Massive Windows 11 update ships to Insiders in its last stop before rolling out to everyone
Windows Insiders can test a ton of new features that are likely on the way to everyone this autumn.
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What you need to know
Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel have a new build of Windows 11 to install. Windows 11 Build 26100.1297 shipped this week, and it includes several new features, changes, and improvements.
While the Release Preview Channel is the final stop before shipping features to general availability, Microsoft has not shared an exact date for when these features will roll out. Our sources say Microsoft is targeting September or October for the release ofWindows 11 version 24H2, so there’s a good chance many of the features seen in this week’s Release Preview Channel build ship this autumn.
The Release Preview Channel is the most stable of the Insider channels. Generally, it’s the final stop for features in testing before those features roll out to general availability. That means that many of the changes seen in this Release Preview Channel update have been in testing in other Insider channels for a while, such asdragging files between breadcrumbsin File Explorer, andimprovements to Windows backup.
Even if you’re running the latest Windows 11 Insider build on your PC, you may not see all of these features. Some of them are rolling out gradually, while others are available to everyone running the latest build. Microsoft breaks all of the changes down in anInsider blog post.
Windows 11 Build 26100.1297 (gradual rollout)
Lock screen
Start menu
File Explorer
Emoji
Windows Share
Windows Backup
Settings
Task Manager
Windows 11 Build 26100.1297 (normal rollout)
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
