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Windows 11 testers say new touchpad upgrades and File Explorer fixes finally make Insider builds feel smoother
Winsage
May 10, 2026

Windows 11 testers say new touchpad upgrades and File Explorer fixes finally make Insider builds feel smoother

Windows Insiders can check for new builds weekly, with Microsoft releasing four Insider builds that include various enhancements. The Beta Channel Insiders have not yet transitioned to the new Beta experience. Users in the Dev Channel moving to the Experimental Channel will receive Build 26300.8376, while those in the Canary 28000 series will also transition to Experimental, receiving Build 28020.2075. Insiders from the Canary 29500 series will be updated to Build 29585.1000. A free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education from Windows 11 Home is available for K-12 educational settings, allowing institutions to manage devices effectively. This upgrade is one-way only. Build 26300.8376 introduces new gesturing functionalities for precision touchpads, including control over scroll/zoom speed and automatic scrolling. File Explorer has received updates for improved address bar functionality, more readable file size formatting, and refinements to the renaming experience. Build 28020.2075 includes improved typing reliability with the ADLaM keyboard and enhanced clipboard history performance. Font improvements have been made for the Leelawadee UI font family. Build 29585.1000 features a streamlined voice typing experience with the touch keyboard, reducing distractions.
Windows Insider builds ship with touchpad upgrades, File Explorer fixes, and a free EDU upgrade path
Winsage
May 10, 2026

Windows Insider builds ship with touchpad upgrades, File Explorer fixes, and a free EDU upgrade path

Windows Insiders are advised to set weekly reminders to check for new builds, as Microsoft has released four Insider builds with various enhancements, including updates to the Touchpad and Touch Keyboard experiences, and a new upgrade pathway for education users. The changes differ by Insider Channel, necessitating users to understand updates specific to their channel. The Windows Insider Program is being restructured, with Beta Channel Insiders yet to transition to the new experience. Insiders moving from the Dev Channel to the Experimental Channel will receive Build 26300.8376, while those from the Canary 28000 series will receive Build 28020.2075, and those from the Canary 29500 series will be updated to Build 29585.1000. Users should refer to release notes for detailed information on features and updates. A free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education is now available for K-12 educational settings, allowing institutions to upgrade Windows 11 Home devices to Pro Education at no cost. This upgrade is one-way only. The Experimental Preview Build 26300.8376 introduces new gesturing functionalities for precision touchpads, including scroll/zoom speed control, automatic scrolling, accelerated scrolling, and single-finger scrolling. Additionally, File Explorer has received updates to improve reliability, readability, and usability.
Microsoft is adding four new Touchpad options to Windows 11, and they look pretty useful
Winsage
May 9, 2026

Microsoft is adding four new Touchpad options to Windows 11, and they look pretty useful

Microsoft has introduced four new touchpad features in its Experimental preview build for Windows 11 laptops: 1. Scroll / Zoom Speed: Users can adjust the speed for scrolling and zooming gestures. 2. Automatic Scrolling: Enables continuous scrolling without lifting fingers, activated by moving fingers near the edge of the touchpad or pressing down harder (hardware support required). 3. Accelerated Scrolling: Increases scrolling speed with repeated gestures for quicker navigation through documents. 4. Single-Finger Scrolling: Allows vertical scrolling with a single finger from either side of the touchpad. Users can join the Experimental Insider channel to explore these features, which are still in the experimental phase. Additionally, Microsoft has merged the patch notes for the Experimental and Beta channels into a single article for streamlined communication of updates.
Microsoft Starts Rolling Out New "Experimental" Windows Insider Channel
Winsage
April 25, 2026

Microsoft Starts Rolling Out New “Experimental” Windows Insider Channel

Microsoft is rolling out a new Experimental Windows Insider channel, transitioning users from the Dev Channel to the Experimental Channel with updates from the 26300 series builds. Over the coming weeks, Canary testers using the 28000 series will be moved to the Experimental (26H1) Channel, while those on the 29500 series will go to the Experimental (Future Platforms) Channel. The latest build for the Dev Channel is 26300.8289, which includes enhancements such as improved Windows Update functionalities and options to skip updates during the out-of-the-box experience. Dev Channel testers can enable the Experimental Channel option through Settings. The Experimental Channel will allow switching between 26H1 builds and future platform builds. Canary Channel testers have access to build 28200.1873, which rebrands the Xbox full-screen experience and improves the Touch Keyboard. Additionally, build 29576.1000 is available for testers on the 29500 series, featuring a redesigned volume slider and new metrics in Task Manager. Beta Channel Insiders can download build 26200.8283, which includes minor adjustments to the Start Menu and print drivers, but the new Beta experience will not be immediately available.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build for Canary Channel 29565.1000
Winsage
April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build for Canary Channel 29565.1000

Windows Insider Preview Build 29565.1000 has been released in the Windows 11 Insider Canary Channel. Key updates include improved performance for the Bubbles screensaver on high refresh rate monitors, refinements to the drag tray based on user feedback, and enhancements to the Windows Security app, which now features color-coded icon badges for Secure Boot status. The Feedback Hub has also received updates, including a new default window size that remembers dimensions, mouse back button navigation, and improved visibility for community feedback. Canary Channel builds may be unstable and are subject to change. Users can enable a toggle in Settings to access new features gradually. A clean installation of Windows 11 is required to exit the Canary Channel.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (Beta Channel)
Winsage
April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8165 (KB 5083635) has been released to the Beta Channel, featuring several updates: - The FAT32 volume formatting size limit has increased from 32GB to 2TB. - Performance improvements for navigating large volumes in Storage settings. - Reduced frequency of UAC prompts on the Storage page. - Resolution of unrealistic data usage values in Network settings. - Enhancements to the Windows Security app's Secure Boot experience, including color-coded icon badges and updated certificates. - A revamped Feedback Hub with a modernized experience, simpler feedback submission, easier navigation, a new compliment feedback type, and improved screenshot capture tools. - Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and features are gradually rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. - A desktop watermark appears in Insider pre-release builds. - Features may not be released beyond Windows Insiders and may evolve or be removed.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170 (Dev Channel)
Winsage
April 11, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8170 (KB 5083632) has been released to the Dev Channel. Key changes include: - The FAT32 volume formatting size limit has increased from 32GB to 2TB. - Performance improvements for navigating large storage volumes in Settings. - A UAC prompt for accessing temporary files is now only shown when entering that specific section. - An issue with unrealistic data usage values in the Network settings has been fixed. - Enhancements to the Windows Security app include color-coded icon badges and updated text in the Secure Boot section, with updates to Secure Boot certificates being rolled out. - Feedback Hub version 2.2604.101.0 is being rolled out, featuring design improvements, improved default window size, mouse back button navigation, and corrected upvote buttons for Chinese display language users. Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and features are rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. The desktop watermark is present in Insider pre-release builds. Features may not be released to the public and could evolve or be removed based on feedback.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build for Canary Channel 29560.1000
Winsage
April 3, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build for Canary Channel 29560.1000

Windows Insider Preview Build 29560.1000 has been released in the Windows 11 Insider Canary Channel. This update includes significant platform changes and resolves issues such as increased freezes and non-functioning USB devices for some Insiders. The reliability of the Settings for Screensaver has also been improved. The Canary Channel builds may be unstable and have limited documentation, with features that may not reach the public. Features are rolled out gradually using Control Feature Rollout technology, and a desktop watermark is displayed on pre-release builds. Some features may first appear in the Dev and Beta Channels. Insiders can toggle settings to access the latest updates, and a clean installation is required to exit the Canary Channel. Localization improvements are ongoing, and feedback can be reported through the Feedback Hub.
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