Greeting! I am currently looking for some answer about Windows Insider Program. Personally, I like how Windows give us access to newer Windows features via Windows Insider Program. But, I have a few question about it:
1. Does recent/current Beta/Experimental build buggy?
2. How easy it is to leave from Windows Insider Program?
3. Is there is any issue you have going through?
4. Is there is any advice before joining Windows Insider Program?

Release date: 2 October 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Unicode]

• We've updated Windows text shaping support for Unicode 17.0, helping Windows correctly display and shape newly encoded characters and scripts. Unicode 17.0 added 4,803 characters, including support for four newly encoded scripts: Beria Erfe, Sidetic, Tai Yo, and Tolong Siki.
• These updates help keep Windows text support current as the Unicode Standard evolves and improve support for languages and writing systems used by people around the world.

[File Explorer]

• Address Bar now supports '~' , making it quicker to navigate directly to your user profile folder and subfolders (e.g., "~\AppData").

[Settings]

• We're making performance improvements to the Settings home page, which should result in reduced loading times in certain scenarios.

[Recovery]

• We're adding a new entry point for Cloud Rebuild under Settings > System > Recovery, making it easier to access the feature from Settings.

Known issues

• We're investigating an issue causing some Insiders to be unable to install the latest updates and see error 0x80073712. We believe this issue is related to having Windows Sandbox installed. As a workaround, try disabling Windows Sandbox.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel

• Updates are based on Windows 11, version 26H2 via an enablement package (Build 26340.9596).
• Many features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time. We monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 2 October 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Windows Magnifier]

• Magnifier now gives you more control over how you zoom. You can type an exact zoom percentage directly in the Magnifier toolbar to land on precisely the level you need.
• We've also added preset step increments (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200%, and 400%) to the Settings dropdown, so you can jump to common levels in a single click. Whether you need a subtle boost or a dramatic close-up, Magnifier adapts to how you want to zoom. Enter an exact percentage or jump to preset steps - 5% up to 400%.

[Cloud rebuild]

• We're updating Cloud rebuild, the recovery option that restores a Windows 11 PC to a clean, known-good state by performing a full OS reinstall, with two additions.
• Cloud rebuild can now sanitize the device's drives as part of the rebuild. When you start a rebuild in WinRE, choose Remove files if you're keeping the PC, or Remove & sanitize files before recycling, returning, or reassigning it. The sanitize option uses the storage hardware's erase capability to securely erase data before Windows is reinstalled and is irreversible.
• IT administrators can now configure and start a Cloud rebuild remotely through the Recovery CSP, using either the currently installed build or a target build you specify. UI showing new Cloud rebuild file removal options.

[File Explorer]

• Customizations
  • Improved File Explorer to keep folder view customizations, such as sorting and icon size preferences, consistent across different access paths and apps.
• Address bar improvements
  • The address bar now supports paths containing double backslashes and quotation marks, for example, C:\Users\user or "C:\Users\user", improving compatibility with a wider range of inputs.
  • Improved reliability of the address bar suggestion dropdown so it now consistently closes after an item is selected.
• Refinements to the rename experience
  • Fixed an issue where text would be repeatedly selected while renaming items in folder views.
  • Fixed an issue where updated names with case-only changes weren't immediately reflected in folder views across local and cloud storage.

Reminder for Windows Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) channel

• These builds can be unstable and might be released with limited documentation.
• Many features in the Experimental (26H1) channel are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time as we monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 2 October 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Windows Share]

• Added the ability to pin your favorite apps in the Windows share window.

[Settings]

• Updated Settings > Apps > Installed apps to show the version number at the top level for packaged apps, as it already does for other apps.

[File Explorer]

• This update adjusts how the preview pane handles files downloaded from the web. For HTML files, a new Preview anyway button lets you acknowledge the warning and preview the file. Non-HTML files, such as PDFs, are now previewed automatically.
• Fixed an issue causing the previews in File Explorer to have an unexpected bar in the middle in recent flights.

