Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4733 (Beta Channel)

Releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4733 (KB5062651) to the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2.

New Copilot+ PC experiences

New describe image action in Click to Do
We are introducing a new "describe image" action in Click to Do to get detailed descriptions of images, charts and graphs – useful to get a quick overview of the visual content. When you use the action for the first time, the required models are set up, and the descriptions are generated locally on your device making sure your sensitive data stays on your PC.

The new describe image action in Click to Do is rolling out to Windows Insiders on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs coming soon. You can learn more about using Click to Do here.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Click to Do.

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

Administrator protection
Administrator protection is an upcoming platform security feature in Windows 11, which aims to protect free floating admin rights for administrator users allowing them to still perform all admin functions with just-in-time admin privileges. This feature is off by default and needs to be enabled via Windows Security under Account protection or via group policy. For more information on administrator protection, please read this blog post here from Katharine Holdsworth.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• We're updating the design of the privacy dialogs for app permissions. When an app requests permission to access location, camera, mic, etc., it is now a system modal dialog. When one of these dialogs appears from an app requesting permission, the screen will slightly darken now, and the privacy dialog will take focus in center of the screen.
  

[Windows Security]

• Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels with Smart App Control in evaluation mode may see Smart App Control get turned on in Windows Security. If Smart App Control is turned on, it can be switched off via Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed an issue which could cause random File Explorer preview windows to appear when hovering over unrelated app icons in the taskbar.

[Search on the Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue where the search box in the taskbar might show animations even if animations were turned off in Settings.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to file operation progress dialogs to stop appearing when displayed from apps.
• Made some more improvements to the performance of zip extraction – specifically in the case if you were trying to extract a zip file that was downloaded from the web and contained many small files.
• Fixed an issue where if you'd pinned the shortcut for an app to your desktop, after the app updated, the icon may become a white page icon rather than having a proper thumbnail image.
• Fixed an issue which was causing File Explorer Home to flash white again when launching File Explorer.

The following are fixes for AI actions in File Explorer:

• Fixed an issue where Narrator scan mode might not work properly in the action result canvas window for the Summarize AI action for Microsoft 365 files when reading bulleted lists.

[Live captions]

• Fixed an issue where if you changed the opacity of live captions in Settings > Accessibility > Captions > Caption Style, it would have no effect.

[Dynamic Lighting]

• Fixed an issue in Dynamic Lighting where the Dynamic Lighting Background Controller would occasionally consume excessive CPU after unlocking the machine.

[Graphics]

• Fixed an issue where game content might become out of sync with the cursor position after using ALT + Tab to switch away and back from certain games running in full screen exclusive mode (when the game resolution didn't match the desktop resolution).

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue which could cause Settings to crash when navigating to Time & Language > Language & Region in the previous flight.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue which was resulting in some people unexpectedly seeing error 2042 in Event View, citing a problem with Windows Firewall config not being read correctly.
• Fixed an underlying issue which could cause apps to not come to the foreground when interacting with notifications – for example if you clicked on an Outlook notification.

Thanks!

I like learning idioms! It helps the oral communication. Although I write in English, I can't speak.

You are very welcome, as always.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27898 (Canary Channel)

What's new in Build 27898

Taskbar icon scaling
We are starting to roll out taskbar icon scaling to Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel – an improvement to the Windows taskbar that ensures that you have quick access to more of your favorite apps, even when your taskbar is full. With taskbar icon scaling, when your taskbar starts to get crowded with pinned or open apps, the icons will automatically scale down to a smaller size. This means you can keep more apps visible and accessible without the need to dive into a secondary menu. It's all about making your workflow smoother and more efficient.

We understand that everyone has their own preferences, so we've included settings to tailor this feature to your liking. You can choose when Windows will show smaller taskbar buttons:

• When taskbar is full: By default, taskbar icons will automatically turn smaller when the taskbar is full. This helps you maintain access to more apps without any extra effort.
  
