preview builds Archives

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

New Minecraft Update Finally Allows Players to Sit Down

Minecraft's latest update introduces a long-awaited sitting feature, allowing players to use cushions to sit, enhancing gameplay beyond previous options limited to boats and mine carts. The update will be available to all players this fall, with preview builds accessible immediately. Additionally, the update includes new elements like straw beds and a new biome. Microsoft is restructuring Xbox, with Minecraft's leadership now reporting to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who noted the franchise has been "massively underinvested."

Winsage

July 7, 2026

New Windows 11 Cloud Recovery Restores PCs And Drivers Without A USB Drive

Microsoft is introducing a new feature called 'Cloud rebuild' in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, which allows users to reinstall the operating system directly from Microsoft's servers without the need for installation media. This feature bypasses local issues that may prevent a system from resetting itself, as it connects to Windows Update to download a fresh copy of the OS. Cloud rebuild also improves driver handling by fetching hardware-specific drivers during the reinstall process, ensuring the machine is online and ready to go. Users must enroll in the Insider program's Experimental channel to access this feature, which appears under the Troubleshoot menu when a PC fails to boot multiple times. A wired Ethernet connection works immediately, while Wi-Fi requires entering the network password. However, the feature has caveats, including the need for a working network driver in the recovery environment and compliance with Windows 11 hardware requirements. The Cloud rebuild process completely wipes the system disk, erasing all local files, applications, accounts, and settings, although data synced to OneDrive remains intact. Microsoft warns against shutting down the system during the rebuild process, as it could prevent Windows from booting.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Microsoft announces new Cloud Rebuild recovery feature for Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced a new recovery solution for Windows 11 users called Cloud Rebuild, which allows for the reinstallation of the operating system directly from the cloud, restoring a PC to a clean state. This feature downloads the Windows OS and necessary device drivers, enabling recovery even when the OS is unbootable, unlike the existing Reset this PC option. However, Cloud Rebuild does not retain applications and files during the process. Currently, it is being rolled out in preview to Windows Insiders and is expected to be available to the general public in the coming months.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Announcing new builds for July 6 2026

New Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds have been released for both the Beta and Experimental channels. The latest updates are as follows: - Beta (26H1): Build 2820.2380 - Experimental (26H1): Build 28120.2387 - Experimental (Future Platforms): No new build available today. Notable new features include: 1. Cloud Recovery: A new recovery option called Cloud rebuild allows users to restore their Windows 11 PC to a known-good state through a complete OS reinstall, downloading the necessary files directly from Windows Update without the need for USB media. 2. Account Control: The Account Control flyout has been redesigned to include a subscription badge, making account status, benefits, and upgrade options easily identifiable.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

Minecraft on Bedrock finally gets Closed Captions, a decade after Java Edition

Mojang has officially introduced closed caption support to Minecraft Bedrock Edition after testing it through preview builds. This feature aims to create a more inclusive gaming environment for players who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Players can activate closed captions by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > Gameplay, where they can customize the visibility duration, on-screen positioning, and select which sounds to display. The game will provide descriptions of nearby sounds and directional cues for sound sources. Mojang acknowledges potential issues with incorrect sound displays and encourages player feedback for improvements.

Winsage

June 30, 2026

Windows 11 just took its first major step toward version 26H2, and Insiders can already test 9 features shaping Microsoft’s next big update

Microsoft has rolled out updates for Windows 11, confirming the development of version 26H2, which has transitioned from version 25H2 in the Experimental channel. Key updates include enhancements to the Search page, a revamped Mobile Devices page, a new GIF provider (GIPHY), a smaller Taskbar size option, improved system sounds in dark mode, rebranding of the Gaming section to "XBOX mode," a new "Screen tint" feature for accessibility, enhanced Magnifier zoom controls, and improved personalization features for accent color selection.