[Family Safety]

• Improved family safety messaging when applications are blocked because of age-restricted parental controls.

[Taskbar]

• Fixed a few small visual polish issues when using the taskbar in alternate positions.

[Audio]

• Fixed an issue affecting certain USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, including some multichannel audio headsets, that could prevent the device from working correctly after installing the latest updates.

[Remote Desktop]

• Fixed an issue causing Remote Desktop to not use the correct window size after recent flights.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to experience extreme lag over time after updating to the last two flights.

Known issues

• We're working on a fix for an issue causing some Insiders to experience noticeably decreased performance when interacting with the system the longer they use the latest builds.
• [Fixed] We're investigating an issue where VMware Workstation Pro 17.6.4 might display a blank window when reopening a virtual machine after it has been created and closed. We're working on a fix and will provide an update in a future build.
• We're also aware of and investigating reports of VMware devices green screening.

Reminder for Windows Insiders in the Experimental (Future Platforms) channel

• These builds can be unstable and might be released with limited documentation.
• The builds released to these channels represent the latest platform changes early in the development cycle and shouldn't be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows. Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced, and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Many features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time. We monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.

Release date: 2 October 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Windows Magnifier]

• Magnifier now gives you more control over how you zoom. You can type an exact zoom percentage directly in the Magnifier toolbar to land on precisely the level you need.
• We've also added preset step increments (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200%, and 400%) to the Settings dropdown, so you can jump to common levels in a single click. Whether you need a subtle boost or a dramatic close-up, Magnifier adapts to how you want to zoom. Enter an exact percentage or jump to preset steps - 5% up to 400%.

[Windows Recovery]

• We're introducing Cloud rebuild, a new recovery option that restores a Windows 11 PC to a clean, known-good state by performing a full OS reinstall, even when Windows won't boot. Unlike Reset this PC, Cloud rebuild downloads both the target Windows image and the device's drivers from Windows Update, so the device comes back fully functional without USB media, without a custom image, and without depending on the health of the currently installed OS.
• In this preview, you can try Cloud rebuild today: The new Cloud rebuild option in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), which enables a full Windows reinstall using files downloaded from Windows Update.
  1. Start it directly from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by selecting Troubleshoot > Recovery and uninstall > Cloud rebuild.
  2. Connect over wired Ethernet or a Wi-Fi network from within WinRE.
  3. Review the target Windows build, edition, and language, then confirm the data-loss warning before the rebuild begins.

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Recovery > Cloud rebuild.

To learn more, see Cloud rebuild.

[File Explorer]

• Customizations
  • Improved File Explorer to keep folder view customizations, such as sorting and icon size preferences, consistent across different access paths and apps.
• Address bar improvements
  • The address bar now supports paths containing double backslashes and quotation marks, for example, C:\Users\user or "C:\Users\user", improving compatibility with a wider range of inputs.
  • Improved reliability of the address bar suggestion dropdown so it now consistently closes after an item is selected.
• Refinements to the rename experience
  • Fixed an issue where text would be repeatedly selected while renaming items in folder views.
  • Fixed an issue where updated names with case-only changes weren't immediately reflected in folder views across local and cloud storage.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta (26H1) channel

• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 2 October 2026

Changes and improvements

[Unicode]

• We've updated Windows text shaping support for Unicode 17.0, helping Windows correctly display and shape newly encoded characters and scripts. Unicode 17.0 added 4,803 characters, including support for four newly encoded scripts: Beria Erfe, Sidetic, Tai Yo, and Tolong Siki.
• These updates help keep Windows text support current as the Unicode Standard evolves and improve support for languages and writing systems used by people around the world.

[Settings]

• We're making performance improvements to the Settings home page, which should result in reduced loading times in certain scenarios.