• Never: For users who prefer their icons to remain the same size as before, regardless of how many apps are open, there's an option to prevent the icons from scaling down.
  
• Always: If you love the look of smaller icons and want them to stay that way all the time, you can set your taskbar icons to always be small.
  

To customize your taskbar icon scaling settings, simply right-click an empty region of your taskbar and select "Taskbar settings", expand "Taskbar behaviors" section, and make your selection for the setting "Show smaller taskbar buttons".

As always, we value your feedback, so let us know what you think!

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Taskbar.

Introducing quick machine recovery
Quick machine recovery, a feature introduced as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative at Ignite 2024 – is available for Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel. When enabled, it automatically detects and fixes widespread issues on Windows 11 devices using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This reduces downtime and avoids the need for manual fixes. If a device experiences a widespread boot issue, it enters WinRE, connects to the internet, and Microsoft can deliver a targeted fix through Windows Update. IT admins can enable or customize this experience for their organization through the Intune Settings Catalog UI using the RemoteRemediationCSP. There is also a dedicated quick machine recovery settings page available under System > Recovery > Quick machine recovery. Today, it's enabled by default for home users.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Recovery and Uninstall > Quick Machine Recovery.

Add custom words to the dictionary in voice access
We are introducing the ability for you to add your own words to the dictionary in voice access. Adding your own words, including difficult to pronounce words, to the dictionary in voice access will help improve dictation accuracy. It increases the probability of recognizing these words more accurately by creating a bias that helps voice access become more context aware and proactively understanding your specific vocabulary. The feature will be available in all the currently supported voice access languages i.e. English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese.

You can add your own words to the dictionary in voice access in a few ways:

• After spelling a word using "Spell that" command or making a correction using "Correct that"
  
• Anywhere when you want to manually add a word by using "Add to Vocabulary"
  
• Directly through the settings menu in voice access.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Voice access.

Screen Curtain in Narrator
The Screen Curtain feature in Narrator is designed to enhance privacy and focus for users who rely on screen reading. When activated, Screen Curtain completely blacks out the display, ensuring that only the user hears what's on the screen through Narrator, while the visual content remains hidden from view. This is especially useful in public spaces or shared environments, allowing users to read and work with sensitive information without revealing it to others nearby.

How to enable/disable Screen Curtain:

• Turn On Narrator using Ctrl + Win + Enter.
• Press Caps + Ctrl + C to enable Screen Curtain.
  
• Try using Narrator, while your Screen Curtain is turned on.
• Press Caps + Ctrl + C to disable Screen Curtain.
  

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Changes and Improvements

[General]

• We're updating the design of the privacy dialogs for app permissions. When an app requests permission to access location, camera, mic, etc., it is now a system modal dialog. When one of these dialogs appears from an app requesting permission, the screen will slightly darken now, and the privacy dialog will take focus in center screen.
  

• We are rolling out a change where Microsoft Entra ID authentication requests will be rendered using WebView2 instead of WebView1.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• In addition to the new grouping of the Accessibility flyout in quick settings, we are adding text descriptions for the assistive technologies like Narrator, Voice access, etc. for easy identification and learning by the users.
  

• Admins can now allow users to unpin specific pinned apps, ensuring they are not pinned again during the next policy refresh cycle. To enable this feature, use the new PinGeneration option. Learn more about configuring pinned apps on the taskbar.
  

[File Explorer]

• We have added dividers to the top-level icons that show at the top (or bottom) of the File Explorer context menu.

[Energy Saver]

• We are beginning to preview adaptive energy saver. Adaptive energy saver is an opt-in feature that automatically enables and disables energy saver, without changing screen brightness, based on the power state of the device and the current system load. This will only be available on devices with a battery. As we try this experience out in the Canary Channel, some Insiders may see this experience get enabled – you can manage your energy saver settings under Settings > System > Power & battery.
  

