Microsoft has rolled out Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.
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Microsoft has rolled out Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.8925 to the Beta Channel, introducing new controls for precision touchpad scrolling and zooming, faster scrolling, Start menu toggles at the section level, and various File Explorer updates, according to the Windows Insider release notes and reports from Windows Central.
This build is among five Insider updates released at the same time across the Beta, Experimental, and Release Preview channels. Microsoft notes that it is working to get all flight releases back on schedule after a series of updates that were not aligned with its usual Friday release cycle.
What’s New in Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.8925 and the Other Test BuildsFive builds have been released to Windows Insiders: Beta Preview Build 26220.8925, Experimental Preview Build 26300.8935, Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.2539, Release Preview Builds 26100.8942 and 26200.8942, as well as Build 28000.2597.
According to Windows Central, due to the structure of the new Windows Insider Program, some of these changes have already been experienced by certain testers through earlier flights. Build 26220.8925 includes the most significant set of user-facing updates.
Microsoft is introducing gesture-related settings for precision touchpads within the Settings app. This build includes two new controls. One adjusts the scroll and zoom speed to set the baseline for gestures. The other enables accelerated scrolling, which increases scroll speed when gestures are repeated, facilitating faster navigation through long documents.
Microsoft states these features are intended to work across most applications without the need for per-app configuration. While WinUI3-based interfaces depend on newer versions of the WinAppSDK for full functionality, Microsoft says it is updating the WinAppSDK to versions 1.8 and 2.0 to support these features.
Start Menu Layout Changes, File Explorer Tweaks, and Narrator Braille SupportThe changes to the Start menu follow the plans laid out in Microsoft's blog post titled "Making Taskbar and Start more personal." The update introduces several new features: the Recommended section has been renamed to Recent in both the Start menu and the Settings page; users can now toggle the visibility of the Pinned, Recent, and All sections independently; there is an option to switch between a small and large Start menu, in addition to the existing Automatic setting; users can choose to hide their name and profile picture in Start; and the Settings page for the Start menu has been redesigned.
The section-level toggles address a common request from users who wanted to be able to remove the Recommended section completely without using registry edits or third-party tools.
File sizes in the Details view now display in appropriate units such as KB, MB, and GB, rather than only KB. You can now middle-click to open a folder in a new tab in both the address bar and on the Home page. Screen reader announcements when resolving file conflicts during move and copy operations have been improved.
Narrator now supports refreshable braille displays that use the HID standard. Compatible HID displays connect via USB without additional setup, and Microsoft lists the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40 as compatible models. Bluetooth HID braille displays can be paired through Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, similar to other accessories.
HID braille displays also work during the initial Windows setup over USB, allowing deaf-blind users to complete setup independently from the first screen. Braille input and output options can be configured in Settings, then Accessibility, then Narrator, then Braille.
Account Control Changes, Bug Fixes, and How to Try These Features in the Beta ChannelThe Windows 11 Account Control flyout has been redesigned to include a subscription badge that displays account status, plan details, and available upgrades.
Microsoft also addressed an issue that could cause recent Insider builds to fail installation with error 0xc0000409, along with improving the persistence of the mouse cursor size setting.
Insiders using Build 26220.8925 can access the new controls through the Settings app. To find the scroll and zoom speed control and the toggle for accelerated scrolling, go to Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, and then Touchpad.
For the redesigned Start settings page, navigate to Settings, then Personalization, then Start, which now includes section toggles, size options, and the profile visibility control. To configure HID braille display input and output, open Settings, then Accessibility, then Narrator, and finally Braille.
Devices need to be enrolled in the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider Program to receive Build 26220.8925. The touchpad settings require a precision touchpad, and the behavior of WinUI3 applications may be incomplete until updated WinAppSDK versions are available.
Microsoft has not announced when these changes to the touchpad, Start menu, or File Explorer will be available in the stable Windows 11 release channel. Features in Insider builds can still be modified or removed before the release to the general public. Typically, Microsoft rolls out Beta Channel updates to a subset of testers before making them available to all.