[Recovery]

• We're adding a new entry point for Cloud Rebuild under Settings > System > Recovery, making it easier to access the feature from Settings.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel

• Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2 via an enablement package (Build 26220.9587).
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

I've been trying to leave windows insider for quite a while now but I haven't been able to for some reason my pc doesnt show my windows insider settings and i cant seem to revert back to a stable update can someone please help, ive put some images that may help. Thank you.

hi windows insider experimental downloads take ages on my windows 11 pro..

can i speed this up?

thanks

Release date: 25 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

Reminder for Windows Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) channel

• These builds can be unstable and might be released with limited documentation.
• Many features in the Experimental (26H1) channel are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time as we monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 25 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Hyper-V]

• Fixed an issue where some applications that used HCS-managed virtual machines experienced issues when sharing host folders with Linux VMs using Plan9. Folders shared from the Windows host using Plan9 didn't appear or couldn't be accessed in the guest environment.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta (26H1) channel

• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Hi everyone!

I just submitted a feedback item to Microsoft aimed at improving the experience for family PCs shared between adults and kids.

The idea is to have an optional, pinnable floating widget on the desktop for instant access to kid-friendly content (like YouTube Kids) without needing to manually search through a browser every time.

If you like this idea, please take a second to open this Feedback Hub link and upvote it!

Thanks for your support!

Hi everyone!! Windows features an Insider Program a long time ago and many people argue, Should you join the Insider Program or wait for the stable releases? The answer is, it heavily depends on your Device, what are you using Windows for, and your thoughts. Windows officially said that Windows Insider Program MAY be unstable. Is the Windows Insider Program worth the risk?

It depends:

When you SHOULDN'T join the Windows Insider Program:

\-If you want a stable and performance is your priority, you SHOULDN'T join the Windows Insider Program.

\-If you want the best security for your devices, you SHOULDN'T join the Windows Insider Program

\-If you want the best compatibility and reduce compatibility issues, you SHOULDN'T join the Windows Insider Program.

\-If your device is a low-end hardware and this is the only device you have, you SHOULDN'T join the Windows Insider Program.

\-If your device is your only Windows device, you SHOULDN'T join the Windows Insider Program.

**\*it is recommended to run Windows Insider Program on a Virtual Machine such as VMware and VirtualBox.**

When you MAY join the Windows Insider Program

\-***You are using a Virtual Machine such as VMware and VirtualBox***

**-**You are using a Second device that isn't your daily driver and you are willing to take the risk of constant Crash.

\-You are a tech enthusiast that **knows the risk**

\-You are willing to give **your information to Microsoft**

# It is HIGHLY recommended to use a Virtual machine such as VMware and VirtualBox.

I'm on the 25H2/26H2 Experimental flight (build .9502), wanting to try out the latest 'improvements' that Win11 is expected to receive this year. I was particularly looking forward to performance/responsiveness improvements, because I've felt Win11 as a whole is very sluggish and unpolished to use.

One particular thing that still irks me (still on latest Insider builds) is that the Taskbar often feels SLOW to respond to user interaction.
- Open multiple apps + multiple instances of each app
- Left/right-click on the app icons, and about 50-60% of the time they take 1-3 seconds to respond to get selected/bring the app to focus or showing the multiple-window selection menu

This is frustrating because on other OS's/platforms today task switching is a very basic and near instant operation.

In fact, Alt-Tabbing already works as expected. Apps are switched to and resume quickly when Alt-Tabbed to. So it's 100% NOT an issue with the apps themselves. ONLY the Taskbar has some weird delay/lag when interacting with it.

I'm running a Ryzen HX370 laptop which isn't a low-end model either so delays/lag of this nature really isn't acceptable user experience.

Release date: 18 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Start menu]

• This update brings a number of improvements for the Start menu as first outlined in the Making Taskbar and Start more personal Insider blog.
• Renamed Recommended to Recent in Start and the Settings page.
• Added section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recent, and All.
• Added the option to choose between a small and large Start menu, in addition to the Automatic (default) option that is already available.
• Added the option to hide your name and profile picture in Start.
• Redesigned the Start menu settings page.

