risk to other devices on your network and the data they contain.

   When it comes to installing new smart devices, I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir in saying there is a need to verify that any you do choose ship with solid software support. If they don’t have that, install a solution that does.

   Finally, given that accessory makers will be seeking to build subscription businesses, it might make sense for them to combine together to create an app that verifies and updates deployed smart devices to flag any potential weaknesses and ensure the best possible security.

   You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, Mastodon, and MeWe. 

2. How to keep tech workers engaged in the age of AI

   It’s no secret that IT workers can easily get burned out. They often have too much to do and feel stressed trying to keep up with technology that’s always changing. The meteoric growth of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, in business has only exacerbated the problem, with tech workers feeling pressure to learn relevant skills and even fearing they’ll be replaced by bots.

   Another factor contributing to IT burnout is the rise of remote and hybrid work since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. The continuous demands of hybrid work environments aggravate worker stress, often leading to a blurring of personal and professional boundaries, said Manu Sood, SVP of technology at AvidXchange.

   When employees feel burned out, they may disengage from their jobs, resulting in a loss of productivity, creativity, and innovation. Managers should be on the alert for behavioral changes that indicate employee disengagement, such as turning off cameras in virtual meetings, minimal participation in those meetings, limited sharing of ideas, and opting out of in-person collaboration, said Forrester analyst Fiona Mark.

   “The biggest one I see is that if the group behavior changes from being a group that shares and connects and challenges each other… to a group that becomes more about consensus but without that challenge, you’re starting to see a pullback from caring about the outcomes [of their work],” she said.

   There are steps IT managers can take to remedy this situation — or ideally stave it off before it ever gets that far. Follow these techniques to keep your workforce motivated and eager to use AI to enhance their work.

   Listen to employee concerns and support their well-being

   To keep technology workers engaged during rapid technology advancements, IT managers should prioritize open communication with employees, along with recognition, training, and career development, said IDC analyst Ritu Jyoti. Encouraging dialogue through check-ins and feedback sessions helps employees feel heard and boosts morale, she said.

   “I think the number one thing that IT managers have to do is to encourage open communication — basically, foster an environment where team members feel comfortable in sharing their concerns,” she said.

   IT managers should check in with employees before burnout becomes a serious issue, noted Forrester’s Mark. To make sure employees feel heard, it’s important to do more listening to their concerns than prescribing fixes, she said.

   “The number one thing that IT managers have to do is to encourage open communication.” — Ritu Jyoti, IDC

   Tech leaders should actively promote and enforce clear work-life boundaries for their teams, said AvidXchange’s Sood. That includes encouraging employees to take time off to recharge, which is essential to ensure their long-term productivity and well-being.

   “I personally encourage my teams to take regular breaks, take time off to recharge, not continue to bank their personal time off but actually use their PTO for resting and recharging,” she said. “We also provide mental health resources through programs like employee assistance programs and … employee-led meetup groups that encourage employees to connect with each other to regularly focus on their well-being and mental health.”

   Present AI as not just a challenge but an opportunity

   AI’s ability to bring big changes can seem overwhelming, especially when employees worry that it might replace their jobs. But there are ways IT leaders can help their teams see AI as an opportunity, not just a challenge.

   Daniela LaCelle, head of IT delivery at insurance company Unum, said it’s important to present AI as a tool that helps and supports people, not something that takes their place. Burnout is a concern in fast-paced tech environments, she said, but AI can help alleviate this issue by automating repetitive tasks.

   LaCelle stressed that seeing AI as an enabler rather than a threat shifts the focus toward opportunities rather than fears. This shift allows teams to focus on strategic and creative work, which encourages greater engagement while easing employees’ fears about job security.

   Nimrod Partush, VP data science at exposure management software vendor CYE, concurred.

   “We view AI as a powerful enhancement tool that allows our team to accomplish far more, rather than as a replacement for human talent,” he said. “The idea of reducing personnel hasn’t come up. If anything, AI amplifies the value of great team members. Those who contribute meaningfully are indispensable, and with AI, they can bring even greater value to the team.”

   Instead of issuing a top-down directive, IT managers should involve employees in AI integration, said Forrester’s Mark. By emphasizing that adopting AI is a team effort and a learning process, IT leaders can ease employee fears and ensure everyone works together toward the organization’s goals.

   “So when you think about that, it’s, ‘How can we use AI to make the work that you do easier for you so that you can be more productive and more valuable?’” she said.

   Keyur Ajmera, CIO at recruiting software maker iCIMS, said it’s important to show employees clear examples of how AI can be used and the benefits it brings. One of the strategies he uses to keep his team interested and involved is gamification: challenging them to solve problems using AI tools.

   For example, one problem Ajmera wanted his team to solve was improving how they use generative AI for creating images, specifically through effective prompt engineering. To do this, Ajmera introduced an internal gamification challenge asking team members to “act like AI co-pilots” and generate the best possible image that addressed a specific problem (capturing aspects A, B, and C).

   He noted that this approach, which has been particularly successful, got everyone involved, boosted curiosity about AI, and made learning fun by celebrating the best results.

   Foster (and make time for) learning and development

   With technology, especially AI, changing so quickly, it’s crucial for employees to keep learning and developing new skills, said Vishal Gupta, CTO and CIO at Lexmark. To that end, the company, which offers printing and imaging products and services, has invested in several upskilling initiatives.

   “We’ve partnered with North Carolina State [University] on our AI Academy, and we’ve gotten 100 people trained as data scientists,” he said. “We also offer an AI foundations course and a technology rotation program to give people a variety of skills.”

   Upskilling and reskilling employees helps them embrace emerging technologies like AI, said Unum’s LaCelle. When IT managers equip workers to adapt to new technologies, their fear of these new tools decreases and their engagement naturally improves, she said.

   “In my experience, burnout only happens when we stop learning and stop striving to see over the next hill.” — Prasad Sankaran, Cognizant

   Indeed, Prasad Sankaran, EVP, software and platform engineering at IT services provider Cognizant, said continuous learning is the key to keeping his staff motivated and engaged.

   “Cognizant’s culture of continuous learning keeps our associates fired up and ready for the next challenge,” he said. “In my experience, burnout only happens when we stop learning and stop striving to see over the next hill. This is why I prioritize continuous learning across my team.”

   The company’s Synapse program, launched in 2023, focuses on helping employees boost their skills and stay engaged, Sankaran said. The goal of the program is to train one million people, and so far, it has helped more than 195,000 employees learn advanced genAI skills.

   “For example, multi-agent, multimodal AI technology is emerging as a powerful lever to accelerate autonomous AI adoption,” he said. “We continuously invest in skilling our workforce so they are equipped with the skills, including AI, blockchain, cloud, data, Internet of Things, modern engineering, and more, to deliver innovations for our clients.”

   Sankaran said Cognizant has also introduced differentiated career tracks, such as full stack engineer, site reliability engineer, software development engineer in test, distinguished architect, and domain architect, to provide an opportunity for teams to pursue their interests.

   “With the right skills, exciting work, and knowledge, the potential of what’s possible is what gets us out of bed each day, and it keeps us going and keeps us motivated,” he added.

   David Curtis, CTO at supply chain management firm RobobAI, said that keeping IT teams engaged requires a balance of ongoing skill-building, staying aligned with fast-changing business goals, and creating a culture that encourages innovation. If people don’t have a chance to explore and try new things, they won’t be as interested in their work, he added.

   But achieving this balance can be difficult when IT teams are under pressure to meet the immediate demands of the business. As such, Curtis allocates time for his team to learn new technologies, improve their skills, or work on creative projects to keep things fresh and prevent them from getting stuck in a routine.

   “Recognizing the time constraints many IT teams face, we allocate ‘experimental’ time in their schedules, empowering them to learn and explore AI technologies with the support of the broader business,” he said.

   Emphasize IT teams as business partners

   Maintaining high levels of engagement among the technology workforce requires ongoing effort, said Lexmark’s Gupta. One way the company keeps its technology staff motivated and engaged is to ensure they feel connected to the company’s primary goal, which is prioritizing the needs and successes of its customers.

   “First, we actively involve IT teams in customer advisory boards and customer engagement initiatives, allowing them to hear firsthand how their innovations translate into real-world solutions for our clients and also to hear the challenges that our customers are facing,” he said. “Second, we provide opportunities for IT staff to rotate through different roles, including those with direct customer interaction, broadening their understanding of customer needs.”

   Finally, Gupta said, Lexmark celebrates and recognizes big wins internally throughout the company. Tech employees are lauded for their achievements to show that what they do ends up making a difference. This in turns inspires others to better tie their own work to Lexmark’s goals, he added.

   Gupta also noted that Lexmark’s IT teams are now experiencing a “pull” from the business side, where the board, management team, and employees are coming to IT with ideas and requests to try AI and other new technologies. This is a shift from the typical “push” scenario, where IT has to promote the technology to the business side.

   “This is a great opportunity for IT teams to become true business partners, and instead of trying to always advocate for technology, actually experience the pull effect and co-create a real transformation of the business,” he said.

   Support personal growth and recognize achievements

   Gupta wasn’t the only IT leader who said recognition is a great way to keep tech workers motivated and engaged. Whether through public acknowledgment, rewards, or additional time off, showing appreciation for staffers’ work builds loyalty and a positive work environment.