[Windows Share]

• When you share links or web content using the Windows share window, you will see a visual preview for that content.

• In the Windows share window, as part of the ability to quickly edit and enhance images while sharing, we have adjusted the UI so that now you can now select their compression scale from High, Medium, or Low Quality, instead of choosing from an entire scale ranging from 0-100.
  

[Voice access]

• We are introducing Chinese and Japanese support for voice access. You can now use Voice access to navigate, dictate, and interact with Windows using voice commands in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. Japanese support is still a work-in-progress and may have some issues.

[Snipping Tool]

• With this build, we're making it easier to jump directly into text extractor in Snipping Tool via Win + Shift + T. You can learn more about using text extractor here.
  

[Settings]

• We have added the country or region selected during device setup under Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
  

We are rolling out some small changes for your setting your browser defaults in Windows 11 via Settings > Apps > Default apps:

• For Add new link/file types of 'Set Default' button, we have added additional types for the "Set Default" button. You can now set more types.
  
• For one-click button of PDF for browser sets, we have added a new button for making your default browser also the default app for PDF files.
  
• The new default browser will be pinned to the Taskbar and Start menu unless you choose not to pin it by clearing the checkboxes.

Fixes

[File Explorer]

• We've done some more work to improve the performance of extracting archive files – this will particularly help in the case of copy pasting large numbers of files out of large 7z or .rar archives.

[Input]

• Fixed an issue where typing Japanese with the touch keyboard might stop working after switching to typing with an English keyboard and back.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue which could cause Settings to crash when changing mouse cursor.
• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to the Settings window hanging and no longer responding to input or resizing unless you closed and reopened it.

[Other]

• Fixed an underlying issue in the previous flight which could lead to Math.Pow() not outputting the correct result, which could lead to unexpected behavior in apps and games.
• Adjusted the error text if a Windows Update fails due to the system reserved partition not having enough free space, to make it clearer that that's the issue.

Thanks @plodr for clarifying. I'm sorry @DR M , sometimes I forget the American idiom thing!

Malwarebytes v5.3.4.202 component package 136.0.5312 released.

From MBAM 5.0:

Features and improvements

• Added a quick way for users to submit feedback without needing a forum account
  
• Other minor usability improvements across the interface
  

Issues fixed

• Fixed Tray Menu positioning issues on some multi-monitor setups
  

Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.4762 to the Release Preview Channel

Releasing to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11, version 24H2 (Build 26100).

Gradual rollout

The following features and improvements might not be available to all users because they will roll out gradually. Text bolded in brackets indicate the area of the change being documented. Please note that features and improvements that gradually roll out may not begin rolling out right away nor will they immediately show up right away.

• [Recall]
  
  • New! In the European Economic Area (EEA), Recall now supports exporting snapshots to share with trusted third-party apps and websites. When saving snapshots is turned on for the first time, a unique Recall export code appears. This code is required to decrypt exported snapshots and is shown only once during initial setup. Microsoft doesn't store or recover this code. To export, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots > Advanced Settings and authenticate with Windows Hello. Choose to export past snapshots (from the last 7 days, 30 days, or all) or start a continuous export. Third-party apps can access exported snapshots only when both the export code and folder path are provided. If you lose or compromise the export code, reset Recall to generate a new one.
    
  • New! We are adding the ability to reset Recall and all its data. You will now see an advanced settings page under Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots. Under this new advanced settings page, we have included a reset button that will delete all your snapshots and reset your settings for Recall.
    
• [Click to Do]
  
  • New!1 Practice in Reading Coach is a new Click to Do text action that helps you improve reading fluency and pronunciation. Select text on your screen, choose Practice in Reading Coach, and read the text aloud. Reading Coach gives you feedback and shows where to improve. To use this feature, install the free Microsoft Reading Coach app from the Microsoft Store.
    
