Microsoft has released a preview update KB5089570 (Build 28000.2179) for Windows 11, version 26H1. The update is delivered in two phases – gradual rollout and normal rollout. In gradual rollout, the update is delivered in parts, and features do not reach devices simultaneously – their availability depends on the specific device. Normal rollout is a broad release for all compatible devices at the same time, typically when reaching general availability (GA).
- Xbox Mode. New: Xbox Mode has become available on PCs with Windows 11, including laptops, desktops, and tablets. Inspired by the Xbox console interface, the mode offers a simplified full-screen interface that brings games to the foreground and minimizes background distractions. Xbox Mode is designed for scenarios where you want to lean back in your chair, pick up a gamepad, and focus on the game. You can enter Xbox Mode from the Xbox app, from Game Bar settings, or by pressing Windows + F11.
- File Explorer: new archive formats and fixes. New: the list of archive formats that File Explorer can work with has been expanded – uu, cpio, xar, and NuGet Packages (nupkg) have been added. Change: View and Sort settings are now saved in Downloads, Documents, and similar folders when applications open File Explorer directly into them. Fixed: eliminated the white flash that could appear when opening This PC or when resizing the Details pane in dark theme. Improvement: increased reliability of terminating the relevant explorer.exe processes after closing File Explorer windows.
- Haptic feedback for compatible input devices. New: haptic feedback is supported on compatible input devices for certain actions – for example, when aligning objects in PowerPoint, snapping or resizing windows. Haptic signals are turned on and off in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, touchpad, or pen > Haptic signals. Supported devices include Surface Slim Pen 2, ASUS Pen 3.0, and MSI Pen 2 with haptic feedback. Support for additional devices, including specific mouse models such as Logitech MX Master 4, will arrive as updates are released by manufacturers.
- Voice input on the touch keyboard. New: voice input on the touch keyboard now looks simpler and more intuitive. The full-screen overlay has been removed, and voice input animations are displayed directly on the dictation key.
- Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout. New: the Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout has been added. You can add it when selecting an Arabic keyboard in Time & language > Language & region. The layout is intended for those who prefer the older version that was used before the AltGr changes.
- Drop Tray (formerly Drag Tray). New: Drag Tray has been renamed to Drop Tray. Its settings have been moved from the Nearby sharing section to Settings > System > Multitasking. Drop Tray uses a more compact representation on hover – this reduces the chance of accidental opening and makes it easier to close when working near the top of the screen.
- Agents on the taskbar with progress display. New: Windows adds a new way to track agent work from the taskbar. The feature is supported by both Microsoft and third-party agents, and the first adapter was Researcher in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. When Researcher works on a report, Windows shows progress on the taskbar. Hovering over the Microsoft 365 Copilot icon displays real-time progress. When the report is ready, Windows sends a notification – clicking the notification or icon returns to the app to view the results. Developers can learn about the API in the Windows.UI.Shell.Tasks API documentation.
- Enterprise State Roaming (ESR) via Windows Backup for Organizations. New: ESR can now be managed through Windows Backup for Organizations policies, simplifying configuration for IT administrators.
- Dynamic removal of preinstalled Microsoft apps by policy. New: support has been added for a dynamic removal list of apps for the Remove Default Microsoft Store packages policy in Windows Enterprise and Education editions. Administrators can remove additional MSIX/APPX format applications by specifying their package names via Group Policy. The dynamic list is not yet available in the Intune Settings Catalog – configuration is only possible through Group Policy or custom OMA-URI.
- New icon for Windows Protected Print Mode. New: a new icon has been added in print settings, showing printer support for Windows Protected Print Mode.
- Changed trust principle for cross-signed drivers. New: the trust principle of the Windows kernel for third-party drivers has been changed. Trust for cross-signed drivers is disabled by default, while drivers that have passed the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) and drivers from the trusted legacy drivers list are still allowed. Windows audits driver compatibility for at least 100 hours and three reboots before enabling enforcement. After activation, a small number of cross-signed drivers may be blocked.