   AvidXchange’s Sood, for example, rewards her staff who work extra hours with compensatory time off, letting them know that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

   “Growth happens when you apply what you learn in ways that create real impact.” — Eric Stavola, Visual Edge IT

   Eric Stavola, VP, managed services sales and special programs at IT service provider Visual Edge IT, noted that people are typically motivated by financial reward, recognition, and personal growth. “With engineers, believe it or not, personal growth and recognition are very important,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, the finances are also important, but typically that comes off the board once they’re hired.”

   Personal growth isn’t about stacking up certifications or chasing the next title, Stavola said. It’s about becoming more valuable, period.

   “Whether you’re an engineer, a manager, or a CIO, growth happens when you apply what you learn in ways that create real impact,” he said. “I’ve seen too many tech professionals fall into the trap of ‘more knowledge equals more success.’ But knowledge without application is useless. What really moves the needle? Connecting technical expertise to business outcomes, learning to solve bigger problems, and owning challenges outside your job description. That’s what makes you indispensable.”

   Understanding that engineers value personal growth and recognition as much as financial rewards, Stavola prioritizes these aspects to keep employees motivated. The key to real growth is intentional, structured development — not just hoping your team figures it out, he said.

   Stavola said his approach involves:

   • Tactical learning that sticks: “I build micro-courses and hands-on training that cut through the noise and focus on real-world application,” he said. “No generic theory — just practical skills you can use immediately to solve real problems.”
   • Coaching over managing: A manager assigns tasks. A coach develops people. “I focus on creating feedback-driven performance environments, where learning is constant, and improvement is expected,” Stavola said.
   • Recognition as a daily habit, not an annual event: The best work in IT often goes unnoticed because success means nothing breaks. “That’s why I focus on recognizing strategic wins, not just visible results,” he said. “Small acknowledgments — a quick message, a shoutout in a meeting, or time invested in mentorship — are often more impactful than a formal award.”
   • Creating learning environments that allow failure: Growth requires safe spaces to test and refine skills. “I build sandbox environments and real-world training scenarios where people can experiment, make mistakes, and improve without risk to the business,” Stavola said.
   • Clear career playbooks: Nobody wants to guess their next move. “I use structured frameworks like runbooks and career pathing tools to make success repeatable and measurable,” he said. “That way, career progression isn’t just luck — it’s a process.”
   • Expanding identity beyond the tech role: Too many tech professionals box themselves into being “the IT guy.” Stavola said he pushes people to develop business acumen, problem-solving skills, and cross-functional collaboration so they’re seen as strategic assets, not just technical resources.

   “Personal growth happens when people are challenged, equipped, and recognized,” Stavola said. “And recognition isn’t just about giving credit — it’s about showing people their work matters in ways that inspire them to push further.”

   Practice all of the above

   Bottom line: IT leaders need to create a supportive environment where workers can keep learning, advance their careers, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By offering training, involving them in exciting AI projects, encouraging their personal growth, and showing that their work is appreciated, IT managers can keep their teams motivated and ready for the future.

   “For me, keeping tech workers engaged requires a holistic approach,” said Unum’s LaCelle. “We focus on creating opportunities for continuous learning, growth, meaningful work. We emphasize mentorship, career progressions, really fostering a sense of community within our organization. And lastly, clear communications around goals and celebrating achievements, both individual and collective, really helps keep engagement high.”

3. China’s Alibaba and Baidu step up global competition with new reasoning-focused AI models

   Alibaba and Baidu are intensifying the battle for leadership in China’s fast-evolving AI market, with both companies unveiling upgraded models focused on dynamic reasoning capabilities.

   On Tuesday, Alibaba launched Qwen 3, an enhanced version of its flagship AI model. The upgrade introduces hybrid reasoning, designed to improve adaptability and efficiency for app and software developers.

   It follows a rapid-fire development pace from Alibaba, which pushed out Qwen 2.5-Max in January, just days after startup DeepSeek shook the industry by showcasing high-performing models at lower costs compared to Western competitors.

   Meanwhile, Baidu, the Chinese search giant, introduced two new models late last week: Ernie 4.5 Turbo and the reasoning-focused Ernie X1 Turbo. Both models aim to enhance performance in complex decision-making and multi-step problem-solving — areas increasingly seen as critical for enterprise adoption of AI technologies.

   Comparable to Western rivals

   The back-to-back launches highlight growing competition in China’s AI sector, as domestic tech firms race not only against each other but also to keep pace with Western rivals such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.

   Alibaba’s Qwen 3 includes multiple models, notably its 235-billion-parameter flagship Qwen3-235B-A22B and a smaller 30-billion-parameter Mixture of Experts version, Qwen3-30B-A3B. Both models will be released with open weights.

   “In initial benchmarks, both of these models have been measured as being roughly on par with OpenAI and DeepSeek models and slightly behind Grok 3 beta and Google Gemini 2.5 Pro,” said Hyoun Park, CEO and chief analyst at Amalgam Insights. “Baidu’s Ernie 4.5 Turbo Measures up on par with OpenAI’s newest GPT models while being priced much more competitively than OpenAI.”

   Analysts also point out that Chinese AI models are reaching performance levels comparable to Western counterparts at a fraction of the cost, between 20 and 40 times lower, putting pressure on US firms to speed up innovation and cut prices.

   “However, ongoing geopolitical tensions are likely to restrict the use of Chinese models in regulated sectors,” said Prabhu Ram, VP of the industry research group at Cybermedia Research. “Consequently, established market players will need to respond to these emerging start-ups by increasing investment in domestic AI development, while managing higher operational costs in a significantly more fragmented and geopolitically complex technology landscape.”

   The announcements also signal a broader shift in capabilities, highlighting advances beyond text-based models into multi-modal AI, according to Sharath Srinivasamurthy, associate vice president of Research at IDC.

   “Another observation is that they are going all out to woo the developer community,” Srinivasamurthy said. “China has the largest developer community in the world, and greater mindshare among developers will lead to wider adoption of the technology. From a price and performance perspective, the race has started. We are already seeing the new announcements emphasize being better and cheaper, and the trend is expected to continue.”

   ‘Dynamic reasoning’ models for enterprise use cases

   Alibaba’s latest release combines conventional AI capabilities with advanced dynamic reasoning, creating what the company describes as a more adaptable and efficient platform for app and software developers.

   Dynamic and hybrid reasoning has quickly become one of the hottest trends in AI model development over the past few months, as companies seek to build systems capable of more complex and flexible problem-solving.

   “Dynamic reasoning is allowing models to break down problems step-by-step and support more complex decision-making,” Ram said. “Emerging models such as Qwen 3 and Ernie X1 Turbo illustrate this transition, offering enterprises real-time adaptability, greater automation, and over 30% cost savings through innovations such as Mixture-of-Experts architectures and tool autonomy.” At the same time, Ram warned that as AI reasoning grows more dynamic, enterprises will face new challenges related to operational complexity, model reliability, and data governance, particularly when using models developed outside established regulatory frameworks.

4. Windows 11: A guide to the updates

   A Windows launch isn’t the end a process — it’s really just the beginning. Microsoft continually works on improving Windows 11 by fixing bugs, releasing security patches, and occasionally adding new features.

   In this story we summarize what you need to know about each update released to the public for the most recent version of Windows 11 — currently version 24H2. For each build, we’ve included the date of its release and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it. The most recent updates appear first.

   The easiest way to install updates is via Windows Update. Not sure how? See “How to handle Windows 10 and 11 updates” for full instructions. Note that Windows 11 version 24H2 is being released as a phased rollout and may not be available to you in Windows Update yet.

   If you’re still using Windows 10, see “Windows 10: A guide to the updates.” And if you’re looking for information about Insider Program previews for upcoming feature releases of Windows 11, see “Windows 11 Insider Previews: What’s in the latest build?”

   Updates for Windows 11 24H2

   KB5055627 (OS Build 26100.3915) Preview

   Release date: April 25, 2025

   This build gradually rolls out several new features for Copilot+ PCs, including a preview of Windows Recall. When you opt in, Recall takes snapshots of your activity so you can quickly find and go back to what you have seen before on your PC. With it, you can use a timeline to find the content you remember seeing.

   Copilot+ PCs also get a new natural-language Windows search in which you can search for anything on your PC without having to remember specific file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. Just describe what you’re looking for. On Copilot+ PCs, you can also more easily find photos stored and saved in the cloud by typing your own words (like “summer picnics”) in the search box at the upper-right corner of File Explorer. 

   All PCs get a number of new features, including speech recap, in which you can keep track of what Narrator has spoken and access it for quick reference. With speech recap, you can quickly access spoken content, follow along with live transcription, and copy what Narrator last said using keyboard shortcuts.

   A variety of bugs are being fixed, including one in which some devices experienced intermittent internet connections when resuming from sleep mode. Several AI components have also been updated.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox from the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5055627 Preview.)

   KB5055523 (OS Build 26100.3775)

   Release date: April 8, 2025

   This update includes a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and April 2025 Security Updates. 

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows. 

   (Get more info about KB5055523.)

   KB5053656 (OS Build 26100.3624) Preview

   Release date: March 27, 2025

   This build gradually rolls out several new features for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, including one in which you can search for anything on your PC without having to remember specific file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. Just describe what you’re looking for.

   On Copilot+ PCs you can also more easily find photos stored and saved in the cloud by typing your own words (like “summer picnics”) in the search box at the upper-right corner of File Explorer. In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results together. 

   Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs also will allow you to use natural-language processing in voice access, by using your own words rather than using rigid, predefined commands.

   In addition, the build includes a variety of bugs being immediately fixed, including one in which some third-party apps rendered the graphics settings page unresponsive.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox from the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5053656 Preview.)

