Microsoft Ships the Week D Preview Updates for Windows 11

It’s a day late, but Microsoft has shipped the Week D preview updates for Windows 11 versions 26H1 and 25H2/26H2.

Windows 11 version 26H1–which is exclusive to PCs running Snapdragon X2 or Nvidia RTX Spark chipsets–is getting preview cumulative update KB5127653, and the system will be upgraded to build 28000.3365 when installed. Key changes include:

• File Explorer improvements to Home, the preview pane, thumbnail previews, and more
• Emoji 17.0 support
• A new Tips widget for the Widgets board
• Several personalization improvements
• Additional touchpad gestures
• New key remappings for the Copilot key
• Administrator Protection, which is disabled by default
• Windows Recovery Environment improvements

Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 26H2 are both getting preview cumulative update KB512793, which updates the system to builds 26200.9818 and 26300.9818, respectively. Key changes include:

• The new context menu in File Explorer and the Desktop, which Microsoft says is faster, simpler, and customizable
• File Explorer improvements, including Dark mode support for the Folder Options dialog
• A refreshed Gaming Task View experience in XBOX mode with a new navigation bar that provides quick access to Exit to Desktop and Power Options
• Improvements to the Privacy & security page in Windows Settings that groups related Camera, Microphone, and Location privacy controls on the main page
• Phone Link improvements, including the ability to learn more about a recent message or notification when you mouse-over it in the sidebar in Start
• Cloud Rebuild, a new recovery option that reinstalls Windows 11 using a Windows image and device drivers downloaded from Windows Update and doesn’t require an ISO image or USB recovery drive

These features will roll out globally to everyone starting on November 10, that’s month’s Patch Tuesday.