- Secure batch file handling (LockBatchFilesWhenInUse). New: administrators and Application Control for Business policy authors now have additional control over the handling of batch files and command-line scripts (CMD). Administrators can enable a more secure processing mode where batch files cannot be changed during execution. To activate, add a registry parameter: registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor, parameter name LockBatchFilesWhenInUse, type DWORD, value 0 (disabled) or 1 (enabled). Policy authors can also enable this mode through the LockBatchFilesWhenInUse application manifest control element.
- Microsoft Store error fixes. Fixed: reduced the number of unexpected errors when downloading and installing apps from the Microsoft Store, including errors 0x80070057, 0x80240008, and 0x80073d28.
- Leelawadee UI font improvements. Improvement: improvements have been made to the Leelawadee UI font family for Thai, Lao, Khmer, and Lontara scripts – improved glyph sequence, positioning, and rendering.
- Improved driver compatibility with the audio service. Improvement: increased compatibility of third-party drivers with midisrv.exe.
- System tray loading reliability. Improvement: increased reliability of loading the taskbar system tray area.
- Windows Hello reliability. Improvement: increased reliability of Windows Hello (face recognition). Improvement: improved preservation of Windows Hello (fingerprint) during system updates.
- Faster storage details viewing and increased FAT32 limit. Improvement: faster viewing of storage details for large volumes in Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes. Change: increased the limit for formatting FAT32 volumes from the command line – from 32 GB to 2 TB.
- RAM usage optimization in Delivery Optimization. Improvement: optimized RAM usage – reduced the likelihood of unexpected large memory consumption.
- Color profile reliability for monitors. Improvement: increased reliability of saving and accessibility of color profile parameters for supported monitors.
- Simplified kiosk mode configuration with Microsoft Edge. Change: simplified configuration of allowed packaged applications in kiosk mode when Microsoft Edge is among those allowed.
- Faster startup of auto-start applications. Improvement: faster startup of auto-start applications after system startup (the list is available in Settings > Apps > Startup).
- Improved overall reliability of explorer.exe. Improvement: changes have been made to improve the reliability of explorer.exe – during login, interaction with the taskbar menu and Task View, unpinning items from Quick Access in File Explorer, and in other scenarios.
Installation via Windows Update: go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A system restart is required to complete the installation. After updating, the Windows 11, version 26H1 build number will change to 28000.2179.
| Feature / Change | Performance Increase or Decrease | Optimization | PC Speed | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Mode | 🟢 High (background processes minimized, full-screen focus) | 🟢 High (dedicated game-forward interface, reduced distractions) | 🟡 Medium (system resources prioritized for game) | 🟢 Critical (console-like experience, gamepad-first, lean-back gaming) |
| File Explorer: new archive formats and fixes | 🟢 Medium (faster archive handling natively) | 🟢 Medium (native uu/cpio/xar/nupkg support eliminates third-party tools) | 🟡 Low (smoother folder view persistence, no white flash in dark mode) | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Haptic feedback for compatible input devices | ⚪ No measurable impact | 🟡 Low (refined sensory feedback for precision tasks) | ⚪ Not applicable | 🟢 Medium (enhanced immersion on supported pens/mice when gaming casually) |
| Voice input on the touch keyboard | 🟢 Low (simpler, lighter overlay removed) | 🟢 Low (more intuitive, non-blocking dictation UI) | 🟡 Low (faster text input on touch devices) | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout | ⚪ No impact | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Drop Tray (formerly Drag Tray) | 🟢 Low (compact hover reduces accidental activation and UI jank) | 🟡 Low (streamlined multitasking sharing flow) | 🟡 Low (faster dismissal near screen top) | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Agents on the taskbar with progress display | 🟡 Low (lightweight progress reporting API) | 🟢 Medium (glanceable task progress without app switching) | 🟡 Low (reduces context-switching delay to check agent status) | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Enterprise State Roaming (ESR) via Windows Backup for Organizations | ⚪ No measurable impact | 🟢 Medium (simplified IT policy configuration) | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Dynamic removal of preinstalled Microsoft apps by policy | 🟢 Low (removes unwanted background app overhead) | 🟢 Medium (IT-controlled bloat reduction) | 🟡 Low (leaner system image, less background activity) | 🟡 Low (frees minor resources in managed gaming scenarios) |
