Windows Insider Preview Archives

Winsage

January 28, 2026

Microsoft Issues Several Windows Insider Preview Builds

The Windows Insider Program has shifted significantly, with new builds released across the Dev, Beta, and Release Preview channels. The Dev channel has advanced to the 26300 series builds, moving away from the 26200 series of the Beta channel. Users on the Dev channel will upgrade to Windows 11 version 25H2 build 26300.7674 with the installation of build KB5074170, which focuses on fixes without new functionalities. The Beta channel will receive cumulative update KB5074169, upgrading to Windows 11 version 25H2 build 26220.7670, also centered on fixes. The Release Preview build KB5074105 introduces new features for both 25H2 and 24H2 versions, elevating them to builds 26200.7701 and 26100.7701, respectively. Key improvements include multi-language support for the Agent in Settings, cross-device resume capabilities, enhanced MIDI support, customizable Narrator options, a new Devices card in Settings, easier toggling of Smart App Control, improved Voice Access and Voice Typing features, and expanded support for external fingerprint readers in Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-In Security.

Winsage

December 24, 2025

How to Get Moving Wallpapers on Windows 11: Guide to Animated Desktops

Windows 11 is set to introduce native video wallpaper support in late 2025, currently available in testing builds for Windows Insiders, supporting formats like MP4, MKV, and WebM. Users can access animated wallpapers through third-party applications, with Lively Wallpaper being a recommended free option that supports various formats and features. Wallpaper Engine is a paid alternative known for its extensive library and interactive wallpapers. VLC Media Player can also set videos as wallpapers, but it has limitations such as requiring constant operation and higher resource usage. Animated wallpapers generally consume more battery and system resources, but modern applications include features to mitigate these impacts. Users are advised to download wallpapers from trusted sources to ensure safety.

Winsage

November 24, 2025

Xbox full screen experience is no longer just for handheld gaming PCs, but the feature is rolling out gradually and we’re not having much luck with workarounds

Microsoft has expanded the availability of its Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) to a wider range of Windows 11 PC form factors, including laptops, desktops, and tablets. The FSE offers a user interface similar to the Xbox Series X/S and allows access to various gaming platforms with improved performance over the standard Windows environment. Users can activate Xbox FSE by pressing Win + F11 or using the Task View icon. The feature is being rolled out gradually as part of the Windows Insider Preview Build 26220.7271, with some users needing workarounds like ViVeTool for access. MSI's Claw devices officially support Xbox FSE, but its effectiveness on non-handheld devices is debated. The FSE aims to create a console-like atmosphere on Windows 11, featuring a controller-friendly interface and a powerful Task Switcher for seamless transitions between games and applications.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

You can now try the Xbox Full Screen Experience on any PC, laptop, or tablet

Microsoft is introducing the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) for PC users, expanding its availability from handhelds to laptops, desktops, and tablets. FSE can be activated via the Task View icon, Game Bar settings, or the shortcut Win + F11. Access may not be immediate for all Windows Insiders due to a gradual rollout, and users must have the Xbox app installed from the Microsoft Store. FSE is also being extended to all Windows-based handheld devices.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

Full screen experience expands to more Windows 11 PC form factors for Windows Insiders

Windows Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 is now available for the Dev and Beta Channels, expanding the Xbox full screen experience to laptops, desktops, and tablets. This feature provides an immersive gaming environment designed for console-style navigation. Users can access it via the Task View icon or by pressing Win + Tab, and it can be toggled on and off with Win + F11. The Xbox home screen will display a variety of games, and switching between applications is facilitated by a long press on the Xbox button. The rollout of this feature is phased, and it requires the Xbox app from the Microsoft Store. Feedback can be submitted through the Feedback Hub under Gaming and Xbox > Gaming Full Screen Experience.

Winsage

November 17, 2025

Windows 11 users just got a more convenient way to store passkeys – here’s how it works

The technology behind passkeys involves cryptographic keys and standards like FIDO2 and WebAuthn, but users can enhance their security by creating passkeys whenever offered by websites or apps, using face recognition, fingerprints, or PINs. Users can accumulate multiple passkeys for easier sign-in across services. 1Password is set to integrate a new native passkeys plugin API with Windows 11, allowing users to manage passkeys through 1Password while using Windows Hello for authentication. This integration requires the latest version of Windows 11 and the MSIX version of the 1Password app. Users can enable the passkey feature in 1Password and designate it as the system authenticator in Windows settings. Other password managers may also adopt this integration, and Windows is introducing its own passkey sync mechanism through the Microsoft Password Manager in Edge. Passkeys do not replace existing credentials but serve as a secure alternative to usernames and passwords, with some services offering fully passwordless options.

Winsage

November 11, 2025

1Password can now save passkeys directly in Windows 11

A new Windows API allows third-party applications to manage passkeys more effectively, with 1Password being the first password manager to adopt this innovation. The integration enables 1Password to act as the credential manager on Windows 11, allowing users to create and manage passkeys easily while using Windows Hello for authentication. This feature is available to anyone running the latest version of Windows 11 and the newly released MSIX version of the 1Password app. Users can enable the passkey feature through the 1Password application or manually in Windows settings. Once configured, Windows will use the selected credential manager instead of its default settings. Other password managers like Bitwarden and Dashlane may follow with similar support. Passkeys serve as a convenient alternative to traditional username and password combinations but do not replace existing credentials.

Winsage

October 16, 2025

Microsoft’s vision for AI PCs looks a lot like another crack at Cortana

Recent screenshots from a Windows 11 testing build indicate that Copilot will replace the Search field on the taskbar. Microsoft is reintroducing Copilot's ability to modify PC settings, allowing users to inquire about settings in plain language and directing them to the relevant sections of the Settings app. Copilot Connectors have been made available to Windows Insiders, enabling integration with email and file-sharing platforms like Gmail and Dropbox. Users can export Copilot chat contents into formats such as Word, PDF, Excel, or PowerPoint. AI actions have been added to the File Explorer's right-click menu, allowing file manipulation like batch-editing images and summarizing documents. Copilot Vision enables access to the entirety of Office documents. Microsoft has learned from the rollout of Windows Recall, which lacked prior testing through the Windows Insider Preview program.

Winsage

October 13, 2025

Microsoft Fixes Long-standing Windows 11 ‘Update and Shut down’ Bug

Microsoft has resolved the "update and shut down" bug in Windows 11 with the release of Build 26220.6760 on September 29, 2025. This bug caused systems to reboot automatically instead of shutting down when users selected the "update and shut down" option. The fix ensures that pending updates no longer trigger automatic restarts during a shutdown request. Windows Insiders in the Dev or Beta channels can access this fix, while non-Insider users are advised to wait for the stable release.

Winsage

October 7, 2025

Microsoft removes even more Microsoft account workarounds from Windows 11 build

The necessity of signing in with a Microsoft account during the setup of Windows 11 has been identified as a significant inconvenience. Microsoft is reportedly tightening restrictions on bypassing this requirement, as indicated by a recent update to the Windows Insider Preview program (build number 26220.6772), which aims to remove known methods for creating a local account during setup. Specifically, the "OOBEBYPASSNRO" workaround and the "start ms-cxh:localonly" command have been eliminated. Users previously could access a command prompt during setup to bypass the Microsoft account requirement, but the status of an alternative workaround for Windows 11 Pro that allows users to create a local account by indicating a corporate domain is uncertain. While some screens can be skipped using workarounds, users still face essential prompts for account creation and privacy settings. Signing in with a Microsoft account introduces additional promotional screens for services and features that may not be considered critical by users.