Windows 11 Insider Beta Channel

[Corrine]

Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.8491

Changes and improvements

• This update includes a small number of minor bug fixes and improvements.

[Voice Access]

Voice Isolation in Voice Access

• We're introducing Voice Isolation, a new option in Voice Access that helps it focus on your voice, even when others are speaking nearby. Whether you're in a shared office, an open floor plan, or at home with family around, Voice Isolation filters out other voices and background noise so Voice Access can better understand you. All processing happens privately on your device.
• Getting started
  Voice Access now offers three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition:
  
  • Voice Isolation — Filters out other speakers and background noise (one-time voice setup required).
  • Remove background noise only — Filters out non-speech sounds like typing or door slams. No additional setup needed.
  • No filtering — Default microphone input with no additional processing.
  
  
• To set up Voice Isolation, select it from the menu and follow the short, guided setup where you'll read a brief paragraph aloud so Voice Access can learn your voice. It only takes a minute, and your voice data never leaves your device.

[Other]

• If you were experiencing a cyclical explorer.exe crash after the previous flight (which may have looked like the screen or taskbar was blinking and repeatedly refreshing), that should be resolved after updating to this build.
• Fixed an issue causing the Energy Saver quick setting to show twice for some Insiders in recent flights.
• Fixed an issue resulting in the audio volume being unexpectedly muted on certain devices in recent flights.

[Corrine]

Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.8544

Changes and improvements

[Windows design]

• We are introducing consistent solid (donut) spinners across key Windows scenarios including Boot, Logon, Restart, Shutdown, and Update. This update replaces legacy spinner visuals to deliver a more cohesive and modern experience aligned with Windows design standards. Users will now see a unified spinner behavior with corresponding status text (e.g., "Restarting", "Working on updates", "Welcome") across these flows, improving perceived reliability and visual consistency.

[Search]

• Search by Substring: Files with compound names or content (e.g., MeetingNotesApril, ProjectStatusReport) are now easily discoverable by typing "april" or "status".
  

[Windows Ready Print]

• Last month, we introduced a change where new printer installations use IPP by default when supported to simplify setup and improve reliability (see our third-party driver deprecation timeline: End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows). This month, we're adding a new toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Default install printers using Windows Ready Print to give you control over this behavior.
  
• When enabled, Windows installs supported printers using IPP by default. When turned off, Windows may use other available installation methods.
• This experience is part of our modern print platform, now called Windows Ready Print, designed to deliver a more consistent, reliable, and simplified printing experience.

[Corrine]

From Announcing new builds 8 June 2026

Windows 11 Beta Preview Build 26220.8575

[Windows Update]

• We're adding the ability to extend update pauses as many times as you need

[Audio]

• Fixed an issue resulting in audio not working for some Insiders after the latest flights.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue impacting the reliability of Settings > Apps > Installed Apps after the latest flights.

[General Reliability]

• If you were experiencing freezes in the previous flight when interacting with search, Notepad, or certain other scenarios, that should be resolved now.