Microsoft Delivers New Windows 11 24H2 Build to the Release Preview Channel

For the first time in over a month, Microsoft has issued a new build of Windows 11 version 24H2 to the Release Preview channel in the Windows Insider Program. That this build was delivered alongside a late Week D Preview update for Windows 11 version 22H2 and 23H2 is likely not coincidental, and it makes me wonder if Microsoft is going to skip Week D for Windows 11 24H2.

“Today we’re releasing Windows 11 build 26100.1297 (KB5040529) to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11 version 24H2 (Build 16100),” the announcement post notes in the weird vague and yet specific way only the Insider Program can summon.

Build 26100.1297 includes lots of new features, which furthers my suspicion that this was meant to be the Week D update: This looks like what customers will get in stable on Patch Tuesday next month, on August 13. Perhaps we’ll see an off-schedule preview update in stable before then as well.

In any event, here are the more notable new features in this build, many of which were delivered previously in Windows 11 versions 22H2/23H2:

Lock screen. Customers on 24H2 will get the same Sports, Traffic, and Finance “content” (tiles) alongside Weather as with 22H2/23H2.

Start menu. The so-called “account manager” (also from 22H2/23H2) arrives in the user account flyout on the Start menu so you can “get a glance at your account benefits [and] manage your account settings.” And as with today’s Week D preview update for 22H2/23H2, you can drag app shortcuts from Start to the Taskbar to pin them there.

File Explorer. When Microsoft updated the File Explorer user interface in 23H2, it broke the ability to drag files into the file locations segments (breadcrumbs) for copy/move. This update returns that capability.

Emoji 15.1. This update brings support for Emoji 15.1, which was previously added to 22H2/23H2.

Windows Share. Clicking outside the Share window no longer closes it. If you’re using a Microsoft Entra ID, you can now share directly to specific Microsoft Teams channels and group chats in the Windows share window. You can create QR codes for webpage URLs and cloud files. You can share by sending an email to yourself. And you can share by copying to the Windows Clipboard. (Again, all of this was previously added to 22H2/23H2.)

Windows Backup. Windows Backup will now backup your sound settings, including your sound scheme (which is hilariously still configured using a control panel).

Settings. The Settings app is updated with a Game Pass recommendation card on the home page, a new Linked devices page under Settings > Accounts, a button to add a recovery email in Settings > Accounts, and updated visuals for “Rename your PC” and “Change date and time.”

Widgets. The Widgets notification icons on the Taskbar are rendered using higher resolution images and a bigger selection of animated icons.

China. If you live in China, Microsoft will install the horrifically bad PC Manager app on your PC.

Kudos to the Windows team for keeping it stupid. If you were worried about things falling into a more predictable schedule, worry no more. Also, most of these features are on the gradual rollout train, so you’ll see them when you see them.