   KB5053598 (OS Build 26100.3476)

   Release date: March 11, 2025

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and March 2025 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5053598.)

   KB5052093 (OS Build 26100.3323) Preview

   Release date: February 25, 2025

   In this build, a variety of new features are being rolled out gradually, including one that lets you snooze or turn off the “Start backup” reminder in the File Explorer address bar. This only applies if you are not already backing up your files and folder. To view this new option, right-click Start backup.

   A number of bug fixes are being rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which the address bar overlapped files in File Explorer when you used the F11 full-screen mode. A variety of bug fixes take immediate effect, including for a bug in which there were display rendering issues when you tried to connect to certain PCs.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows. In addition, devices that have certain Citrix components installed might be unable to complete installation of the January 2025 Windows security update. This issue was observed on devices with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411.

   (Get more info about KB5052093 Preview.)

   KB5051987 (OS Build 26100.3194)

   Release date: February 11, 2025

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and February 2025 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5051987.)

   KB5050094 (OS Build 26100.3037) Preview

   Release date: January 28, 2025

   In this build, a variety of new features are being rolled out gradually, including one in which an icon will appear in the system tray when you use an app that supports Windows Studio Effects. This only occurs on a device that has a neural processing unit (NPU). Select the icon to open the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings. To view the app that is using the camera, hover over the icon for a tooltip.

   A number of bug fixes are being rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which a search would sometimes repeat when you didn’t want it to. Other bug fixes are immediately available, including one in which the display of some games appears oversaturated when you use Auto HDR.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows. In addition, following the installation of the October 2024 security update, some customers report that the OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) service fails to start, preventing SSH connections. And devices that have certain Citrix components installed might be unable to complete installation of the January 2025 Windows security update

   (Get more info about KB5050094 Preview.)

   KB5050009 (OS Build 26100.2894)

   Release date: January 14, 2025

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and January 2025 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5050009.)

   KB5048667 (OS Build 26100.2605)

   Release date: December 10, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and December 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5048667.)

   KB5046740 (OS Build 26100.2454) Preview

   Release date: November 21, 2024

   This build adds a number of interface features are being rolled out gradually. The system tray shows a shortened date and time, and there’s a new section for touchscreen edge gestures in Settings. When you right-click an app on the Start menu, a jump list will appear (if the app has a jump list). And if you hold Ctrl + Shift down when you click a jump list item, you open the item as an admin.

   A variety of bugs have been fixed in this build, including one in which the users page might have caused Task Manager to stop responding when you use the keyboard.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5046740 Preview.)

   KB5046617 (OS Build 26100.2314)

   Release date: November 12, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and November 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5046617.)

   KB5044384 (OS Build 26100.2161) Preview

   Release date: October 24, 2024

   In this build, you can now configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. On new devices, the key opens the Copilot app. If you sign in to your account using a Microsoft Entra ID, the key opens the M365 app. You can make the key open a different app or open Search. To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Text input. 

   In addition, a variety of features are being rolled out gradually, including one in which you can stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipsis (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there. 

   A variety of bugs have also been fixed, including one in which you were unable to view some parts of the UI when you run certain apps.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5044384 Preview.)

   Windows 11 24H2 KB5044284 (OS Build 26100.2033)

   Release date: October 8, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and October 2024 Security Updates.

   This build also fixes one bug in which the Remote Desktop Gateway Service stopped responding when a service used remote procedure calls (RPC) over HTTP.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5044284.)

   Windows 11, version 24H2

   Release date: October 1, 2024

   The Windows 11 24H2 update (also called Windows 11 2024 Update) is now being gradually rolled out. It may take some months before it reaches everyone, so you may not have it yet. As with previous annual Windows updates, it’s not a major upgrade, but does include a variety of minor new features.

   Following are the highlights for end users:

   • File Explorer gets several new features, including support for TAR and 7z compression and the ability to add metadata to PNG files, so you can add information to your images.
   • New privacy settings for Wi-Fi networks give more control over which applications can access the list of nearby Wi-Fi networks. Limiting the applications that can access that list can make it more difficult for others to pinpoint your location.
   • You can now join Wi-Fi networks by scanning QR codes, and create a QR code to allow others to share your mobile hotspot with others.
   • A new Energy Saver mode reduces electric consumption on desktop PCs as well as laptops, helping you reduce your carbon footprint and improving laptop battery life. It reduces energy consumption from background tasks as well as those running in the foreground.
   • Copilot now runs as a separate app, and is movable and resizable like any other app, rather than running in a sidebar panel.
   • Copilot+ PCs get several new features, including Cocreator in Paint, which uses AI to generate images; enhancing video calls with AI-powered noise cancellation and improved lighting; and what Microsoft calls Auto Super Resolution, which gives games higher resolution and offers smoother gameplay.

   For IT admins, highlights include:

   • Policy improvements and automatic account management for Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS)
   • Personal Data Encryption (PDE) for users’ Documents, Desktop, and Pictures folders
   • App Control for Business
   • Windows protected print mode
   • Local Security Authority (LSA) protection
   • Support for Wi-Fi 7
   • SHA-3 support

   See this blog post from Microsoft’s Harjit Dhaliwal for more information.

   Prerelease updates for Windows 11 24H2

   KB5043178 (OS Build 26100.1882) Preview

   Release date: September 30, 2024

   This build for Windows 11 24H2 offers a variety of new features, some of which will show up immediately and some of which are being rolled out gradually. Among the features that will roll out gradually is a new energy recommendation to turn off high dynamic range (HDR). This helps to conserve energy on devices that have HDR displays. Go to Settings > Power & battery > Energy recommendations.

   Among the features available immediately is one that lets you manage your Copilot Pro subscription in Settings. Sign in to your Microsoft account and go to Settings > Accounts.

   Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which Task Manager stopped responding when you switched from a high-contrast theme to a normal theme.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5043178 Preview.)

   KB5043080 (OS Build 26100.1742)

   Release date: September 10, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and September 2024 Security Updates.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5043080.)

   KB5041865 (OS Build 26100.1591) Preview

   Release date: August 27, 2024

   This build for Windows 11 24H2 offers a variety of new features that are being rolled out gradually, including one in which you can share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window.

   Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which a deadlock occurred in the domain controller when it started up in the DNS client.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5041865 Preview.)

   KB5041571 (OS Build 26100.1457)

   Release date: August 13, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and August 2024 Security Updates. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which the “Use my Windows user account” checkbox was not available on the lock screen to connect to Wi-Fi.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5041571.)

   KB5040529 (OS Build 26100.1301) Preview

   Release date: July 30, 2024

   This build for Windows 11 24H2 offers a variety of new features that are being rolled out gradually, including the new account manager being on the Start menu. When you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you will get a glance at your account benefits. This feature also makes it easy to manage your account settings.

   One feature is being rolled out immediately, in which Widgets icons on the taskbar are no longer pixelated or fuzzy. You also get a larger set of animated icons.

   Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which devices that use certain WLAN cards stopped responding.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5040529 Preview.)

   KB5040435 (OS Build 26100.1150)

   Release date: July 9, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and July 2024 Security Updates. It also This update adds PCR 4 to PCR 7 and 11 for the default Secure Boot validation profile.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5040435.)

   KB50439304 (OS Build 26100.1000) Preview

   Release date: June 28, 2024

   This build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) failed to verify the policies of some apps.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5041865 Preview.)

   KB5039239 (OS Build 26100.863)

   Release date: June 15, 2024

   This build pins Copilot to the taskbar and makes it behave like a traditional app that can be resized and moved. The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which the volume of Bluetooth devices were automatically set to maximum when you connected to them.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5039239.)

   Updates to Windows 11 version 23H2

   KB5043145 (OS Builds 22621.4249 and 22631.4249) Preview

   Release date: September 24, 2024

   This build, for both Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, offers a variety of new features and bug fixes, some of which will show up immediately, and some of which are being rolled out gradually. Among the features that will roll out gradually is the ability to share local files directly from the search results that appear in the Search box on the taskbar. Among the bug fixes that roll out immediately are one that addresses an issue in which Task Manager stopped responding when you switched from a high contrast theme to a normal theme.

   (Get more info about KB5043145 Preview.)

   KB5043076 (OS Builds 22621.4169 and 22631.4169)

   Release date: September 10, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and September 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which you might face issues with booting Linux if you have enabled the dual-boot setup for Windows and Linux in your device. Your device might fail to boot Linux and show the error message “Verifying shim SBAT data failed: Security Policy Violation. Something has gone seriously wrong: SBAT self-check failed: Security Policy Violation.”

   (Get more info about KB5043076.)

   KB5041587 (OS Builds 22621.4112 and 22631.4112) Preview

   Release date: August 27, 2024

   This build, for both Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, includes the ability to share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window. To do it, must pair your Android device to your Windows PC and use the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.

   In Voice Access, you can also now dictate the characters that you spell at a faster speed, and you have more editing options for the commands that select, delete, and move within text. The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which when you pressed Ctrl + F, sometimes the search did not start.

   The new features and bug fixes will roll out to users gradually.

   (Get more info about KB5041587 Preview.)

   KB5041585 (OS Builds 22621.4037 and 22631.4037)

   Release date: August 13, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and August 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5041585.)