  • New!1 Read with Immersive Readeris a new text action in Click to Do that displays text in a focused, distraction-free environment. It helps improve reading and writing for all skill levels and abilities. You can adjust text size, spacing, font, and background theme, have text read aloud, break words into syllables, and highlight parts of speech. The picture dictionary shows images for unfamiliar words. To use this feature, install the free Microsoft Reading Coach application from the Microsoft Store.
    
  • New!1 With the Draft with Copilot in Word text action, you can quickly turn any recognized text into a full draft. Whether it's a sentence in an email or a snippet on your screen, press Win + Click on the recognized text, then select Draft with Copilot in Word. No more blank pages. No more writer's block. Just momentum. For "Draft with Copilot in Word" – a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription is required.
    
  • New!1 Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs now supports actions through Microsoft Teams. When you select an email address recognized by Click to Do on your screen, you can choose to send a Teams message or schedule a Teams meeting. These options make it easy to ask a question or set up time to talk without interrupting your workflow.
    
• [Settings]
  
  • New!1 The new agent in Settings is part of the Copilot+ PC experience and is designed to help solve one of the most common frustrations: finding and changing settings on your PC. You can describe what you need help with, such as "how to control my PC by voice" or "my mouse pointer is too small," and the agent will suggest steps to resolve the issue. An agent uses AI on your PC to understand your request and, with your permission, can automate and complete tasks for you. This experience is rolling out to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel™-powered PCs coming soon. It currently works only if your primary display language is set to English.
    
  • New! On non-Copilot+ PCs, the search box in Settings will now be located at the top center to deliver a more consistent and better search experience.
    
  • Fixed: If your PC is set to 'Do nothing' on 'Closing the lid' in Settings > System > Power and Battery and the Settings window is left open when you close the lid, upon opening the lid again Settings window might hang and become unresponsive to input or resizing (instead, just showing your accent color).
    
  • Fixed: Settings may hang when attempting to save credentials for Wi-Fi network
    
• [Windows Resiliency Initiative] The following changes are part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative announced at Ignite 2024:
  
  • New! Quick machine recovery is now available. When enabled, it automatically detects and fixes widespread issues on Windows 11 devices using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This reduces downtime and avoids the need for manual fixes. If a device experiences a widespread boot issue, it enters WinRE, connects to the internet, and Microsoft can deliver a targeted fix through Windows Update. IT admins can enable or customize this experience for their organization through the Intune Settings Catalog UI using the RemoteRemediationCSP. There is also a dedicated quick machine recovery settings page available under System > Recovery > Quick machine recovery. Today it's enabled by default for home users.
    
  • New! A more streamlined interface appears during an unexpected restart This updated design aligns with Windows 11's visual style and helps you return to work faster. The screen displays a more readable layout while keeping the technical details visible. This screen appears with a black background.
    
• [Start menu] New! For admins, the Configure Start Pins policy now includes an option to apply Start menu pins only once. This means users will receive the admin Start menu pins on their first sign-in (day 0), but afterward, they can personalize their pinned layout, and those changes will be retained. This policy can also be applied through group policy, in addition to the existing Configuration Service Provider (CSP).
  
• [Snap] New! Improvements make it easier to learn and use Snap in Windows 11. Inline messages now appear when you accidentally open the Snap Bar by dragging an app to the upper center of your desktop or open the Snap menu by hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button. These messages provide helpful tips on Snap app windows and show keyboard shortcuts.
  
• [Windows Search] New! Windows Search settings are now easier to find. Instead of two separate pages for settings ("Search permissions" and "Searching Windows"), you'll now find everything in one place under Settings > Privacy & security > Search. This new page has a modern look and a better layout, so you can quickly view and manage all your Windows Search settings.
  
• [File Explorer]
  
  • Fixed: If you opened the "..." menu in the File Explorer address bar to show the full list of folders for the current path, the dropdown may be cut off and the bottom of it inaccessible.
    
  • Fixed: File operation progress dialogs may stop appearing when displayed from apps.
    