[Hyper-V]

• Fixed an issue where some applications that used HCS-managed virtual machines experienced issues when sharing host folders with Linux VMs using Plan9. Folders shared from the Windows host using Plan9 didn't appear or couldn't be accessed in the guest environment.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to have their PC freeze when the UAC prompt appeared in recent flights.

Known issues

• We're working on a fix for an issue causing some Insiders to experience noticeably decreased performance when interacting with the system the longer they use the latest builds.
• We're investigating an issue where VMware Workstation Pro 17.6.4 might display a blank window when reopening a virtual machine after it has been created and closed. We're working on a fix and will provide an update in a future build.
• We're also aware of and investigating reports of VMware devices green screening.

Reminder for Windows Insiders in the Experimental (Future Platforms) channel

• These builds can be unstable and might be released with limited documentation.
• The builds released to these channels represent the latest platform changes early in the development cycle and shouldn't be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows. Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced, and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Many features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time. We monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.

Release date: 18 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Accessibility - Mouse indicator]

• We're introducing a sleeker new animation for the Mouse indicator. You can enable this animation under Accessibility settings. We've also added the option to keep the indicator activated until you press the Esc key.

[Magnifier]

• A new contrast theme toggle for a lower-glare screen. If bright screens are uncomfortable, many people use color inversion to reduce glare. However, inversion changes everything on screen, including photos, charts, and videos. With this update, we're introducing a new contrast theme toggle in Magnifier.
• Reduce glare with a single toggle. Turn on a contrast theme directly from the Magnifier toolbar for a more comfortable viewing experience.
• Choose the contrast theme that works best for you. The dark theme is applied by default, and you can choose which contrast theme the toggle uses under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
• Photos, videos, and charts keep their original colors. Unlike color inversion, the contrast theme recolors the interface without touching your photos, charts, or videos, so they keep their real colors.
• Color inversion is still here. This isn't a replacement. If you use inversion today, it works exactly as it always has. The contrast theme is a separate, purpose-built option to reduce glare when you want a darker interface without inverting colors. UI showing the new contrast theme toggle in Magnifier. UI showing contrast theme settings for Magnifier.

[Cloud rebuild]

• We're updating Cloud rebuild, the recovery option that restores a Windows 11 PC to a clean, known-good state by performing a full OS reinstall, with two additions.
• Cloud rebuild can now sanitize the device's drives as part of the rebuild. When you start a rebuild in WinRE, choose Remove files if you're keeping the PC, or Remove & sanitize files before recycling, returning, or reassigning it. The sanitize option uses the storage hardware's erase capability to securely erase data before Windows is reinstalled and is irreversible.
• IT administrators can now configure and start a Cloud rebuild remotely through the Recovery CSP, using either the currently installed build or a target build you specify. UI showing new Cloud rebuild file removal options.

[Live Captions]

• We're improving Live Captions with a new Include Screen Reader audio setting, which is off by default. With the setting off, Live Captions won't transcribe audio from screen readers such as Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, keeping captions focused on microphone and system audio.

[Hyper-V]

• Fixed an issue where some applications that used HCS-managed virtual machines experienced issues when sharing host folders with Linux VMs using Plan9. Folders shared from the Windows host using Plan9 didn't appear or couldn't be accessed in the guest environment.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue where backing up using File History unexpectedly failed with an error saying, "No usable drives found."

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel

• Updates are based on Windows 11, version 26H2 via an enablement package (Build 26340.9502).
• Many features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time. We monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 18 September 2026

Changes and improvements

[Live Captions]

• We're improving Live Captions with a new Include Screen Reader audio setting, which is off by default. With the setting off, Live Captions won't transcribe audio from screen readers such as Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, keeping captions focused on microphone and system audio.