   KB5040527 (OS Builds 22621.3958 and 22631.3958) Preview

   Release date: July 25, 2024

   This build, for both Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, offers a variety of new features and bug fixes, some of which will show up immediately and some of which are being rolled out gradually. Among the features that will roll out gradually is pinning apps to the taskbar by dragging them from the Pinned section of the Start menu, and right-clicking a tab in File Explorer to duplicate it. Among the bug fixes that will roll out gradually is a memory leak that occurred when you interacted with archive folders.

   Among the bugs fixed immediately is one in which in Group Policy Preferences you could not choose a group from the target domain for ILT or choose an account from Local Users and Groups.

   (Get more info about KB5040527 Preview.)

   KB5040442 (OS Builds 22621.3880 and 22631.3880)

   Release date: July 9, 2024

   This update has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and July 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There is one known issue in this update, in which enterprise users may face issues while upgrading from Windows Pro to a valid Windows Enterprise subscription. OS upgrade operations may fail, and this might be shown in the LicenseAcquisition scheduled task in Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Subscription as ‘Access denied error (error code 0x80070005)’ under ‘Last Run Result.’

   (Get more info about KB5040442.)

   KB5039302 (OS Builds 22621.3810 and 22631.3810) Preview

   Release date: June 25, 2024

   This build, for both Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, offers a variety of new features and bug fixes, some of which will show up immediately and some of which are being rolled out gradually. Among the bug fixes that will show up immediately is one that addresses an issue in which ejecting USB devices using the Safely Remove Hardware option failed when Task Manager was open.

   Among the features that will roll out gradually is a new account manager on the Start menu that makes it easier to manage your account settings and lets you see your account benefits. Also being rolled out gradually is support for Emoji 15.1.

   (Get more info about KB5039302 Preview.)

   KB5039212 (OS Builds 22621.3737 and 22631.3737)

   Release date: June 11, 2024

   This update fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the taskbar might briefly glitch, not respond, or disappear and reappear.

   In addition, it has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and June 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5039212.)

   KB5037853 (OS Builds 22621.3672 and 22631.3672) Preview

   Release date: May 29, 2024

   This build introduces a variety of minor feature updates, including one that lets you use your mouse to drag files between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer address bar and another that lets you create QR codes for webpage URLs and cloud files from the Windows share window.

   The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which File Explorer stopped responding when you swiped from a screen edge after turning off edge swiping, and another in which handwriting panels and touch keyboards did not appear when you used a pen.

   (Get more info about KB5037853 Preview.)

   KB5037771 (OS Builds 22621.3593 and 22631.3593)

   Release date: May 14, 2024

   This update fixes a bug that caused VPN connections to fail, and another in which Server Message Block (SMB) clients failed to make SMB Multichannel connections, making file transfers are slow.

   In addition, it has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and May 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5037771.)

   KB506980 (OS Builds 22621.3527 and 22631.3527) Preview

   Release date: April 23, 2024

   In this build, the Recommended section of the Start menu will show some Microsoft Store apps. In addition, widgets icons on the taskbar are no longer pixelated or fuzzy, and Windows widgets on the lockscreen are more reliable.

   The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Windows Local Administrator Password Solution’s Post Authentication Actions (PAAs) did not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occurred at restart.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which you might be unable to change your user account profile picture.

   (Get more info about KB5036980 Preview.)

   KB5036893 (OS Builds 22621.3447 and 22631.3447)

   Release date: April 9, 2024

   This build offers a wide variety of minor new features, including dedicated mode for Windows 365 Boot. When you sign in on your company-owned device, you also are signed into to your Windows 365 Cloud PC. This uses passwordless authentication, like Windows Hello for Business.

   The update also adds suggestions to Snap Layouts. When you hover over the minimize or maximize button of an app to open the layout box, app icons will display various layout options. Use them to help you to choose the best layout option.

   In addition, the update changes the apps that appear in the Windows share window. The account you use to sign in affects the apps that are in “Share using.” For example, if you use a Microsoft account (MSA) to sign in, you will see Microsoft Teams (free). When you use a Microsoft Entra ID account (formerly Azure Active Directory) to sign in, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts show instead.

   This build also has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and April 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5036893.)

   Windows 11 KB5035942 (OS Builds 22621.3374 and 22631.3374) Preview

   Release date: March 26, 2024

   In addition, in Windows Hello for Business admins can now use mobile device management to turn off the prompt that appears when users sign in to an Entra-joined machine. To do it, turn on the “DisablePostLogonProvisioning” policy setting. After a user signs in, provisioning is off for Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Windows devices using more than one monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows.

   (Get more info about KB5035942 Preview.)

   KB5035853 (OS Builds 22621.3296 and 22631.3296)

   Release date: March 12, 2024

   This build fixes a bug that affected the February 2024 security and preview updates. They might not have installed, and your device might shave stopped responding at 96% with the error code “0x800F0922” and the error message, “Something did not go as planned. No need to worry – undoing changes. Please keep your computer on.”

   This build also has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and March 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5035853.)

   KB5034848 (OS Builds 22621.3235 and 22631.3235) Preview

   Release date: February 29, 2024

   In this build, you can now use the Snipping Tool on your PC to edit the most recent photos and screenshots from your Android device. You will get an instant notification on your PC when your Android device captures a new photo or screenshot. To turn this on, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices. Choose Manage devices and allow your PC to access your Android device.

   The build also adds support for the USB 80Gbps standard, the next generation of USB4 that has twice the bandwidth of USB 40Gbps. To use USB 80Gbps, you must have a compatible PC and USB4 or Thunderbolt peripheral.

   The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which the Windows Settings Home page randomly stopped responding when you went to the page, and another in which devices failed to make the automatic switch from cellular to Wi-Fi when they could use Wi-Fi.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Windows 11 devices attempting to install the February 2024 security update, released February 13, 2024 (KB5034765), might face installation failures and the system might stop responding at 96%.

   (Get more info about KB5034848 Preview.)

   KB5034765 (OS Builds 22621.3155 and 22631.3155)

   Release date: February 13, 2023

   In this build, the Copilot in Windows icon now appears on the right side of the system tray on the taskbar. Also, the display of “Show desktop” at the rightmost corner of the taskbar will be off by default. To turn it back on, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. You can also right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings. These changes will be gradually rolled out.

   This build also has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and February 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5034765.)

   KB5034204 (OS Builds 22621.3085 and 22631.3085) Preview

   Release date: January 23, 2024

   This build fixes a variety of bugs, including one that stopped search from working on the Start menu for some users because of a deadlock, and another that that caused devices to intermittently stop responding after you installed a print support app.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Windows devices using more than one monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview).

   (Get more info about KB5034204 Preview.)

   KB5034123 (OS Builds 22621.3007 and 22631.3007)

   Release date: January 9, 2024

   This build fixes several bugs, including one in which devices shut down after 60 seconds when you used a smart card to authenticate on a remote system, and another in which some Wi-Fi adapters could not connect to some networks, particularly those that use 802.1x to authenticate.

   It also has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and January 2024 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one affecting ID admins, in which using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the “Require Device Encryption” setting for some devices in your environment. To mitigate the issue in Microsoft Intune, you can set the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or “Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives” policies to not configured.

   (Get more info about KB5034123.)

   KB5033375 (OS Builds 22621.2861 and 22631.2861)

   Release date: December 12, 2023

   This build has a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and December 2023 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one which affects ID admins, in which using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the “Require Device Encryption” setting for some devices in your environment. To mitigate the issue in Microsoft Intune, you can set the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or “Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives” policies to not configured.

   (Get more info about KB5033375.)

   KB5032288 (OS Builds 22621.2792 and 22631.2792) Preview

   Release date: December 4, 2023

   In this update, Copilot in Windows (in preview) can be used across multiple displays, and it can be used with Alt+Tab. When you press Alt+Tab, the thumbnail preview for Copilot in Windows appears among other thumbnail previews of open windows. You can switch between them using the Tab keystroke. This is available to a small audience initially and will deploy more broadly in the months that follow.

   The update also fixes a wide range of bugs, including one in which the Copilot icon did not show as being as active when it’s open on the taskbar.

   There are four known issues in this update, one applicable to IT admins, in which using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the “Require Device Encryption” setting for some devices in your environment.

   (Get more info about KB5032288 Preview.)

   KB5032190 (OS Builds 22621.2715 and 22631.2715)

   Release date: November 14, 2023

   This build introduces a preview of the Copilot for Windows AI assistant and a File Explorer with a new interface that includes new files displayed as a carousel, and that recognizes local and cloud folders. It also introduces the Windows Backup app that can be used to quickly get your current PC backed up and ready to move to a new PC. In addition, there are many other new features and interface changes throughout Windows, including for Settings, Windows Spotlight, security graphics, voice access, Narrator, and others.

   It also includes a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and November 2023 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one that affects ID admins in which using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in MDM apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the “Require Device Encryption” setting for some devices in your environment. To mitigate the issue in Microsoft Intune, you can set the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or “Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives” policies to not configured.

   (Get more info about KB5032190.)

   KB5031455 (OS Builds 22621.2506 and 22631.2506) Preview

   Release date: Oct. 31, 2023

   This update introduces a preview of the Copilot for Windows AI assistant and File Explorer with a new interface that includes new files displayed as a carousel, and that recognizes local and cloud folders. It also includes minor interface changes to many parts of the operating system, including taskbar, system tray, security notifications, and more.

   There is one known issue, which applies to IT admins: using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the “Require Device Encryption” setting for some devices in your environment.

   (Get more info about KB5031455 Preview.)

