Microsoft dropped Release Preview builds 26100.8942 and 26200.8942 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 on July 20, 2026. The update doesn’t have a single marquee feature, but it fixes dozens of everyday annoyances that collectively make the operating system feel significantly more polished and predictable.
What’s Actually in This Update?
The update is shipping to Insiders in the Release Preview channel—the final testing ring before changes hit production PCs. Build 26100 serves version 24H2, while 26200 is for 25H2, and both contain nearly identical code. The changes span File Explorer, Windows Search, Voice Access, touchpad controls, Start menu behavior, Widgets, accessibility, Windows Hello, and a host of system reliability fixes. However, not every feature will appear immediately; Microsoft is using a gradual rollout, meaning two PCs on the same build might show different options for weeks.
Here’s the breakdown of what’s actually changing, practical impact first.
File Explorer Gets Real About File Sizes
For years, Details view showed every file size in kilobytes, forcing you to mentally calculate how many megabytes or gigabytes a file really is. Now, Explorer will dynamically pick the most appropriate unit—KB, MB, or GB—so a 12 GB disk image doesn’t read 12,582,912 KB. This aligns Explorer with how Settings, browsers, and third-party file managers already display storage.
Middle-Click Finally Opens Folders in New Tabs
A workflow improvement borrowed from web browsers: middle-click a folder in the address bar or on the Home page, and it opens in a new background tab. This saves the back-and-forth dance when you need to branch into several subdirectories at once.
Home Page Glitches Are Addressed
Two specific pains are targeted: a distracting gray flash while the Home page loads, and unexpected scroll resets that snap you back to the top. Thumbnails in the Recommended section also get sharper, helping you pick the right file without opening it.
Search Learns to Be More Forgiving
Windows Search now handles two-character queries—great for files with short codes or initials. It also gets smarter fuzzy matching for app names, so typing “PowrPoint” might actually find PowerPoint, and Settings pages rank higher when you search for system controls instead of getting web suggestions first.
Voice Access Quiets the Room
Three audio processing modes arrive: Voice Isolation (filters out competing speakers after a one-time setup), background noise removal (hums, clicks, typing), and no filtering. Korean language support is also added, broadening hands-free control.
Touchpads Get More Tuneable
Under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, you can now adjust scroll speed, zoom speed, and enable accelerated scrolling. This brings Windows closer to the customization macOS users have enjoyed for years.
Start Menu Gains Reliability and a Subscription Badge
Your chosen Start view should now stick across restarts, and keyboard navigation inside the app list is smoother. A new account control shows your Microsoft 365 subscription status, but the design tries to avoid feeling like an ad.
Widgets Quiet Down
Taskbar notification badges now obey your Windows accent color instead of screaming red. And new accounts default to a Lock screen showing only Weather, not a crowded widget carousel.
Accessibility Fixes Flesh Out the Story
Magnifier’s on-screen panning bars are off by default to avoid obstructing content (turn them back on in Settings if needed). Mouse cursor size changes persist properly. Fluid dictation is now opt-in for new users with a clear onboarding prompt. And font rendering for Myanmar and Mongolian scripts gets critical corrections.
Windows Hello Goes External
Enhanced Sign-in Security—the stronger biometric lock—now works with compatible external USB fingerprint readers, not just built-in sensors. That brings passwordless login to desktops and older laptops, but buy carefully: only readers specifically supporting this feature will work.
Under the Hood: Reliability You’ll Feel Over Time
Power settings (display, sleep, lid close, etc.) now apply across all power plans instead of silently changing when the plan switches. Windows Update progress bars are less misleading, and post-update cleanup is less likely to bog down your system. DHCP renewal fixes help your Wi-Fi reconnect reliably after sleep. Secure IPP printing is faster, and copy-paste in Remote Desktop sessions is more stable.
Why This Build Feels Different
The update doesn’t reinvent anything. Instead, it sands down the rough edges that have nagged users since Windows 11’s launch. File Explorer’s file size annoyance is a perfect example: a feature that should have been there from day one, finally arriving after three years. Middle-click tabbing and better search forgiveness make the OS act more like a modern, connected productivity tool.
Microsoft’s gradual rollout approach means the historical “Patch Tuesday” model is fading. These Release Preview builds test not just code, but also server-side feature gates. For IT admins, this creates a planning headache: the same KB number might deliver different functionality depending on when and how Microsoft flips the switch on their tenant.
What to Do Now
If you’re an Insider in the Release Preview channel:
- Confirm you’re on build 26100.8942 or 26200.8942 by running
winver. - Restart after installation, then check for any pending updates again.
- Open File Explorer’s Details view, look for the new size formatting, and try middle-clicking a folder.
- Search for a two-character file name and a misspelled app name.
- Visit Voice Access settings to see the new recognition modes.
- Check the Touchpad settings for scroll speed controls.
- If any feature is absent, don’t panic; it might be gradually rolling out. File feedback in Feedback Hub with your build number and hardware details.
For everyone else: these changes will eventually arrive as part of a monthly cumulative update. Microsoft typically folds Release Preview fixes into the optional non-security preview update first, then into the mandatory Patch Tuesday release. Some UI changes, like the new touchpad controls, might show up earlier via a Microsoft Store update or Windows Experience Pack, separate from the cumulative update.
If you manage PCs in an enterprise:
- Start testing the build on a subset of devices, focusing on power plan behavior if you use custom power configurations.
- Evaluate external fingerprint readers for compatibility with Enhanced Sign-in Security before purchasing.
- Note the subscription badge in Start; it’s a cosmetic change for now, but ensure it doesn’t conflict with any Start layout policies or user training.
One Eye on the Rollout Clock
Microsoft shipped this Release Preview alongside builds in the Beta, Experimental, and 26H1 channels, signalling that the quality improvements here are meant to spread across many Windows 11 editions. The biggest unknown is timing: the Windows 11 24H2 annual feature update is only a few months away, and some of these changes might end up bundled there rather than arriving via a minor servicing update. But given the focus on polish and reliability, it’s more likely they’ll push these out sooner via a standard cumulative update.
In the long arc of Windows 11’s life, releases like this matter more than the flashy annual upgrades. They define whether using the OS feels like a chore or a fluid extension of your work. This build, for all its smallness, takes a meaningful step toward the latter.