July has come to an end, and as we start a new month, it's a good time to look at the new features and changes that Microsoft has been working on in the second half of the month for Windows 11.
In the last two weeks of July, the company has delivered several new features, but many of those improvements were features that we have already seen in other builds as Microsoft continues to align each channel more closely together.
As part of the improvements, we have seen new customization options for the Start menu, new gestures for the touchpad, an updated interface for the Account Control menu, and improvements for File Explorer.
In addition, we have seen the company pushing changes to Widgets, Windows Search, and more.
In the Experimental channel, Microsoft released builds 26300.9032, 26300.8935, 28120.2630, and 28120.2546, while the Beta channel introduced builds 26220.9022, 26220.8925, 28020.2623, and 28020.2539 for versions 26H2, 26H1, and 25H2.
In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.
Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in July 2026
These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since my last roundup.
Windows Search automatic locations
Starting with the release of build 26300.9032, the operating system ships with an updated version of Windows Search that can now automatically find and search other folder locations based on your activity.
The new feature uses signals, such as files and frequently accessed locations. According to the company, this helps to make relevant files easy to find without requiring manual indexing.
The feature is known as "Automatically find additional relevant locations," and it's located on Settings > Privacy & security > Search.
In addition, Microsoft didn't mention this, but I've noticed a new "Search the contents of online files" on the same page, which allows you to decide whether Windows Search can search online content.
Phone Link changes
The Phone Link companion flyout that appears in the Start menu is getting an update on build 26300.9032 that allows you to hover over a recent message or notification in the "Recent" section to preview the content without extra steps.
This improvement requires the Phone Link app version 1.26021.3.0 or higher.
Adaptive hibernate policy update
In the Experimental channel, build 26300.9032 (version 25H2) also introduces changes for the adaptive hibernate policy to prevent hibernation when the battery is above 80 percent and to hibernate when the battery falls below 10 percent.
Microsoft accomplishes this by increasing instances of instant-on resumes from Modern Standby and increasing battery preservation at the low end of the battery.
This change is also available on builds 28120.2630 and 28020.2623 for version 26H1.
File Explorer performance boost
On build 26300.8935, File Explorer received three specific improvements. First, the company made file deletion faster when deleting large and fragmented files.
This update also makes the Home page faster, and finally, the "Recommended" section on the Home page now supports touch scrolling to make it easier to browse files from the carousel.
In addition, starting with build 26220.8925 for version 25H2, the "Details" view now shows file sizes with appropriate units, such as KB, MB, and GB, instead of only showing KB.
Furthermore, on the "Home" page, you can now use a middle mouse click to open folder locations in new tabs.
Widgets improvements
The preview build 26300.8935 also updates the animated icons for the Widgets entry point in the Taskbar.
First, the icon now matches the system accent color instead of the red color. Also, the animated icons can now show more dynamic content if notifications are enabled in the Widgets dashboard.
Windows Update changes
On build 28120.2630 (Experimental channel for version 26H1), Microsoft is making system updates less disruptive by reducing the number of restarts users face each month.
This is possible thanks to a new unified update experience that coordinates driver, .NET, and firmware updates with the monthly quality update, consolidating updates into a single monthly reboot instead of multiple interruptions.
The company is also expanding update pause controls, allowing users to extend update pauses as many times as needed.
These improvements are also available for build 28020.2623 in the Beta channel for version 26H1.
Touchpad gestures
Builds 28120.2630 and 28020.2623 for version 26H1 add new gesture controls for Precision Touchpads through the Settings app.
The new options will work across most apps, although apps built with WinUI 3 will require updated WinAppSDK 1.8 or 2.0 support before they can take full advantage of the changes.
The new controls include scroll and zoom speed, which lets you adjust the default speed for scrolling and pinch-to-zoom gestures. Also, accelerated scrolling will allow you to increase scrolling speed the longer you continue scrolling, making it easier to move quickly through long documents and webpages.
These improvements are also available for build 26220.8925 in the Beta channel for version 25H2.
Smart card policy
Starting with build 28120.2546, Microsoft is adding support to remove smart card policies in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 sessions that use Microsoft Entra ID authentication.
As a result of this change, administrators can configure remote sessions to automatically disconnect when a redirected smart card is removed, helping improve security and meet compliance requirements.
This improvement is also available for build 29639 in the Experimental channel for version Future Platforms.
Narrator changes
Microsoft is making refreshable Braille displays easier to use with Narrator in build 28120.2546.
Windows 11 now supports HID-compatible Braille displays, allowing users to connect supported devices instantly over USB with no additional setup, or wirelessly through Bluetooth. The feature also works during the initial Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), enabling you to configure a new computer independently.
These improvements are also available for build 28020.2539 in the Beta channel for version 26H1, for build 26220.8925 for version 25H2, and for build 29634 for version Future Platforms.
Taskbar positioning
Starting with build 26220.9022 for version 25H2 in the Beta channel, the operating system introduces the ability to change the position of the Taskbar to the top, left, right, and bottom of the screen.
The new setting is known as "Taskbar positions," and it's available from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors.
When using this new functionality, Taskbar tooltips, flyouts, and animations continue to work in any of the positions, while most customization options, including never combining Taskbar icons, remain available.
This flight also introduces the ability to make the Taskbar smaller. The option is available from this page. However, in the Beta channel, the option works when configuring the "Show smaller app icons" option. In future releases, the company will add a dedicated button under the "Taskbar behaviors" setting, as it's currently available in the Experimental channel.
It's worth pointing out that these changes are still under development, and they may not work as intended.
Start menu new customization
On Windows 11 build 26220.8925, Microsoft is rolling out new Start menu customization options, including the ability to choose which sections appear in the menu and adjust its size.
The new customization settings are available on Settings > Personalization > Start. On this page, you can show or hide any of the sections, and you'll also notice that the "Recommended" section has been renamed to "Recent."
In addition, there's a new option to change the Start menu size, which means you can make the menu larger or smaller, or use the automatic option to let the system choose the size based on the configuration.
Finally, at the bottom of the page, under the "Other" section, you can enable the "Hide your name and profile picture on Start" setting to improve your privacy when projecting your screen to other people.
Account Control menu redesign
Microsoft is also refreshing the Account Control flyout in the Start menu with a more modern design and clearer Microsoft account information.
The updated interface adds a subscription badge, making it easier to check your account state, view available benefits, and explore upgrade options.
It also surfaces account benefits and storage details, giving users a centralized place to manage their Microsoft account without opening the Settings app.
This improvement is also available for build 29634 in the Experimental channel for version Future Platforms.
Voice Isolation for Voice Access
On build 29634 in the Experimental channel for version Future Platforms, Windows 11 also introduced Voice Isolation for Voice Access to improve speech recognition in noisy environments and shared spaces.
According to the company, the feature uses on-device processing for filtering background noise and nearby conversations.
In addition, Voice Access now includes three speech recognition models, including "Voice Isolation," "Remove background noise only," and "No filtering."
Windows Central's Take
Looking back at the second half of July, I don't think this was Microsoft's most exciting set of Insider releases. A lot of what landed in the Beta and Experimental channels wasn't entirely new. Instead, it felt like the company was catching those channels up with features that had already appeared in other Insider channels as it continues to align the program.
I don't think that's a bad thing. It suggests Microsoft is getting closer to offering a more consistent experience across the Insider channels while focusing on improvements that people will actually notice.
I'm still waiting to see how quickly these features make it into the stable release. Microsoft has been moving faster recently, but Insider builds are still a preview of what's planned, not a guarantee of what will eventually ship.
What are your thoughts about these latest Windows 11 Insider changes? Let me know in the comments.
More resources
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