   KB5031455 (OS Build 22621.2506) Preview

   Release date: Oct. 26, 2023

   This build introduces a preview of the Copilot for Windows AI assistant and a File Explorer with a new interface that includes new files displayed as a carousel, and that recognizes local and cloud folders. It also introduces the Windows Backup app that can be used to quickly get your current PC backed up and ready to move to a new PC.

   There is one known issue in this build that applies to IT admins: using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the “Require Device Encryption” setting for some devices in your environment.

   (Get more info about KB5031455 Preview.)

   KB5031354 (OS Build 22621.2428)

   Release date: October 10, 2023

   This build includes a wide variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and October 2023 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5031354.)

   KB5030310 (OS Build 22621.2361) Preview

   Release date: September 26, 2023

   This update adds websites to the Recommended section of the Start menu. These websites come from your browsing history. You can remove any website URL from the Recommended section using the shortcut menu. To turn off the feature, go to Settings > Personalization > Start.

   It also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the search box tooltip did not appear in the correct position, and another in which the search button disappeared when you interacted with the search flyout box.

   In addition, if you want to use a variety of new features, such as the AI-driven Copilot for Windows and improvements to File Manager, Paint, and other apps, go to Settings > Windows Update, toggle on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available,” and then restart your PC. For more details, see Microsoft’s blog post.

   (Get more info about KB5030310 Preview.)

   KB5030219 (OS Build 22621.2283)

   Release date: September 12, 2023

   This build removes a blank menu item from the Sticky Keys menu and includes a variety of security updates. For details, see Microsoft’s Security Update Guide and September 2023 Security Updates.

   What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, check for reports about problematic issues, and if all seems well, apply the update.

   (Get more info about KB5030219.)

5. Windows 11 Insider Previews: What’s in the latest build?

   Windows 11 24H2 has been released, but behind the scenes, Microsoft is constantly working to improve the newest version of Windows. The company frequently rolls out public preview builds to members of its Windows Insider Program, allowing them to test out — and even help shape — upcoming features.

   Skip to the builds

   The Windows Insider program is divided into four channels:

   • The Canary Channel is where platform changes (such as major updates to the Windows kernel and new APIs) are previewed. These changes are not tied to a particular Windows release and may never ship at all. Little documentation is provided, and builds are likely to be very unstable. This channel is best for highly technical users.
   • The Dev Channel is where new features are introduced for initial testing, regardless of which Windows release they’ll eventually end up in. This channel is best for technical users and developers and builds in it may be unstable and buggy.
   • In the Beta Channel, you’ll get more polished features that will be deployed in the next major Windows release. This channel is best for early adopters, and Microsoft says your feedback in this channel will have the most impact.
   • The Release Preview Channel typically doesn’t see action until shortly before a new feature update is rolled out. It’s meant for final testing of an upcoming release and is best for those who want the most stable builds.

   The Beta and Release Preview Channels also receive bug-fix builds for the currently shipping version of Windows 11. See “How to preview and deploy Windows 10 and 11 updates” for more details about the four channels and how to switch to a different channel.

   Not everyone can participate in the Windows 11 Insider program, because the new operating system has more stringent system requirements than Windows 10. If your PC fails to meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, you cannot join the Windows 11 Insider Program. (See “How to check if your PC can run Windows 11.”)

   Below you’ll find information about the Windows 11 preview builds that have been announced by Microsoft in the past six months. (For the Release Preview Channel, we cover builds released for the current version of Windows 11, not for earlier versions.) For each build, we’ve included the date of its release, which Insider channel it was released to, a summary of what’s in the build, and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it.

   Note: If you’re looking for information about updates being rolled out to all Windows 11 users, not previews for Windows Insiders, see “Windows 11: A guide to the updates.”

   The latest Windows 11 Insider preview builds

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3941

   Release date: April 25, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features and minor improvements, including a new profanity filter setting for voice typing. This group will also have several bugs fixed, including one that caused apps to appear blank, and another in which Windows Hello facial recognition would not work for login for some Insiders. The new feature and bug fixes are gradually rolling out.

   Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a fix for a bug that caused Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to not work and the option “Fix problems using Windows Update” option under Settings > Recovery to also not work.

   There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3941.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570

   Release date: April 25, 2025

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features and minor improvements, including a new profanity filter setting for voice typing. This group will also have several bugs fixed, including one that caused apps to appear blank, and another in which Windows Hello facial recognition would not work for login for some Insiders.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel  gets a fix for a bug that caused Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to not work and the option “Fix problems using Windows Update” option under Settings > Recovery to also not work.

   There are six known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Sandbox may fail to launch with a 0x800705b4 error. If this occurs, try reinstalling Sandbox by unchecking Sandbox under “Turn Windows features on or off” to uninstall it, then reboot, go back to “Turn Windows features on or off” and check Sandbox to reinstall it and reboot again.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27842

   Release date: April 23, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build previews a new UI that is used when a PC unexpectedly restarts. It also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the Smart App Control icon wasn’t displaying correctly in the Windows Security app.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27842.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5562

   Release date: April 21, 2025

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs get two new text actions in Click to Do, including the “Practice in Reading Coach” Click to Do action that can increase fluency and pronunciation.

   In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including several improvements in voice access and to the notification widgets settings page, so that they can control the number of notifications per feed or dashboard. 

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bugs fixed, including one that was causing Start menu to crash when creating folders. Everyone in the Dev Channel gets additional bug fixes, including for a bug that didn’t allow some apps like Spotify to install from the Microsoft Store.

   There are 14 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5562.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3872

   Release date: April 21, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs get two new text actions in Click to Do, including the “Practice in Reading Coach” Click to Do action that can increase fluency and pronunciation.

   In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including several improvements in voice access.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including one that was causing Start menu to crash when creating folders. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets one bug fix, for a bug that didn’t allow some apps like Spotify to install from the Microsoft Store

   There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3872.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551

   Release date: April 11, 2025

   Released to: Dev Channel

   This build begins the rollout of natural language search for settings in the Windows search box on the taskbar for users with Copilot+ PCs. For example, you can use your own words to find settings like “change my theme” or “about my PC.” You no longer need to remember the exact setting name you are looking for.

   In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including one in which you can read content such as full articles, slideshows, and videos directly within your MSN feed in the widgets board.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug that caused File Explorer Home to crash for some Insiders. Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a fix for Windows Sandbox, which was not working.

   There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3863

   Release date: April 11, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   This build begins the rollout of natural language search for settings in the Windows search box on the taskbar for users with Copilot+ PCs. For example, you can use your own words to find settings like “change my theme” or “about my PC.” You no longer need to remember the exact setting name you are looking for.

   In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including one in which you can read content such as full articles, slideshows, and videos directly within your MSN feed in the widgets board.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug that caused File Explorer Home to crash for some Insiders. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a fix for Windows Sandbox, which was not working.

   There are 14 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3863.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3902 (KB5055627)

   Release date: April 10, 2025

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gradually rolls out several new features for Copilot+ PCs, including Windows Recall (preview) in which you can quickly find and get back to any app, website, image, or document by describing its content. To use Recall, you need to opt in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enroll in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access them. Those with Copilot+ PCs can also search by describing what they’re looking for, without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. 

   A number of new features are being rolled out immediately for all PCs, not just Copilot+ PCs, including one in which you get an estimated time for how long your PC will be offline to install updates from Windows Update. Several bugs are also being fixed, including one in which some content pages with JPEG images were not displaying.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) may not work, and you may not be able to use the “Fix problems using Windows Update” option under Settings > Recovery.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3902.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518

   Release date: April 3, 2025

   Released to: Dev Channel

   Those in the Dev Channel who have opted to receive the latest updates get several new features that are being rolled out gradually, including taskbar icon scaling — when your taskbar starts to get crowded with pinned or open apps, the icons automatically scale down to a smaller size. This lets you keep more apps visible and accessible without having to use a secondary menu.

   Dev Channel users who have opted to receive the latest updates get three bug fixes, one in which external graphics cards connected over Thunderbolt were unexpectedly not discoverable in some cases; another in which Hyper-V Manager erroneously reported 0% CPU usage for VMs in some scenarios; and another for those with Copilot+ PCs who saw semantic search stop working until their PCs were rebooted.

   There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3671

   Release date: April 3, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   Those in the Beta Channel who agreed to receive the latest updates get several new features being rolled out gradually, including taskbar icon scaling — when your taskbar starts to get crowded with pinned or open apps, the icons automatically scale down to a smaller size. This lets you keep more apps visible and accessible without having to use a secondary menu.

   Those in the Beta Channel who get the latest updates get two bug fixes, one in which external graphics cards connected over Thunderbolt were unexpectedly not discoverable in some cases, and another in which Hyper-V Manager erroneously reported 0% CPU usage for VMs in some scenarios.

   There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3671.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516

   Release date: March 28, 2025

   Released to: Dev Channel

   This build includes improved search tools for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. When searching in File Explorer, the Windows search box on the taskbar, or in Settings, you can type plain-English searches without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. In addition, those with AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs can find photos in the cloud by using plain-English searches.

   Those who have turned on the toggle to receive changes as soon as they come out get a speech recap in Narrator which keeps track of what Narrator has spoken and access it for quick reference. They also get a variety of changes and improvements, including one in which on Copilot+ PCs, they can now access Click to Do from the Start menu and can pin it to Start and the taskbar.

   They also receive a variety of bug fixes, including one in which File Explorer was very slow to close for some Insiders when closing it using the X button.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a bug fixed in which the toggle to get the latest updates as soon they are available via Settings > Windows Update didn’t render correctly and turned itself off.