Winsage

June 21, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2 for fall 2026 release, reveals supported PCs and other details

Microsoft has confirmed the upcoming Windows 11 26H2 feature update, set to roll out in fall 2026, likely in October. This update will not be a major overhaul and will utilize an enablement package (eKB) for installation, similar to the previous Windows 11 25H2 version. The last major update was the 24H2 version, released on October 1, 2024, while 25H2 launched in 2025 and reset the OS life cycle, extending support by an additional year. Support for Windows 11 24H2 ends on October 13, 2026, and for 25H2 until October 12, 2027. Windows 11 26H2 will be supported until October 2028 for Home, Pro, Pro EDU, and Pro for Workstations editions, and until October 2029 for Enterprise, Education, or IoT Enterprise editions. Devices running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 will transition to 26H2 without new hardware requirements, maintaining specifications of 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and a 1GHz or faster 64-bit dual-core processor. Windows 11 26H1, another update, requires new silicon but does not introduce exclusive features. Major changes will be delivered through monthly cumulative updates rather than annual feature updates.

Winsage

June 21, 2026

Windows 11 version 26H2 is now available for testing in the latest preview build

Windows 11 preview builds 26300.8697 and 26220.8690 have been rolled out for Insiders in the Experimental and Beta Channels. The Experimental Channel has been upgraded to version 26H2. Key improvements include: - The versioning for Insiders in the Experimental channel now reflects version 26H2. - The Copy dialog in Dark mode has been enhanced for visual consistency and reliability. - The Start menu now accurately reflects newly installed or removed applications without requiring a sign-out or restart. - An issue with the smaller taskbar option has been resolved, preventing the system tray from being cut off or pushed off-screen. - Reliability enhancements have been made to Settings > Apps > Startup. - A critical issue causing bugchecks (HYPERVISORERROR and KMODEEXCEPTIONNOTHANDLED) during system restarts, virtual machine operations, or specific gaming applications has been addressed.

Winsage

June 19, 2026

Microsoft Announces New Insider Builds, a Bit of 26H2 News

Microsoft has released five new Windows Insider Preview builds and updates for Windows 11 version 26H2. Devices in the Experimental channel will soon update to version 26H2, which can be checked in Settings > System > About or using the winver command. Users in the Beta channel can switch to Experimental via Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program, and can revert back to Beta without reinstalling Windows. PCs on Experimental for versions 24H2 or 25H2 will be upgraded to 26H2, with both versions currently supported. Snapdragon X2-based PCs running Windows 11 on Arm will remain on version 26H1 and will not receive an update to 26H2, but may have a future release potentially called Windows 12. The latest builds are: - Beta (25H2): Build 26220.8690, enhancing reliability of Start, Taskbar, Settings, and virtualization. - Experimental (24H2/25H2?): Build 26300.8697, updating to 26H2 with improvements to File Explorer Copy dialog in Dark mode and reliability enhancements. - Beta (26H1): Build 28020.2308, with minor bug fixes and improved HD Audio driver reliability. - Experimental (26H1): Build 28120.2315, offering similar improvements as the Beta update. - Experimental (Future Platforms, Including Canary 29600 series): Build 29613.1000, enhancing Settings > System > Sounds based on user feedback.

Winsage

June 19, 2026

Sorry Microsoft, Windows 10 taskbar is still better than Windows 11, and here’s why

The taskbars of Windows 10 and Windows 11 differ significantly in design and functionality. Windows 11 features a centered icon layout by default, while Windows 10 has left-aligned icons. The search functionality in Windows 10 includes a larger "Type here to search" bar, whereas Windows 11 offers a more compact search button or box. Windows 10's right-click menu provides extensive customization options directly, while Windows 11's is more minimalistic and requires navigating to settings for customization. Windows 10 allows users to toggle small taskbar buttons, a feature that was initially absent in Windows 11 but has since been reintroduced. Taskbar repositioning in Windows 10 is straightforward, while Windows 11 requires accessing settings for repositioning. Windows 11 combines app icons by default and hides labels, complicating navigation compared to Windows 10's clearer visual cues. The Start menu in Windows 10 is resizable and features Live Tiles, which are not present in Windows 11's fixed-size Start menu. Windows 10's News and Interests feature contrasts with Windows 11's Widgets board, which has been criticized for being intrusive. Windows 11's Quick Settings separates toggles and notifications into two panels, enhancing user experience, while Windows 10's clock flyout offered a native agenda view that has been removed in Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a performance enhancement for taskbar flyouts to improve responsiveness on budget hardware, a feature not needed in Windows 10. Additionally, Windows 11 introduces a Resume function for Android activities and is developing AI integrations for the taskbar, which are not available in Windows 10.