  • Fixed: The more SharePoint sites are synced to File Explorer, File Explorer may start to show noticeable performance degradation when navigating through folders and opening the context menu. In this state it may also impact the performance of launching files.
    
• [Input] New! The Gamepad layout of the Windows touch keyboard now includes enhanced controller navigation and improved focus handling for child keys, menus, word suggestions, language switching, and settings. A new Gamepad keyboard, designed for gaming, also supports PIN sign-in on the Windows lock screen. It offers controller shortcuts for quick PIN entry and full navigation for those who prefer not to use shortcuts.
  
• [Desktop icons] Fixed: If you have an app pinned to your desktop, and the app updates, the app icon may no longer display correctly and instead show a white page.
  
• [Notifications] Fixed: Clicking a Windows notification toast may unexpectedly not bring the relevant app into the foreground, for example when interacting with Outlook notifications.
  

1Functionality will vary by device and market; text actions will be available across markets in select character sets. See aka.ms/copilotpluspcs.

Normal rollout

This update includes the following features and improvements that are rolling out as part of this update. Text bolded in brackets indicates the area of the change being documented.

• [Authentication] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). LSASS might stop responding during machine password changes with specific audit settings.
  
• [File Explorer] Fixed: File Explorer Home might unexpectedly only display a single folder (for example, Desktop), rather than the expected content with recent files and more.
  
• [File system] Fixed: This update addresses an issue in the Resilient File System (ReFS) where using backup applications on large files could occasionally result in system memory becoming fully exhausted.
  
• [Stability issue] Fixed: This update addresses an issue observed in rare cases after installing the May 2025 security update and subsequent updates causing devices to experience stability issues. Some devices became unresponsive and stopped responding in specific scenarios.
  

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22631.5696 to the Release Preview Channel

Releasing to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11, version 23H2 (Build 22631).

Normal rollout

This update includes the following features and improvements that are rolling out as part of this update. Text bolded in brackets indicates the area of the change being documented.

• [Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA)] Fixed: This update brings profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
  
• [File systems]
  
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue in the Resilient File System (ReFS) where using backup applications on large files could occasionally result in system memory becoming fully exhausted.
    
  • Fixed: An issue where searching for PDF files in a shared folder could return incorrect error messages—such as "No More Files" or "STATUS_NO_MORE_FILES." These errors disrupted output to the virtual PDF printer and interfered with backup processes.
    
• [Networking] Fixed: An issue where peripheral devices could take longer to work after resuming from hibernation on some devices with active cellular connections.
  
• [Printer] Improved: Printer names now appear more clearly when using IPP Directed Discovery, making it easier to identify printers during setup.
  
• [Stability issue] Fixed: This update addresses an issue observed in rare cases after installing the May 2025 security update and subsequent updates causing devices to experience stability issues. Some devices became unresponsive and stopped responding in specific scenarios.
  

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.6156 to the Release Preview Channel

Releasing Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.6156 (KB5062649) to the Release Preview Channel for Insiders who are on Windows 10, version 22H2.

This update includes the following features and improvements (items bolded in brackets indicate the area of the change being documented):

• Update resolves an issue impacting the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) enrollment wizard. Some users experienced a problem where clicking "Enroll now" caused the wizard window to open, begin loading, and then close unexpectedly. This occurred due to incomplete app registration, which prevented the wizard from loading correctly. This update addresses that issue to ensure a smoother enrollment experience.
  
• [Mobile Operator Profiles] Updated: Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles.
  
• [Secure Boot] New! Adds the ability to deploy SKUSiPolicy VBS Anti-rollback protections through the Secure Boot AvailableUpdates registry key.
  
• [Stability issue] Fixed: This update addresses an issue observed in rare cases after installing the May 2025 security update and subsequent updates causing devices to experience stability issues. Some devices became unresponsive and stopped responding in specific scenarios.
  

Thanks for your help once again.