   There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653

   Release date: March 28, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features being rolled out gradually, including a speech recap feature in Narrator that keeps track of what Narrator has spoken and lets you access it for quick reference. There are also a variety of changes and improvements, including one in which on Copilot+ PCs, users can now access Click to Do from the Start menu and can pin it to Start and the taskbar.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the taskbar icons weren’t increasing in size as they should when using your PC in a tablet posture.

   Two bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the toggle to get the latest updates as soon they are available via Settings > Windows Update did not render correctly and automatically turned itself off.

   There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates that will resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27823

   Release date: March 26, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows. It also includes new “top cards” under Settings > System > About. Top cards provide an easy way to view your PC’s key specifications—processor, RAM, storage, and GPU.

   The build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Settings could crash when interacting with Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27823.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585

   Release date: March 24, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   This build includes improved search tools for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. When searching in File Explorer, the Windows search box on the taskbar, or in Settings, you can type plain-English searches without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. In addition, those with AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs can find photos in the cloud by using plain-English searches.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer was very slow to close via the X button.

   Two bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update did not render correctly and automatically turned itself off.

   There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510

   Release date: March 24, 2025

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build the Dev Channel is jumping ahead to receive 26200 series builds. This means that once you install it, you cannot switch to the Beta Channel. If you are in the Dev Channel and want to switch to the Beta Channel, don’t install this build. Instead, pause updates in Windows Update, switch your channel to the Beta Channel and then un-pause updates.

   There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3624 (KB5053656)

   Release date: March 24, 2025

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gradually rolls out several new features for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, including natural-language search in Windows Search. Just describe what you’re looking for without having to remember specific file names, exact words in file content, or settings names.

   In addition, the build includes the same set of improvements and bug fixes as a previous build, Build 26100.3613, such as Natural Language Commanding in voice access, available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3624.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27818

   Release date: March 19, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

   The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop sometimes froze when connecting.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27818.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3613 (KB5053656)

   Release date: March 18, 2025

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including Natural Language Commanding in voice access, which lets users speak commands naturally, using filler words and synonyms, rather than rigid, predefined commands. It is available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.

   Several bug fixes are also being rolled out gradually, including one in which the “see more” (…) menu in the File Explorer command bar opened in the wrong direction in some cases.

   A variety of new bug fixes are being rolled out immediately, including one for a bug in which critical PowerShell modules required for device configuration were not executed under Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3613.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576 

   Release date: March 17, 2025

   Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, you can use natural language commands during voice access, rather than having to remember specific voice commands.

   The same group gets several bug fixes, including one addressing a bug for users in managed environments, in which your Windows Recall snapshots would get deleted after installing Build 26120.3380 and after each reboot on that build.

   There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings, and another in which Recall is no longer able to save new snapshots or modify settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813

   Release date: March 12, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

   The build also fixes two bugs, one which the WDMAud system driver was causing some app crashes, and the other in which Settings > System > Display > Color Management did not always display the expected color profile list for the selected monitor.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380 

   Release date: March 10, 2025

   Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which File Explorer displays a new Recommended section that is displayed as a carousel with thumbnail previews. This includes content such as files you frequently use, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery. Users with a work/school account (Entra ID) will have additional types of recommendations available with this update.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which windows.storage.dll led caused some apps to crash when files were opened in them.

   There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808

   Release date: March 7, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   In this update, a change is being rolled out in the way Task Manager calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. For backward compatibility, a new optional column called CPU Utility is available (hidden by default) on the Details tab showing the previous CPU value used on the Processes page.

   The build also fixes a number of bugs, including one that caused the search window to go blank for some Insiders when searching from the taskbar, due to a background crash.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN. In the other, a d3d9.dll crash is causing multiple apps to fail to launch starting with Build 27802 for some Insiders.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015

   Release date: February 28, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a new system tray icon on the taskbar, which lets you use emojis, GIFs, Kaomoji, etc. across all apps and surfaces in Windows in addition to using the Win + . keyboard shortcut. This new system tray icon can be changed by right-clicking on the icon to go to taskbar settings page.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a number of new bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer Home crashed for some Insiders.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which File Explorer is very slow to close for some Insiders when closing using the X button. This may also affect the other title bar buttons.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360 

   Release date: February 28, 2025

   Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get two new features being gradually rolled out, including one in which Task Manager changes the way it calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. Also being added is the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug which some people experienced Remote Desktop freezes on login, or frequent disconnect.

   There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802

   Release date: February 28, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   In this update, new battery icons in Windows 11 communicate the battery status of your PC with a quick glance. Key changes include colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage.

   The build also fixes several bugs, including one that was causing the login screen to crash when clicking the “sign-in options” link for some Insiders.

   There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291

   Release date: February 21, 2025

   Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

   In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs can search photos saved in the cloud by using your own words to describe what you’re looking for in the Windows search box on the taskbar.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bugs fixed, including one in which switching languages crashed live captions if audio was playing or the microphone was enabled.

   There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321 (KB5052093)

   Release date: February 18, 2025

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can share files directly from a jump list on the taskbar, and another in which you can find out more information about a background image by hovering over the image or clicking the “Learn about this picture” icon.

   A variety of bug fixes are also being gradually rolled out, including one in which when you enter a URL in the File Explorer address bar, it might not go to the location.

   The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop stopped working.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281

   Release date: February 14, 2025

   Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates have the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS and Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click. In addition, when “Restore previous folder windows at logon” is enabled in File Explorer, you can now restore all the extra tabs that you previously had open in each File Explorer window. 

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which if you tried to reset your password from the login screen, it wouldn’t work due to an underlying crash. Another fix addresses a bug for users who have a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC, in which File Explorer search was unresponsive and required a reboot to start working.

   There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788

   Release date: February 5, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update includes the first in-box public preview of Windows MIDI Services, a complete rewrite of MIDI on Windows for musicians. Windows MIDI Services handles MIDI 2.0 and improves MIDI 1.0 implementation, with automatic translation between the two. It works on 64-bit operating systems on all supported processors, including Arm64.

   The build also gradually rolls out the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS or Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click.

   The build also fixes several bugs, including one that prevented scanning apps from detecting a connected scanner.

   There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870

   Release date: February 3, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, IT administrators in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a new group policy called “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen,” which allows them to disable lock screen widgets without disabling widgets elsewhere on PCs they manage. 

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the Start menu crashed for some Insiders when they interacted with the letters in the apps list.

   Several bugs have been fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which PCs did not recognize that USB cameras were on after installing the January 2025 security update.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073

   Release date: January 31, 2025

   Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

   In this build, those who have Copilot+ PCs get a new feature in Windows Search, in which you can use your own words to find photos stored and saved in the cloud by describing what they are, such as “European castles” or “summer picnics.” In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results as well. Exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will show in the search results.

   The build also includes changes being gradually rolled out for all Windows 11 PCs. Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. The feature will show some existing cards relevant to enterprise-managed PCs like “Recommended settings” and “Bluetooth devices,” as well as two new enterprise-specific device info and accessibility preferences cards. For commercial customers who also use their Microsoft account on their managed PC, there will also be a new accounts card indicating the presence of both work/school and Microsoft account types. 

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which minimized File Explorer windows might not have rendered correctly when restored.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the display of some games appeared oversaturated when you used Auto HDR.

   There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” message while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783

   Release date: January 29, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   In this update, users signed into Windows with a Microsoft account will be able to view files that have been shared with the account, such as email, Teams chat, etc., in File Explorer. Commercial customers signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID account will also be able to view files that they have shared with others. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the ‘Shared’ tab item.

   The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which taskbar preview windows sometimes didn’t display when hovering over open apps in the taskbar.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805

   Release date: January 24, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a change to Snap in Windows 11 in which inline messaging will now appear when you accidentally invoke the Snap Bar when dragging an app to the top middle of your desktop or Snap Flyout when hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button of an app. This is designed to provide guidance on snapping app windows and educating users on the keyboard shortcuts for quickly snapping app windows in the future.

   This group also gets new keyboard shortcuts in Narrator scan mode for quickly jumping to list items and to the beginning or end of large elements such as tables or lists. These changes are gradually rolling out.

   There are five known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000

   Release date: January 24, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new battery icons, including colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage. The same group also gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in File Explorer in which you sometimes would be unable to navigate by entering a path in the address bar. These changes are gradually rolling out.

   There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000.)

   Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 (KB5050094)

   Release date: January 21, 2025

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which an icon will appear in the system tray when you use an app that supports Windows Studio Effects. This only occurs on a device that has a neural processing unit (NPU). Select the icon to open the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings.

   The update also improves the previews that show when your cursor hovers over apps on the taskbar. In addition, the Windows Mobile Hotspot now supports 6 GHz connections. This new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers. 

   A variety of bug fixes are also being rolled out, including for a bug in which the Snipping Tool screenshots were distorted when you used two or more monitors that have different display scaling.

   The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you will now have a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3025.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800

   Release date: January 17, 2025

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC. You can still find your apps in the Start menu and Search, and you can pin apps to your taskbar. In addition, the build starts the rollout of the Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. 

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one bug fix, which includes increased support for text scaling in File Explorer, File Open/Save dialogs, and copy dialogs.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27774

   Release date: January 16, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update includes a small set of tweaks that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of Windows 11. In addition, the Administrator protection can now be enabled from Windows Security settings under the Account Protection tab, which allows users to enable the feature without requiring help from IT admins.

