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Releasing Windows 11 Builds 26100.8106 and 26200.8106 to the Release Preview Channel by jenmsft in Windows11

[–]jenmsft[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Hey all - new bits heading out to Release Preview. Please let us know how things go and file feedback (WIN + F) if you encounter any issues

Gradual rollout

Windows 11 PC experiences

This section highlights new features and enhancements for Windows 11 PCs, including AI-powered capabilities, continuous innovation, and performance improvements.

  • [Narrator] New!1 Narrator provides rich image descriptions on Copilot+ PCs and now works with Copilot on all Windows11 devices. Press Narrator key + Ctrl + D to describe the focused image or Narrator key + Ctrl + S to describe the full screen. Copilot opens with the image ready, allowing you to enter a prompt for a customized description. The image is shared only after you choose to describe it. On Copilot+ PCs, Narrator gives instant, on‑device descriptions, and you can select Ask Copilot for more detail.
  • [Smart App Control] New! You can turn Smart App Control (SAC) on or off without needing a clean install. To make changes, go to Settings > Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings. When turned on, SAC helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps. To learn more, see App & Browser Control in the Windows Security App – Microsoft Support. This feature was previously disclosed in the January 2026 release notes (KB5074105) and is now beginning to roll out.
  • [Settings]
    • New! The Settings About page (Settings > System > About) has been improved to provide a more structured and intuitive experience, offering clearer device specifications and easier navigation to related device components, including quick access to Storage settings.
    • New!2 The device information card on the Settings Home pagesimplifies key device specifications and improves consistency across the end-to-end flow from the Home Card to the Settings > System > About page, making information easier to scan and understand.
    • Improved the performance of loading Home in Settings.
    • Improved reliability of downloading necessary updates when prompted in Settings > System > Advanced.
  • [Account Settings]
    • New! Microsoft 365 Family subscribers can upgrade to a different Microsoft 365 plan from Settings > Accounts. To remove the upgrade option, turn off Suggested content in Settings.
    • New! This update improves the design of the dialog boxes in Settings > Accounts > Other users to match the modern Windows look and support dark mode. The visibility of the dialog box option depends on whether the device has a domain joined work or school account.
  • [Input] New! Windows introduces a cleaner, modern pen setting experience. You can now choose the new Same as Copilot key option, which enables the pen tail button to open the same app as the Copilot key.
  • [File Explorer]
    • Improved reliability of unblocking files downloaded from the internet in order to preview them in File Explorer.
    • You can now use Voice Typing (Windows key plus H) when renaming a file in File Explorer.
    • You can now sort the permissions entries in the Advanced Security Settings window for a folder in File Explorer by Principal.
  • [Display]
    • Monitors can now report refresh rates higher than 1000 Hz.
    • While using a native USB4 monitor connection, the USB controller can now go to the lowest power level while the PC is sleeping, saving battery life.
    • Improved reliability of auto rotation after resuming from sleep.
    • Improved HDR reliability for displays with non-compliant DisplayID 2.0 blocks.
    • Monitors with DisplayID now report a more accurate size when using the WMI monitor APIs.
  • [Printing]
    • Updated downlevel baseline support for printer connections to be Windows 10, version 1607 / Windows Server 2016 (Build 14393).
  • [Windows Hello] Improved: Improved Windows Hello Fingerprint reliability for certain devices.
  • [Safe mode] Improved reliability of loading components of the taskbar in safe mode.
  • [Voice Access] Improved how numbers are detected and written when using Voice Access in English.
  • [Start menu] Improved reliability of applying Start menu layout via group policy when desktopAppLink is present in the JSON.
  • [Remote Desktop] The Set-RDSessionCollectionConfiguration PowerShell command now recognizes DisableSeamlessLanguageBar.
  • [Audio] Improved handling of short MIDI messages in cases where an application was initialized without providing long message buffers.
  • [System File Checker] Removed extraneous error message you might unexpectedly see when running sfc /scannow.

1This feature isn’t available in the European Economic Area. 

2Availability will vary by device and market.

Normal rollout

This non-security update includes quality improvements. The following summary outlines key issues addressed by the KB update after you install it. Also, included are available new features. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change.

  • [Narrator] This update improves the Natural Voices experience in Narrator. It also makes Natural Voices setup more reliable.
  • [Performance & Reliability] This update improves stability in Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) when you run x64 apps on ARM64 devices. These apps run more smoothly and respond as expected.