| New icon for Windows Protected Print Mode | ⚪ No impact | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Changed trust principle for cross-signed drivers | 🟡 Low (potential block of very old poorly optimized drivers) | 🟢 High (enforces WHCP-tested, more stable drivers) | 🟡 Low (reduces instability from legacy driver crashes) | 🟡 Low (enforces more stable graphics/audio drivers; minor compatibility risk) |
| Secure batch file handling (LockBatchFilesWhenInUse) | ⚪ No measurable impact | 🟢 Medium (prevents runtime tampering, safer script execution) | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Microsoft Store error fixes | 🟢 Low (fewer failed install retries = less wasted I/O) | 🟢 Medium (reduced download/install errors 0x80070057, 0x80240008, 0x80073d28) | 🟡 Low (faster, uninterrupted app acquisition) | 🟡 Low (smoother game downloads from Store) |
| Leelawadee UI font improvements | ⚪ No measurable impact | 🟡 Low (better glyph rendering efficiency) | ⚪ Not applicable | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Improved driver compatibility with the audio service | 🟡 Low (more stable midisrv.exe interaction) | 🟢 Medium (better third-party audio driver compatibility) | 🟡 Low (avoids audio service crashes that can stall the system) | 🟡 Medium (reduced audio dropouts/glitches during gameplay) |
| System tray loading reliability | 🟢 Low (taskbar initializes faster and more consistently) | 🟡 Low (reduced tray load failures) | 🟡 Low (quicker desktop readiness after login) | 🟡 Low (less chance of missing background gaming icons) |
| Windows Hello reliability | ⚪ No measurable impact | 🟢 Low (better face/fingerprint recognition persistence) | 🟡 Low (faster login, no retry delays) | 🟡 Low (quicker return to game after unlock) |
| Faster storage details viewing and increased FAT32 limit | 🟢 Low (faster large-volume enumeration in Settings) | 🟢 Medium (format limit raised from 32 GB to 2 TB via command line) | 🟡 Low (quicker disk management overview) | 🟡 Low (large external FAT32 drives now natively formatable for consoles/storage) |
| RAM usage optimization in Delivery Optimization | 🟢 Medium (less unexpected large memory consumption) | 🟢 High (smarter memory footprint for update delivery) | 🟢 Medium (frees RAM for foreground tasks and games) | 🟢 Medium (prevents background memory pressure during gaming updates) |
| Color profile reliability for monitors | ⚪ No measurable impact | 🟡 Low (reliable color parameter preservation) | ⚪ Not applicable | 🟡 Low (accurate color after wake/reboot for HDR gaming) |
| Simplified kiosk mode configuration with Microsoft Edge | 🟢 Low (lighter kiosk provisioning) | 🟡 Low (simpler allowed-app configuration) | 🟡 Low (faster kiosk setup time) | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Faster startup of auto-start applications | 🟢 Medium (quicker auto-start app launch post-boot) | 🟡 Medium (optimized startup sequence) | 🟢 Medium (reduces time to reach idle/ready state) | 🟡 Low (background gaming launchers ready faster) |
| Improved overall reliability of explorer.exe | 🟢 Medium (fewer shell crashes/unresponsiveness) | 🟢 High (robustness across login, taskbar, Quick Access, Task View) | 🟢 Medium (smoother UI interactions, less resource waste on crash recovery) | 🟡 Low (stable desktop environment while Alt-Tabbing) |
Find and Change Settings
| Setting | Where to find | How to change |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Mode | Xbox app Game Bar settings Keyboard shortcut: Windows + F11 |
Open the Xbox app, go to Game Bar settings, or press Windows + F11 to enter Xbox Mode. To exit, press Windows + F11 again or use the exit option in the interface. |
| File Explorer: View and Sort settings persistence | Settings > Personalization > File Explorer (if applicable) File Explorer > Downloads, Documents, and similar folders |
View and Sort settings are now automatically saved in Downloads, Documents, and similar folders when applications open File Explorer directly into them. No manual configuration is required. |
| Haptic feedback for compatible input devices | Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, touchpad, or pen > Haptic signals | Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices, select your Mouse, Touchpad, or Pen, then find the Haptic signals option. Turn it on to enable haptic feedback for actions like aligning objects or snapping windows, or turn it off to disable. |
| Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout | Settings > Time & language > Language & region | Go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region. When adding an Arabic keyboard, select the Arabic 101 Legacy layout from the list to use the older version that was available before the AltGr changes. |
| Drop Tray (formerly Drag Tray) | Settings > System > Multitasking | Open Settings > System > Multitasking. Locate the Drop Tray settings to configure its behavior. The tray now uses a compact representation on hover to reduce accidental opening. |
| Agents on the taskbar with progress display | Taskbar Microsoft 365 Copilot app or other supported third-party agent apps |
When a supported agent like Researcher in Microsoft 365 Copilot works on a report, progress automatically appears on the taskbar icon. Hover over the icon to see real-time progress. Click the notification or icon when the report is ready to view results. |
| Enterprise State Roaming (ESR) via Windows Backup for Organizations | Windows Backup for Organizations policies (Intune / Group Policy) | IT administrators can manage ESR settings through Windows Backup for Organizations policies. Configure the relevant policies in Microsoft Intune or Group Policy Management Console to simplify ESR configuration. |
| Dynamic removal of preinstalled Microsoft apps by policy | Group Policy Editor Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store |
In Windows Enterprise or Education editions, open Group Policy Editor. Navigate to the "Remove Default Microsoft Store packages" policy. Specify the package names of additional MSIX/APPX format applications to remove them dynamically. This is not yet available in Intune Settings Catalog; use custom OMA-URI as an alternative. |
| Windows Protected Print Mode icon | Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners | Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. A new icon appears next to printers that support Windows Protected Print Mode. No manual change is required; the icon is displayed automatically. |
| Secure batch file handling (LockBatchFilesWhenInUse) | Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor | To prevent batch files from being modified during execution, open Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor. Create or modify the DWORD parameter LockBatchFilesWhenInUse: set the value to 1 to enable secure processing, or 0 to disable. Policy authors can also use the LockBatchFilesWhenInUse application manifest control element. |
| Auto-start applications startup behavior | Settings > Apps > Startup | Open Settings > Apps > Startup to see the list of auto-start applications. Toggle each application on or off to control whether it launches faster after system startup. The improvement applies automatically. |
| FAT32 volume format limit increase | Command Prompt (format command) | Use the command line to format FAT32 volumes up to 2 TB instead of the previous 32 GB limit. Example: format /FS:FAT32 X: (where X is the drive letter). |
| Storage details viewing | Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes | Open Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes. Storage details for large volumes now load faster. No manual change is required. |
| Color profile reliability for monitors | Settings > System > Display > Color profile | Open Settings > System > Display > Color profile. Color profile parameters are now saved and accessed more reliably for supported monitors. No manual change is required. |
| Kiosk mode configuration with Microsoft Edge | Settings > Accounts > Other users > Set up a kiosk | When setting up kiosk mode, if Microsoft Edge is among the allowed packaged applications, the configuration is now simplified. Follow the kiosk setup wizard in Settings > Accounts > Other users > Set up a kiosk and select the allowed apps. |
Official announcement on the Microsoft website.
The last 10 Windows updates:
| Update | Build | Version | Windows | Channel | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KB5121157 | 28020.2818 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-31 |
| KB5121158 | 28120.2824 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-31 |
| KB5121794 | 26300.9278 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Preview | 2026-08-27 |
| KB5121132 | 28120.2760 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-21 |
| KB5124040 | 26220.9223 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-21 |
| KB5124042 | 26340.9233 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-21 |
| KB5121106 | 28020.2731 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-17 |
| KB5121109 | 28120.2738 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-17 |
| KB5124036 | 26220.9202 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-17 |
| KB5124038 | 26340.9212 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-17 |