Hi there Windows geeks!)
big shoutout to everyone droppin questions on the Q&A , love seeing u all dive into the beta builds! ok buckle up, here comes a real update blast from Microsoft, and yes, its exciting AF %)
so, the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4230 just landed in the beta channel , its like your OS just had an espresso shot. This one’s packed with fresh stuff, smarter tools and fixes that were looong overdue. and it’s all for version 24h2, btw. read on and let’s see what’s cookin 🙂
first off, if u turned on that toggle under settings > windows update to get updates early , congrats, u just unlocked some fancy tech magic. and if u didn’t yet… come on, treat yourself))
!!! quick machine recovery , its finally here! go to system > recovery > quick machine recovery. this new page gives u full control over how your device saves itself when things go boom. basically, it lets ur device pull direct help from microsoft servers if it can’t boot right. u can even make it auto-check for fixes and pick when to restart. more on this here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/recovery/options#quick-machine-recovery
if u manage pcs in bulk (hi, IT folks)), u can tweak recovery via intune using the RemoteRemedationCSP settings. super smooth stuff: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/configuration/settings-catalog
👀 next up, that thing called click to do , if u got a copilot+ device, u might’ve already seen it. well, it just got smarter. it now speaks german, italian, and portuguese. and if your windows is set to spanish or french, you get back that “rewrite” option with all the bells and whistles. cool, huh? read more here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/copilot/click-to-do
phone link is leveling up too. get this , now u can:
- see all your phone’s app notifications right in start menu
- mirror your android screen with one click
- open iphone photos from icloud right from start (yes, really!) check it all here: https://support.microsoft.com/windows/phone-link-app-help-7b83ae04-e067-41b2-849c-0b6228e5b9db
about the lock screen: widgets got a timeout for now. microsoft is fixing some bugs. they’ll bring ’em back soon, promise.)
settings tweaks for those with copilot+ and snapdragon chips: search box is now centered. yes, centered. not a game-changer but looks tidy. also, if you’re in the US, and signed in with your ms account, u might see the new device card on settings home. shows basic pc stats. quick, clean. peek here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/at-home
fixes? ooooh yes, lots of ’em. we’re talkin:
- no more start menu crashes (finally!)
- file explorer won’t randomly die anymore when u delete files or poke at weird paths
- ai actions in explorer now respect rtl languages properly (hebrew, arabic , we see u)
- bluetooth crashes? gone. quick settings top-row buttons not clicking? fixed. sticky notes crashing in some languages? yep, sorted.
more bug squashin joy here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-insider-build
known issues (yes, nothing’s perfect):
- reset pc? build number might show wrong. no biggie, won’t block updates.
- xbox controller via bluetooth = crash city for some. fix: open device manager > view > devices by driver > find xbox driver (oemXXX.inf) > uninstall. that’s it.
- file explorer ai summarize struggles a bit with bullet lists. narrator scan mode is like “meh” on it for now.
- if your old dolby vision display gets funky colors , go to settings > system > display > hdr and switch off dolby vision. easy fix 🙂
some extra tips:
- copilot+ users: keep that thing plugged in for best indexing results on search. details here: https://support.microsoft.com/windows/windows-search-indexer-diagnostics-and-troubleshooting-fq0f2041
- taskbar icons might randomly shrink. microsoft’s on it, just wait a bit :))
and remember: this is beta stuff. microsoft’s testing the waters here. not everything will go live, some things might vanish forever. but feedback matters , use feedback hub (win + f) and yell into the void! (or don’t. your call))
wanna see which build is where? check the flight hub map: https://aka.ms/flighthub
alright, that’s a wrap. go update your windows and play with the shiny new buttons.
its fun, trust me 🙂
Alex