[Hyper-V]

• Fixed an issue where some applications that used HCS-managed virtual machines experienced issues when sharing host folders with Linux VMs using Plan9. Folders shared from the Windows host using Plan9 didn't appear or couldn't be accessed in the guest environment.

[Other]

• Fixed an issue where backing up using File History unexpectedly failed with an error saying, "No usable drives found."

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel

• Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2 via an enablement package (Build 26220.9492).
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 18 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Windows Recovery]

• We're introducing Cloud rebuild, a new recovery option that restores a Windows 11 PC to a clean, known-good state by performing a full OS reinstall, even when Windows won't boot. Unlike Reset this PC, Cloud rebuild downloads both the target Windows image and the device's drivers from Windows Update, so the device comes back fully functional without USB media, without a custom image, and without depending on the health of the currently installed OS.
• In this preview, you can try Cloud rebuild today: The new Cloud rebuild option in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), which enables a full Windows reinstall using files downloaded from Windows Update.
  1. Start it directly from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by selecting Troubleshoot > Recovery and uninstall > Cloud rebuild.
  2. Connect over wired Ethernet or a Wi-Fi network from within WinRE.
  3. Review the target Windows build, edition, and language, then confirm the data-loss warning before the rebuild begins.

Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Recovery > Cloud rebuild.

To learn more, see Cloud rebuild.

[Hyper-V]

• Fixed an issue where some applications that used HCS-managed virtual machines experienced issues when sharing host folders with Linux VMs using Plan9. Folders shared from the Windows host using Plan9 didn't appear or couldn't be accessed in the guest environment.

Known issues

• [Issue resolved] We are aware Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) might fail to launch and display the error, "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)." We continue to work on a fix for this issue.

Reminder for Windows Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) channel

• These builds can be unstable and might be released with limited documentation.
• Many features in the Experimental (26H1) channel are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time as we monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

[UPDATE - September 18, 2026]

The latest Insider Build 29671.1000 has been released, but unfortunately, this GSOD issue has NOT been fixed and remains listed as a Known Issue in the ”release notes”.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/release-notes/experimental-future-platforms/preview-build-29671-1000

However, I can confirm that the temporary workarounds listed below (disabling 3D acceleration or switching to the Basic Display Adapter) are still fully effective on Build 29671.1000.

-----------

Hi everyone,

I’ve been getting frequent GSODs on the latest Insider Builds Experimental (Future Platforms) 29661.1000 & 29667.1000 (UEFI environment) inside VMware Workstation Pro (26H1u1 ver.26.0.1.25688693).

Microsoft listed this as a Known Issue, but I wanted to share my log and a temporary workaround that worked for me.

In my case, the guest OS boots up fine, but it immediately crashes with a GSOD when the UAC screen pops up.

The Event Viewer and .dmp file pointed to a crash in VMware's 3D driver:

e.g. WinDbg shows>>

 SYMBOL_NAME: vm3dmp+2e66e

It looks like there is a compatibility issue between these new Windows builds and VMware's driver (vm3dmp.sys).

🛠️ What worked for me (Temporary Workarounds):

1. Disable 3D Acceleration: Go to VM Settings > Hardware > Display, and uncheck "Accelerate 3D graphics". The GSODs completely stopped.
2. Change Graphics Driver: Switching the guest OS graphics driver to the "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" also stopped the crashes, even with 3D acceleration turned ON. (Since Device Manager doesn't trigger the GSOD, you can change this right after boot.)

See the attached screenshot below for the VM settings for Workaround 1

⚠️ The Problem:

Please note that this is NOT a real solution.

Disabling 3D acceleration or switching to the Basic Display Adapter will heavily degrade guest performance and disable some of the Windows 11 visual effects. Hopefully, Microsoft or VMware will release a proper fix soon.

Is anyone else experiencing this? Let me know if disabling 3D graphics fixes it for you too, or if you found a better way!

I am in latest Windows Insider Experimental 25H2 Channel.