   The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which accent colored window borders were not displayed when enabled, shadows around windows were not displaying when enabled, and window launching (and other) animations were not showing.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which Insiders joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into the PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27774.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768

   Release date: January 9, 2025

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update includes a small set of general changes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of Windows 11. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which File Explorer sometimes lost focus on the search box while typing.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4660

   Release date: January 3, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get labels added to previously unlabeled actions on File Explorer’s context menu such as cut, copy, paste, rename, share, and delete.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes for issues that impacted File Explorer’s performance and reliability.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4660.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27766

   Release date: January 3, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of Windows 11. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which some Insiders experienced frequent explorer.exe crashes after they clean-installed or reset their PC.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27766.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2702

   Release date: December 13, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new advanced camera options page. To see it, navigate to a camera under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras and click the edit button for advanced camera options. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which when pointer trails were enabled, the mouse cursor became invisible with a black box behind it.

   One bug is fixed for everyone in the Dev Channel, in which if you rolled back from Build 26120.2510 to an earlier build, you would see a “Your organization used App Control for Business to block this app” dialog when attempting to use or install certain third-party apps on your PC due to an incorrect policy being enforced.

   There are seven known issues in this build, including one in which Click to Do sometimes doesn’t highlight any info on screen if there is no content on a connected external monitor in extended mode.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2702.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4655

   Release date: December 13, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will be able to see visual previews of links or web content they share using the Windows share window. Note that the new feature may not yet be available to everyone because it is being gradually rolled out.

   The build also fixes one bug, in which window previews weren’t showing when hovering over certain open apps in the taskbar, for those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4655.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764

   Release date: December 11, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   In this build, when right-clicking on apps pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will be shown for apps that have them, such as PowerPoint. The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which File Explorer might hang when browsing a folder with lots of media in it, and another in which some HDDs were being incorrectly listed as SSD on the Task Manager Performance page.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580

   Release date: December 6, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get several improvements to File Explorer, including one in which if you launch File Explorer folders from outside of File Explorer (for example, from an app or from the desktop), by default they now open in a new tab if you have an existing File Explorer window open. Note that these features are being gradually rolled out, so may not be immediately available.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a single bug fix, in which Pinyin IME users may unexpectedly switch the IME from Chinese to English when switching between windows.

   Everyone in the Beta Channel gets four bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows stopped responding when you used an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) USB printer.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758

   Release date: December 4, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build introduces a new advanced camera options page in Settings that includes a multi-app camera setting and a basic camera setting, the latter intended as a last resort when your camera is not functioning correctly. The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one that could have caused Settings to crash when you selected your default audio device.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415

   Release date: November 22, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   This build, for those who have Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, introduces the first preview of the Recall feature that constantly takes screenshots of what you do while you work so you easily find files, web pages, and more. In addition to searching, you can use a timeline to scroll back to what you were doing on your PC at a specific day and time.

   Click to Do is also included. It lets you take AI-powered actions on the screenshots taken by Recall, such as erasing objects from them, performing a visual Bing search on them, copying them, sharing them, and more.

   In addition, those who have the toggle turned on to immediately get new features will soon get new Windows Hello features that have already been rolled out to the Beta and Canary Channels.

   Those who have the toggle turned on to immediately get new features and other changes get a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which explorer.exe sometimes crashed when interacting with app icons.

   Click to Do has eight known issues, including one in which there a delay before snapshots first appear in the timeline.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510

   Release date: November 22, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can resume working on OneDrive files from a phone (iOS and Android) on a Windows 11 PC with a single click. Users will also be able to right-click and share local files under the Recommended section of the Start menu. Note that these changes will roll out gradually.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes, including one for a bug in which you sometimes could not navigate by entering a path in the address bar.

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754

   Release date: November 20, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build revamps Windows Hello in several ways, primarily to make authentication easier. Among the changes is a redesign of using passkeys for more secure and faster authentication. Users can now switch between authentication options and select passkey/devices more intuitively. Beyond that, if you hold Shift and Ctrl when clicking on a jump list item in the Start menu or taskbar, you will launch that item as admin.

   The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one that caused RAW images taken in portrait mode to unexpectedly display in landscape mode thumbnails in File Explorer.

   There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510

   Release date: November 15, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can share files directly from right-click jump lists on the taskbar in supported apps such as Notepad. Note that this feature will roll out gradually.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a fix for a single bug, in which you might have unexpectedly seen a message saying “You’re offline. Widgets are unavailable.”

   Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2448

   Release date: November 14, 2024

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gets a wide variety of new features, including one in which when you right-click apps that you have pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will appear for apps that have jump lists. There is also a new section for touchscreen edge gestures. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch. There, you can choose if you would like to turn off the left or right screen edge touch gesture. These features are being gradually rolled out.

   There are also a variety of bugs that have been fixed, including one in which the Task Manager’s Users page could have caused Task Manager to stop responding when you used the keyboard.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2448.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749

   Release date: November 13, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build adds a new shortcut “Narrator key + Ctrl + X” to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. You can use this shortcut in conjunction with “Narrator key + X,” which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud, to review and copy what Narrator spoke.

   The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Task Manager showed a 0 count for apps and processes, and another in which a blank entry in Settings > Privacy would cause Settings to crash if you clicked it.

   There are five known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2222

   Release date: November 8, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can hold Shift + Ctrl when clicking on a jump list item in the Start menu or taskbar to launch that item as admin. This feature is being gradually rolled out.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for an issue in which windows unexpectedly moved around after waking from sleep if you had multiple monitors. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which Narrator crashes on launch if you use one of the natural voices, and another in which your desktop background may show big black areas with multiple monitors.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2222.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4445

   Release date: November 8, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, Insiders in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available have a New Folder option in the context menu when right-clicking locations in the navigation pane. Note that this change will be gradually rolled out.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also have a variety of bugs fixed, including one in which performing a search unexpectedly triggered the search happening repeatedly. Note that these fixes will be gradually rolled out.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4445.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744

   Release date: November 6, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build includes a major feature update to Prism, Microsoft’s emulator for Windows on Arm, that will make it possible for more 64-bit x86 (x64) applications to run under emulation. This new support in Prism is already in limited use in the retail version of Windows 11 24H2, where it enables the ability to run Adobe Premiere Pro 25 on Arm. Starting with this build, the support is being opened to any x64 application under emulation. You may find that some games or creative apps that were blocked due to CPU requirements before will now be able to run using Prism.

   Note that only x64 applications can use these new CPU features. If you have a 32-bit app or a 64-bit app that uses a 32-bit helper to detect CPU feature support, that app won’t detect the new features in Prism.

   The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which certain apps did not detect a scanner, although one was connected.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you may lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometric sign-in your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213

   Release date: November 4, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will have the IME toolbar hidden when apps are in full-screen mode for those who have the IME toolbar enabled and type in Chinese or Japanese. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a variety of bug fixes, including for one in which RAW images taken in portrait mode unexpectedly displayed in landscape mode thumbnails in File Explorer. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug that caused Task Manager to show a 0 count for apps and processes.

   There is one known issue in this build, in which the desktop background sometimes may not show correctly with multiple monitors (showing big black areas).

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4440

   Release date: November 1, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a revamped Windows Hello that adheres to contemporary Windows visual design standards. The update also has a small set of general improvements. Note that all these changes will be gradually rolled out.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a single bug fix, for a bug that caused touch keyboard crashes and the IME candidate window not to appear for some Insiders.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4440.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4435

   Release date: October 25, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can launch an item on the Start menu or taskbar as an admin by holding Ctrl + Shift when clicking. Note that this feature will be gradually rolled out.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which the X button to close an app window from the taskbar wasn’t working for some Insiders. This fix will be gradually rolled out.

   Everyone in the Beta Channel can now configure the Copilot key again, after that feature was turned off in Build 22635.4291. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the PIN reset did not work when you selected the “I forgot my PIN’ link on the credentials screen in Windows Hello for Business.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4435.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200

   Release date: October 25, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can access Windows Studio Effects in Quick Settings from the system tray of the taskbar. Windows Studio Effects delivers AI-based camera and audio enhancements on devices equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU). Note that this feature is being gradually rolled out.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which if you clicked or tapped on a letter on the Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may have broken. This fix is being gradually rolled out.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which you could not view some parts of the UI when you ran certain apps.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which there is an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu apps list.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4371

   Release date: October 18, 2024

   Released to:Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can now use the new Narrator key + Ctrl + X shortcut to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. It follows the pattern of using Narrator key + X, which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get several fixes for several bugs, including one in which Narrator would slow down after 15 minutes of continuous use with a single application.

   An update for the Snipping Tool (version 11.2409.23.0 and newer) is also being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels. It introduces a new “Copy as table” feature.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4371.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130

   Release date: October 18, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which “All apps” is now just “All” on the Start menu.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which clipboard history did not display items you had copied.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729

   Release date: October 17, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build adds the ability  to configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe.

   The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the screen went black for a few seconds for some people when using Alt + Tab.

   There are five known issues in this build, including one in which some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs (like the GTX 970, Quadro K620, etc.) are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager and not working correctly.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367

   Release date: October 11, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft claims improves the overall experience of running Windows. They also now have the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get several bug fixes, including for one in which some Insiders saw an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu All Apps list.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2122

   Release date: October 11, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general fixes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of running Windows. The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager now support dark mode and text scaling.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get one bug fix, for a bug that caused the screen to go black for a few seconds for some people when using Alt + Tab.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bugs fixed, including one in which some Insiders saw error 0x800f0825 when trying to install the latest Dev Channel builds.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2122.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2152

   Release date: October 10, 2024

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipses (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there.

