Microsoft just dropped a dynamic duo of Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, and whether you’re riding the bleeding edge in the Dev Channel or cruising the Beta lane, there’s plenty to unpack. Let’s break down what’s new, what’s fixed, and what’s still a bit buggy in builds 26220.6682 (Dev) and 26120.6682 (Beta).
Before we split hairs between channels, here’s what both builds bring to the table:
- Click to Do (Preview) gets a major Copilot boost:
- A new Copilot prompt box allows users to type custom prompts directly, with suggested prompts powered locally by Phi-Silica (available in English, Spanish, and French).
- Right-edge gesture animations now feel more intuitive and visually responsive.
- Action tags in the context menu highlight trending AI-powered actions.
- The Summarize action is now more concise and easier to read.
- Start Menu: The Recommended section now suggests Copilot prompts like “create an image.”
- Emoji 16.0: A fresh set of expressive icons including “Face with Bags Under Eyes,” “Fingerprint,” “Root Vegetable,” and “Splatter.”
- Gaming Enhancements: Long-pressing the Xbox button now opens Task View, while short-pressing still launches Game Bar.
- Narrator Upgrades: Smoother reading, better footnote and comment navigation, and smarter table/list handling.
- Settings: Advanced Settings are back (minus long path and virtual workspace options—for now).
- SCOOBE Reminder: A new Second Chance Out of Box Experience screen alerts users to Microsoft 365 subscription issues.
Dev Channel: Build 26220.6682 (Version 25H2)
- Start Menu Prompt Previews: Try Copilot prompts directly from the Recommended section.
- Improved Taskbar Behavior: Smoother animations and better responsiveness when auto-hide is enabled.
- File Explorer Fixes:
- Thumbnails now show correctly for video files with EXIF metadata.
- Context menu no longer freezes the Explorer window.
- Windows Hello & Safe Mode: PIN setup and safe mode booting issues resolved.
- Narrator Table Navigation: New shortcuts for jumping to row/column boundaries.
Known Issues
- Click to Do: Swipe visuals may appear on the wrong display.
- Lock Screen: Media controls may not show.
- Windows Studio Effects: Some external webcams may fail to preview.
- PIX for Developers: GPU capture playback is broken—fix coming by the end of September.
- Audio Driver Glitch: Yellow exclamation marks in Device Manager due to corrupted drivers.
- Xbox Controller Bugcheck: Bluetooth-connected controllers may crash the PC.
Beta Channel: Build 26120.6682 (Version 24H2)
The Beta build shares nearly all the same features and fixes as its Dev counterpart, including the Copilot enhancements, emoji updates, and Narrator improvements. However, it’s built on the 24H2 servicing baseline, making it a more stable preview of what’s likely to ship publicly.
Known Issues (Beta)
Identical to Dev, including:
- Click to Do swipe bug
- Lock screen media controls
- Windows Studio Effects webcam issue
- PIX GPU capture playback
- Audio driver corruption
- Xbox controller bugcheck
Both builds use Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR), meaning some features may only appear if you’ve toggled on “Get the latest updates” in Windows Update settings.