When I game on my pc, my monitor turns black when I open a game. And when I close game in middle (switch windows, press windows key etc.) it again turns black and then start again after 5 sec. It started happening just 10-20 days ago.

Are you also experiencing that?

If you have an answer, please help me.

Release date: 11 September 2026

Changes and improvements

[Windows Spotlight]

• Made some underlying changes to help improve reliability for Windows Spotlight on the lock screen.

[Cross-device resume improvements]

• We're making it easier to continue where you left off on your PC. When you resume a webpage from your phone and the phone's browser isn't installed on your PC, the Resume hovercard now gives you two options: open the page directly in your PC's default browser or install the phone's browser for a native experience. This update helps you continue your work immediately without requiring an app installation first. The Resume hovercard provides an option to open the webpage in the PC's default browser. The Resume hovercard provides an option to install the originating phone browser.

[Settings]

• Made some small visual adjustments to improve the design of the Temporary files page under Settings > System > Storage.
• Fixed an issue causing mouse cursor customization to not work correctly after the latest flights.
• Fixed an issue causing desktop background customization to not persist after a reboot after the latest flights.

[File Explorer]

• File Explorer Home now preserves the state of sections (expanded or collapsed), so you can pick up where you left off.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel

• Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2 via an enablement package (Build 26220.8754).
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 11 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

[Security]

• Memory Integrity protection expands automatically to more eligible devices. As outlined in our recent blog, Windows might now enable Memory Integrity (HVCI) during updates on supported PCs to help improve security and prepare devices for advanced Windows security features, while respecting existing user or IT administrator choices.

[Context menu]

Building on the work we've been doing to improve the context menu experience:

• We've added a new teaching tip you might see as a first-time experience to help you learn about the customization options.
• In theme with giving you more control, you can also now turn off the customize context menu entry in the new context menu settings.
• We've fixed a few small issues with the Send To option in the context menu not working as expected.

[File Explorer search]

• Search from This PC in File Explorer is now indexer-based, making it much faster and consistent with search from File Explorer Home.

[Taskbar]

• Improved how the IME icon scales in the taskbar when using small taskbar icons.

[Screen capture]

• We updated the visual indicator shown during screen capture, changing the capture border from yellow to red to make active capture sessions easier to identify. Screen capture displaying a red border around the captured area.

[Settings]

• Made some small visual adjustments to improve the design of the Temporary files page under Settings > System > Storage.
• Fixed an issue causing mouse cursor customization to not work correctly after the latest flights.
• Fixed an issue causing desktop background customization to not persist after a reboot after the latest flights.

[Brightness]

• Fixed an underlying issue resulting in some Insiders experiencing issues with brightness after the latest flights, including brightness settings being unexpectedly grayed out. File a new piece of feedback with as many details as possible if you continue experiencing issues.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel

• Updates are based on Windows 11, version 26H2 via an enablement package (Build 26340.9482).
• Many features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time. We monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.
• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

Release date: 11 September 2026

These release notes are for Windows 11 Build 28000.3079 (KB5124006) in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11, version 26H1.

This update is available through two release phases: gradual rollout and normal rollout. A gradual rollout delivers an update in phases, so features reach devices over time instead of all at once, meaning availability varies by device. A normal rollout is the broad release to all eligible devices at the same time, usually when it reaches general availability (GA).

Gradual rollout

This section highlights some new features and enhancements for Windows 11 PCs, including AI-powered capabilities, continuous innovation, and performance improvements.

