Microsoft has unveiled its latest preview updates for Windows, introducing exciting features such as haptic feedback and an enhanced Xbox mode.
Released just before the long May weekend, these updates pave the way for the upcoming May Patchday, allowing users to experience non-security-related changes in a mass testing environment. Among the standout features, Microsoft has incorporated haptic feedback effects into Windows, providing a tactile response during various actions. Users will feel vibrations when aligning objects in PowerPoint, resizing windows, or hovering over the close button of an application.
Currently, this feature is supported by select devices, including the Surface Slim Pen 2, Asus Pen 3.0, and MSI Pen 2. Additionally, Logitech’s MX Master 4 can utilize this functionality following a firmware update for its Bolt dongle. Microsoft has indicated that more devices may gain compatibility in the future, contingent upon manufacturers releasing the necessary updates.
Improved Gaming Mode
The updates also bring an improved Xbox mode, now accessible on laptops, desktops, and tablets. This mode offers a streamlined full-screen interface, prioritizing games and minimizing distractions from background applications. For those looking to immerse themselves quickly, the keyboard shortcut Windows+F11 provides instant access to this gaming experience.
File Explorer has also seen enhancements, now supporting additional formats such as uu, cpio, xar, and NuGet packages (nupkg). Users will appreciate that Explorer can remember view and sort preferences for the Downloads and Documents folders, maintaining these settings even when applications launch File Explorer in these locations.
For users of AI agents, monitoring capabilities have been improved. By hovering over the Microsoft 365 Copilot icon, users can view real-time progress directly from the taskbar. In a move that will benefit enterprise environments, Windows 11 now allows the removal of pre-installed Microsoft Store apps through policies, bringing additional features closer to general availability. This includes a new Windows driver policy that prevents the acceptance of drivers with cross-signed root certificates, as well as enhanced security measures for batch files, accessible through the performance booster registry entry “LockBatchFilesWhenInUse.”
Following these updates, Windows 11 versions will display build numbers 26200.8328 and 26100.8328, respectively.
URL of this article:
https://www.heise.de/-11280692
Links in this article:
-
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Microsoft Support
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Removing Pre-installed Apps
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Windows Insider Preview
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Secure Batch Files
<li class="footnotesitem”>
<a href="https://www.heise.de/newsletter/anmeldung.html?id=ki-update&wtmc=intern.red.ho.honl_ki.ho.markenbanner.markenbanner”>Newsletter Signup
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Contact Us
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Facebook
<li class="footnotesitem”>
LinkedIn
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Twitter
<li class="footnotesitem”>
Windows Update Preview
Copyright © 2026 Heise Medien