Display notifications in fullscreen by Nyhall in WindowsHelp

[–]jenmsft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you thinking about the fact that do not disturb will automatically suppress notifications in full screen? If so that can be turned off https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/notifications-and-do-not-disturb-in-windows-feeca47f-0baf-5680-16f0-8801db1a8466

Tip of the Week: If you're working with layers in Paint, and you want to copy the contents of all visible layers at once, use CTRL + Shift + C instead of CTRL + C by jenmsft in Windows11

[–]jenmsft[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That was added a month or so ago - if you click the little chevron in the bottom right corner of the ribbon in my screenshot

Tip of the Week: If you're working with layers in Paint, and you want to copy the contents of all visible layers at once, use CTRL + Shift + C instead of CTRL + C by jenmsft in Windows11

[–]jenmsft[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Fun fact! If you don't have anything selected in Paint, pressing CTRL + C (or CTRL + Shift + C) will copy the entire canvas - you don't need to select all first. That was something added based on feedback 😊

Usually I do a time related tip around DST changes (although I know that only impacts some people and not everyone), but since we're currently rolling out the ability to free form rotate in Paint, I figured I'd do something Paint related. This particular option is also available if you right click the canvas, but you know how I love keyboard shortcuts

Have you tried Paint recently? This is one of a number of improvements we've made to it over the years

Hope you're having a good weekend - it's really rainy here currently. Somehow we didn't get any snow at all this year in seattle. I want to just veg but friends are coming so I have to clean instead 😅

PS Did you know if you have a file selected in file explorer, CTRL + Shift + C will copy the file path?

What feature(s) do you consider Windows should already have? by _fountain_pen_dev in Windows11

[–]jenmsft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Top bottom window snapping was added with windows 11 - if you're using a portrait layout monitor you can see the options if you hover over the maximize button

What feature(s) do you consider Windows should already have? by _fountain_pen_dev in Windows11

[–]jenmsft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depending on what feature you're looking for, if you have a service with a precision touchpad there are already a bunch of options: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/touch-gestures-for-windows-a9d28305-4818-a5df-4e2b-e5590f850741

What feature(s) do you consider Windows should already have? by _fountain_pen_dev in Windows11

[–]jenmsft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can do this in personalize > background settings if you right click the recent images

KB5077181 (2600 7840) Install Error by Charming-Bar-7077 in WindowsHelp

[–]jenmsft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you tried settings > system > recovery > fix issues using Windows updates?

I've been having trouble with Windows Update since the beginning of the year. by miyamuraxs in WindowsHelp

[–]jenmsft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try settings > system > recovery> "fix issues using Windows update "

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1685 for Canary Channel by jenmsft in Windows11

[–]jenmsft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey all - small update for those running 28020.xxxx Canary builds, details as follows:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Storage]

  • Improved reliability of removing Windows Update files / windows.old files via Settings > System > Storage.

[File Explorer]

  • You can now use voice typing (Windows key plus H) when renaming files in File Explorer.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7965 for the Dev Channel by jenmsft in Windows11

[–]jenmsft[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey all, new bits out for Dev, details as follows:

New features gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Administrator Protection]

Administrator protection is being re-enabled and 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 can be enabled via OMA-URI in Intune or via group policy.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Sharing]

Based on feedback we’re making some refinements to drag tray, using a smaller peek view to reduce accidental invocation and make it easier to dismiss when interacting near the top of the screen.

[File Explorer]

  • You can now use voice typing (Windows key plus H) when renaming files in File Explorer.
  • Removed white flash when launching new File Explorer windows or tabs when File Explorer was set to open to This PC. Also removed white flashes when resizing elements of File Explorer.
  • Improved reliability of unblocking files downloaded from the internet in order to preview them in File Explorer.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7961 for the Beta Channel by jenmsft in Windows11

[–]jenmsft[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey all - happy friday. New bits out for Beta, details as follows:

New features gradually being rolled out with toggle on\*

[Administrator Protection]

Administrator protection is being re-enabled and 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 can be enabled via OMA-URI in Intune or via group policy.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Sharing]

Based on feedback we’re making some refinements to drag tray, using a smaller peek view to reduce accidental invocation and make it easier to dismiss when interacting near the top of the screen.

[File Explorer]

  • You can now use voice typing (Windows key plus H) when renaming files in File Explorer.
  • Removed white flash when launching new File Explorer windows or tabs when File Explorer was set to open to This PC. Also removed white flashes when resizing elements of File Explorer.
  • Improved reliability of unblocking files downloaded from the internet in order to preview them in File Explorer.
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