Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5094978 (Build 28020.2236) for Windows 11, version 26H1 for insiders on the Beta channel.
- Extension of update pauses. The Windows Update section now allows you to extend update pauses as many times as you need.
- Administrator protection. Following the resumption of the Administrator protection feature rollout, which is enabled by IT administrators, the ability to enable Administrator protection has now also been added in Settings under Privacy & security > Windows Security > Account protection, by toggling the switch to On. A reboot will be required to complete the process.
Known issues:
- Audio issue. Fixed a bug that caused sound to stop working for some insiders after the latest flights.
- Settings issue. Fixed a bug that affected the reliability of the Settings > Apps > Installed apps section after the latest flights.
- Overall reliability and freezes. If you experienced freezes in the previous flight when interacting with search, Notepad, or in some other scenarios, this problem should now be resolved.
Install via Windows Update. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A computer restart is required to complete the installation.
Features and capabilities included in these builds may never be released in the final version – Microsoft is testing different concepts and collecting feedback. Features may change, be removed, or replaced and may not ship beyond the Windows Insider program. Some of them may appear in future Windows releases when they are fully ready.
Some features that are under active development and are being previewed by Microsoft to insiders may not be fully localized. Localization will be completed as features are finalized. If you notice localization issues in your language, please report them through the Feedback Hub app.
| Feature / Change | Performance Impact | Optimization | PC Speed | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extension of update pauses | ⚪ No impact (scheduling change) | 🟢 High (user control over update timing) | 🟢 Medium (avoids forced update slowdowns) | 🟢 Medium (users can pause updates during gaming sessions) |
| Administrator protection toggle in Settings | ⚪ No impact | 🟡 Medium (streamlined admin approval process) | ⚪ No impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Fix: Audio issue for some insiders | 🔴 High (was causing audio driver crashes) | 🟢 High (restored normal audio stack operation) | 🟡 Low (audio service no longer hangs at startup) | 🟢 High (critical fix for in-game audio) |
| Fix: Settings > Apps > Installed apps reliability | 🟡 Low (UI freeze resolved) | 🟡 Medium (smoother app management) | 🟢 Medium (Settings no longer hangs when listing apps) | ⚪ No impact |
| Fix: Overall freezes (search, Notepad, various scenarios) | 🔴 High (frequent UI thread blocking) | 🟢 High (eliminated background task deadlocks) | 🟢 High (system responsiveness restored) | 🟢 Medium (no more freezes during game launcher browsing) |
Find and Change Settings
| Setting | Where to find | How to change |
|---|---|---|
| Extension of Update Pauses | Settings > Windows Update | In the Windows Update section, locate the pause option. You can now extend the update pause as many times as needed by selecting the desired duration repeatedly. |
| Administrator Protection | Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Account protection | To enable Administrator protection, open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Account protection and toggle the switch to On. A system reboot is required to complete the process. To disable it, toggle the switch to Off and reboot. |
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 |