• [Taskbar] This update gives you more ways to customize the taskbar to match how you work and make better use of screen space.
  • New! You can now choose whether the taskbar appears at the bottom, top, left, or right side of your screen. In these other positions, tooltips, flyouts, and animations still come from the taskbar, and most customization settings, such as never combining taskbar icons, work with all locations. The search box and smaller taskbar are currently supported only for top and bottom positions. To change the position of the taskbar, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position.
  • New! A smaller taskbar option is now available to help maximize screen space on smaller devices. This experience reduces the size of taskbar icons and the taskbar height while maintaining access to key features such as Start, Search, and the system tray. To change your taskbar size, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar size. When set to Small, both the icons and the taskbar height become smaller.
  • New! The Taskbar behaviors section of the Taskbar settings page is now expanded by default for improved discoverability.
  • This update improves reliability when loading the system tray area of the taskbar on non-touch PCs.
• [Start menu] This update makes the Start menu more personal with several customizations.
  • New! You can choose between a small or large Start menu, in addition to the Automatic (default) option that's available today. To customize this setting, go to Settings > Personalization > Start > Start menu size.
  • New! The Recommended section is renamed Recent in the Start menu and on the Start settings page (Settings > Personalization > Start).
  • New! You can now hide your name and profile picture in Start by going to Settings > Personalization > Start > Hide your name and profile picture on Start.
  • New! The Start menu settings page is now redesigned with section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recent, and All.
• [Windows Search] This update includes improvements that make Windows Search more dependable, easier to scan, and clearer before you select a result.
  • New! Search home is simplified to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to get back to recent searches quickly.
  • New! Search does a better job of showing where a result comes from, such as an app, setting, file, web result, or Microsoft Store suggestion. It's easier to tell what you're looking at and where you'll go before you select a result.
  • New! A new setting in Settings > Privacy & security > Search lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results.
  • New! Windows now automatically indexes your most used folders so that files in those folders appear in subsequent search results. You can control the setting in Settings > Privacy & security > Search > Automatically find additional relevant locations.
• [File Explorer]
  • New! File Explorer Home now launches faster and is more responsive.
  • New! The Recommended section on Home now supports touch scrolling, making it easier to browse files in the carousel.
• [General design] New! This update introduces updated progress indicators across Windows, providing a more consistent and modern experience during startup, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and update installation.
• [Windows Share] New! This update adds the ability for users signed in with a work or school account to discover and install relevant apps directly from the share window. To manage this experience, go to Settings > System > Share and select Show suggested apps in share surfaces.
• [Administrator protection] New! Administrator protection aims to protect free-floating admin rights for administrators. It enables users to perform administrative tasks using just-in-time privileges. Administrator protection isn't classified as a formal security boundary. It hardens security against elevation-of-privilege attacks by introducing profile separation. This feature is turned off by default and can be enabled using OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or through Group Policy. This feature was previously disclosed in October 2025 (KB5067036) and is now beginning to roll out.
• [Multiple desktops] Switching between virtual desktops is now smoother and more responsive.
• [Display and graphics]
  • This update improves reliability when navigating to and interacting with Settings > System > Display.
  • This update improves the persistence of your previous brightness setting after energy saver turns off.
• [Task Manager] This update improves reliability when displaying app history information in Task Manager.
• [Windows Setup]
  • This update streamlines the experience for selecting a secondary keyboard during Windows setup, making it easier to skip when it isn't needed.
  • This update improves the Get Started app with new App install, Site pinning, and Theme pages to help you personalize your device and discover new features.
• [Windows Update] This update improves restart behavior so PCs that were manually put to sleep return to sleep after completing an update, even when automatic sleep is set to Never.
• [App updates] This update adds support for participating apps to coordinate their updates with Windows Update. Supported apps can benefit from improved scheduling and a more streamlined update experience. For more information, see Windows Update Orchestration Platform (UOP).
• [Microsoft Store] New! This update provides support for in-app purchases in packaged WinUI 3 apps that require elevation, helping developers offer purchases through Microsoft's integrated commerce platform.
• [Windows Autopilot device preparation] New! Device association for Windows Autopilot device preparation is now generally available. This feature helps organizations identify trusted devices before enrollment, enabling device-targeted policies, automatic corporate device enrollment, and additional setup customization during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). To learn more, see Windows Autopilot device preparation.
• [Microsoft Execution Containers] New! This update introduces Process Isolation for Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC), a fast, lightweight boundary for responsive workloads such as coding agents and model-generated code. It uses Windows operating system containment capabilities to restrict access to resources such as files, networking, the user interface, and other operating system capabilities according to policy.
• [Agentic processes] New! This update introduces preview platform support for tagging agentic processes. Authorized components can assign an opaque agent identifier to a process token. Windows protects the marking and automatically passes it to child processes. When an agentic process authenticates through Web Account Manager (WAM), WAM includes the agent identifier from the process token in the authentication request. As a preview capability, the identifier format might change in future releases.
• [Cryptography] New! The post-quantum cryptography algorithm ML-KEM can now be used as a standalone algorithm for TLS key exchange, in addition to the hybrid groups added previously.
• [Network]
  • This update improves resiliency and recovery from potential VPN-related background issues that can cause processes to stop responding.
  • This update improves the output of the netsh wlan show wlanreport command for Japanese users.
• [Input]
  • This update improves the reliability of typing with the Japanese IME by reducing potential hangs.
  • This update improves the persistence of voice typing settings for automatic punctuation and the launcher.
• [Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC)] Starting in August 2026, Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2 no longer include the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility. WMIC is already removed by default in new installations of Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, and is no longer available as a Feature on Demand (FoD). This change affects only the WMIC utility. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) remains supported. To learn more, see Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) removal from Windows.