   The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you can configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which you could not sign in to your account from the web because the screen stopped responding.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2152.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723

   Release date: October 9, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build introduces several minor changes and features, including one in which you can share local files directly from within the search results shown in the search box on the taskbar.

   There are five known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930

   Release date: October 4, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general improvements and one bug fix, for a bug in which the boot menu wasn’t displaying correctly for some Insiders with dual-boot devices.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel can now configure the Copilot key. You can have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, increasing security and privacy.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, please try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4300 

   Release date: October 4, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see “All” instead of “All apps” on the Start menu. In addition, Windows Search runs IFilters in the Less Privileged App Containers (LPACs). LPACs are like app containers, but they deny even more permissions by default. The intent is that a process running in a LPAC has access only to the resources needed by it. This helps to minimize the potential damage that can be caused by a compromised process by limiting its access to sensitive system components and data.

   Two bugs are fixed for those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible, including one in which items in the navigation pane became very spread out for some people.

   There are two known issues in the build, including one in which live captions will crash if you try to use them.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4300.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27718

   Release date: October 2, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build introduces a number of minor new changes and features. You can now drag apps from the Pinned section of the Start menu and pin them to the taskbar. For laptops on battery, a notification will pop up asking you to plug in your laptop if the battery level reaches 20% while Energy Saver is set to “Always On.” 

   Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which the emoji panel closed when you tried to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji, and another in which the Widgets icon sometimes unexpectedly displayed twice in the taskbar.

   There are three known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which If you are joining the Canary Channel from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC; you’ll see error 0xd0000225 and an error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available.” You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27718.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1912

   Release date: September 30, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who’ve turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates get a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of running Windows. In addition, Windows Mobile Hotspot has been enhanced to support 6GHz connections. The new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers; not all chips that support 6GHz Wi-Fi in general will support the 6GHz mobile hotspot.

   Those in the Dev Channel who agreed to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including one in which Task Manager’s Settings page might have a white background when it should not.

   There is one known issue in this build: if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1912.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4291

   Release date: September 30, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get an updated Task Manager design in which the Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager now support dark mode and text scaling. They also get several bug fixes, including one in which explorer.exe crashed sporadically when using ALT + Tab in recent builds.

   Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including one in which Work Folders files failed to sync when Defender for Endpoint was on.

   There are two known issues in the build, including one in which live captions will crash if you try to use them.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4291)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1876

   Release date: September 23, 2024

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   This build, for those using Windows 11 version 24H2, gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which when your device’s battery power is running low, a pop-up window will appear that asks you to plug in your device. This occurs when the battery level reaches 20% and while Energy Saver is set to “Always On.

   Several bug fixes are being immediately rolled out, including one in which when a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might have occurred when you closed that window.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1876.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4247 and 22631.4247

   Release date: September 23, 2024

   Released to: Release Preview Channel

   In this update for users on Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, a variety of features are being rolled out slowly, including one in which the “Sign out” option is now on the account manager when you open the Start menu. To change to a different user, select the ellipses (…). A list of other users appears to make it easier to switch.

   The update also fixes several bugs, including one in which Microsoft Edge sometimes stopped responding when you used IE mode.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4247 and 22631.4247.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225

   Release date: September 20, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will get the ability to share content to an Android device from the context menu in File Explorer and on the desktop. To use this feature, the Phone Link app must be installed and configured on your PC.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get a fix for a bug in which the emoji panel didn’t work properly.

   Everyone in the Beta Channel can now configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements.

   Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in which some Insiders experienced a bug check when closing Notepad.

   There is one known issue in the build, in which if you click or tap on a letter on the Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843

   Release date: September 20, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new feature, in which File Explorer provides you with quick access to files that have been shared with you. If you are signed into Windows with your Microsoft account or Entra ID account, you will be able to view files that have been shared with your account, such as email, Teams chat, etc. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the Shared tab.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including one in which when pressing Windows key + E, a screen reader might unexpectedly say a pane had focus, or focus may not be set within File Explorer at all.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including one in which could result in the Widgets icon unexpectedly displaying in the taskbar twice sometimes.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145

   Release date: August 30, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see several new features, including one in which the Sign out option is immediately visible in the new account manager on the Start menu. There’s also a list of signed in users under the three-dot icon so it’s faster to switch accounts. The mouse and touchscreen controls have more options, and hotspots now appear on the desktop when users right-click the Windows Spotlight icon. The changes are being rolled out gradually.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get fixes for several bugs, including one in which explorer.exe crashed when interacting with archive files. These fixes are being rolled out gradually

   Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including for a bug in which the [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] registry key has been removed.

   There is one known issue in the build: if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695

   Release date: August 30, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   In this build, Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) has been improved with a new ability to recover encrypted passwords from Active Directory (AD) backup media even when there are zero AD domain controllers running.

   A number of bugs have been fixed, including one in which Ctrl + F would sometimes not start a search in File Explore, and another in which the colors in the Performance section of Task Manager weren’t displayed correctly in dark mode.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which  If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available.” You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082

   Release date: August 26, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see the media controls at the lower bottom center of the Lock screen when media is being played. There is also now an option to turn off the suggestions to disable notifications from certain apps. These features are being rolled out gradually.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get fixes for several bugs, including one in which explorer.exe crashed for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar. These fixes are being rolled out gradually.

   Everyone in the beta channel gets one bug fix, in which the [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] registry key has been removed.

   There are two known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash when interacting with archive files.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4108 and 22631.4108

   Release date: August 19, 2024

   Released to: Release Preview Channel (Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2)

   Starting with this update, a variety of features will be rolled out slowly, including one that lets you share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window. To do this, you must pair your Android device to your Windows PC. Use the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.

   A number of bugs are being fixed, including one in which when a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might occur when you close that window.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4108 and 22631.4108.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22610.1586

   Release date: August 19, 2024

   Released to: Release Preview Channel (Windows 11 24H2)

   This build, for those with Windows 11 version 24H2, gradually rolls out a new feature in which when you right-click a tab in File Explorer, you have the choice to duplicate it.

   A wide variety of bug fixes are being gradually rolled out, including for a bug in which memory leak occurred when you interacted with archive folders and another in which File Explorer stopped responding when you browsed within it.

   Three bug fixes have been immediately released to everyone, including one in which a deadlock occurred in the domain controller (DC) when it started up in the DNS client.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1586.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076

   Release date: August 19, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will find that a feature introduced in Build 22635.3930 that showed a Studio Effects icon in the system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera has temporarily been disabled. It will be re-enabled in a future build.

   Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which  Voice Access commands weren’t working for non-English supported languages.

   A wide variety of bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which Windows Backup sometimes failed in devices with an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) system partition (ESP).

   There are two known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which explorer.exe crashes when interacting with archive files.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542

   Release date: August 19, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new feature that adds first letter navigation support to the taskbar. When keyboard focus is set to the taskbar (WIN + T), you can press a letter, and it will jump to the open or pinned app whose name starts with that letter. The feature is being gradually rolled out so isn’t yet available to everyone.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get fixes for three bugs, including one in which the emoji panel closed when trying to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including for a bug in which adding languages or optional features might fail with error 0x800f081f.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686

   Release date: August 15, 2024

   Released to: Canary Channel

   This build includes the new Windows Sandbox Client Preview that is now updated via the Microsoft Store. It introduces runtime clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and the ability to share folders with the host at runtime. You can access these via the new “…” icon at the upper right on the app. This preview also includes a very early version of command line support. (Commands may change over time.) You can use the wsb.exe –help command for more information.

   The build also includes optimizations to improve battery life and a detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button in Settings that makes it simpler to detach your VHD/VHDx as needed.

   A number of bugs have been fixed, including one in which Dev Drive VHDs weren’t automatically remounting when the underlying volume was dismounted and brought back online, and one in the Windows Security app where if you browsed the networks under Firewall & Network protection, it showed a broken glyph (a rectangle) next to the network name rather than a network icon.

   There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1350

   Release date: August 9, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can more easily share content to an Android device from Windows share window. The feature requires you to pair your Android device to your Windows PC using the Link to Windows app on Android and Phone Link on your PC. The feature is being rolled out gradually.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one fix that addresses an issue in which graphs on the Performance page in Task Manager did not show the correct colors when using dark mode again. The fix is being rolled out gradually.

   Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows Sandbox failed to launch with error 0x80370106.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1350.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010

   Release date: August 9, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, many of those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see the simplified system tray with shortened date/time change that began rolling out with Build 22635.3930. The feature is being rolled out gradually.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get fixes for two bugs, one in which the dropdown at the top of the GPU section of Performance wasn’t showing in dark mode when dark mode was enabled, and the other in which if you pressed the Shift key when you right-clicked on an app icon on the taskbar, it opened another instance of the app rather than opening the expected menu.

   There are three known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340

   Release date: August 5, 2024

   Released to: Dev Channel

   In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get improvements for spelling and corrections in voice access, including the ability to dictate characters at a faster speed and have more editing flexibility with selection, deletion, and text navigation commands.

   Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a fix for a bug in which items under “Let desktop apps access your location” section in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location had visibly flickered although there were no changes displayed.

   There are four known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340.)

   Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005

   Release date: August 2, 2024

   Released to: Beta Channel

   In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general tweaks and fixes that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of running Windows.

   Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one fix for a bug that caused sporadic explorer.exe crashes for some Insiders.

   There are three known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar.

   (Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005.)