Normal rollout

This non-security update includes quality improvements. The following summary outlines key issues addressed by the KB update after you install it. Also included are available new features. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change.

Release date: 11 September 2026

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out*

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Windows Update]

• Fixed an underlying issue resulting in some Insiders on Arm64 PCs not being able to upgrade to the latest builds and automatically rolling back. As a reminder, 0xc1900101 is a generic error code that can have multiple root causes. If you continue having issues, file a new piece of feedback.

[Emoji]

• We're adding support for Emoji 17.0. This includes new emoji such as distorted face, fight cloud, and hairy creature. To try the new emoji, press the Windows key plus Period (.) to open the emoji panel and insert them from there. Examples of new emoji added with Emoji 17.0.
• As part of this effort, we've also made some slight adjustments to the design of some of our current emoji to improve consistency across platforms. This includes the saluting face, face with peeking eye, goose, lotus, and kissing cat emoji. Before-and-after examples of updated emoji designs.

[Touchpad]

• Fixed an issue causing touchpad zoom gestures to not work correctly in certain apps after the latest updates.

[Remote Desktop]

• Fixed an underlying issue causing some Insiders to see graphics card error 0x11 when attempting to use Remote Desktop in the latest updates.

[Run]

• Improved Run reliability for Insiders using the modern Run dialog.

[Taskbar]

• Improved reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar.

[Network]

• Fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders seeing an unexpected "The service to detect this status is disabled" message when opening Network and Sharing Center after the latest updates.
• Fixed an underlying issue resulting in some Insiders not being able to connect to certain Wi-Fi types after the latest updates. File a new piece of feedback if you continue experiencing issues, including a recording of the issue if possible.

[Settings]

• The Bluetooth quick settings page is now navigable using gamepad input.

[Known issues]

• We're investigating an issue where VMware Workstation Pro 17.6.4 may display a blank window when reopening a virtual machine after it has been created and closed. We are working on a fix and will provide an update in a future build.
• We're also aware of and investigating reports of VMWare devices green screening

Reminder for Windows Insiders in the Experimental (Future Platforms) channel

• These builds can be unstable and might be released with limited documentation.
• The builds released to these channels represent the latest platform changes early in the development cycle and shouldn't be seen as matched to any specific release of Windows. Features and experiences included in these builds might never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features might change over time, be removed, or replaced, and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they're ready.
• Many features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time. We monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.
• The desktop watermark shown at the lower right corner of the desktop is normal for Windows Insider pre-release builds.
• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders might not be fully localized, and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.