Microsoft’s documentation confirms several important distinctions. The modern Run dialog is an opt-in Experimental feature; the battery widget arrived in an October preview announcement; and the Windows Hello improvement was announced on November 6, 2026. These are separate developments, not one guaranteed feature package that appears simply because you install Windows 11.
The useful question, then, is not just “What’s coming?” It is which experience you can test, what it requires, and what happens if the advertised switch is missing.
First, choose the right kind of preview
Microsoft changed the Insider program’s structure in April 2026, replacing Dev and Canary with Experimental, alongside a refreshed Beta channel. Experimental is for features under active development that may change or never ship. Beta previews features closer to release and is Microsoft’s recommendation for people seeking a more stable preview experience.
One significant detail: Microsoft’s April announcement says it is ending gradual feature rollouts in Beta. Experimental retains more testing flexibility, including selected feature switches. That means the familiar explanation “you just haven’t won the rollout lottery” should not automatically be applied to every missing Beta feature. Check the announcement’s channel and requirements first.
For a concrete reference point, Microsoft’s November 6 announcement listed Beta build 26320.9876 and Experimental build 26340.9882, with separate builds for 26H1 and Future Platforms. Those numbers identify that release’s branches; they do not establish that every feature below is enabled on every listed build.
1. A cleaner Windows Search experience
PCMag reports a less distracting Search opening view, greater emphasis on local files, and Settings controls for excluding Bing and Microsoft Store results. Those are appealing changes for anyone who opens Search to find a document rather than discover what the internet is arguing about.
Microsoft independently documents a redesigned WinUI 3 Search experience with a consolidated list of applications, files, settings, and documents. However, that support page does not establish all the Bing-removal controls PCMag describes. It also says the initial preview is English-only and gradually available to eligible Insiders.
To inspect the documented experience, select the taskbar search box or press Windows+S. Importantly, Microsoft says searching from Start, including typing after pressing the Windows key, can still open the existing Search experience. Two different-looking search interfaces therefore need not indicate a broken installation. Suggested content is managed through Settings > Privacy & security > Search.
The practical benefit is a more focused starting point. But cleaner Search should not be confused with proof that every online result has disappeared.
2. An internet speed test that stays inside Windows
The distinction here is between a shortcut to a test and a test displayed inside Windows.
Microsoft’s February 17, 2026 Release Preview notes described a taskbar-accessible speed test that opened the default browser and supported Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular connections. That older implementation explains why some users already recognize the command.
On October 23, Microsoft announced an Experimental update that displays test progress and results directly in Quick Settings. Its documented entry points are the Speed test Quick Setting, the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout, or right-clicking the network icon and choosing Test internet speed. Results include download speed, upload speed, and ping.
That is meaningful corroboration of PCMag’s browser-free experience, although the menu wording differs from its description. If your test still opens a browser, that alone does not mean it failed: you may be using the earlier implementation.
For troubleshooting, treat this as a convenient measurement—not a diagnosis that automatically identifies the cause of a slow connection.
3. A modern Run dialog with a familiar job
The Run box is getting a redesign without abandoning its keyboard-first purpose. Microsoft’s May 1 announcement describes a rebuilt interface with Fluent styling, dark-mode support, and a 94-millisecond median time to appear in its measurements. That is Microsoft’s performance result, not a WindowsForum benchmark.
Microsoft documents this activation procedure:
- Use a Windows 11 Insider build in the Experimental channel.
- Open Settings > System > Advanced.
- Enable Run Dialog.
- Press Windows+R to open the replacement interface.
A useful addition is ~\, which opens your user directory and lets you continue navigating from there. Microsoft also says the new dialog shares its run-command provider with PowerToys Command Palette.
The important test is not merely whether the box looks modern. Try the commands and paths you actually depend on. A replacement for a deeply ingrained shortcut succeeds when your muscle memory survives the renovation.
4. One battery widget for the PC and peripherals
Microsoft announced the Battery Status widget on October 7 for Experimental-channel Insiders on newer builds. Its purpose is to collect battery information for the PC and connected peripherals in one view, rather than requiring users to inspect several interfaces.
The official addition path is:
Widgets board > Add widgets > Battery Status.
PCMag describes headphones, keyboards, mice, and controllers among the devices represented. Microsoft’s announcement, however, does not provide a universal compatibility list. “Peripheral battery widget” is supported; “works with every battery-powered accessory you own” is not.
For your own test, check whether the devices you care about appear and expose useful readings. A centralized dashboard has obvious appeal before a meeting or gaming session, but its value depends on actual device coverage—not the number of accessories in the promotional screenshot.
5. Less intrusive Sticky Keys and Filter Keys prompts
PCMag reports new checkboxes in the Sticky Keys and Filter Keys activation dialogs that let users suppress future interruptions without first navigating through Settings.
The underlying shortcuts are longstanding and documented by Microsoft Support: pressing Shift five times invokes the Sticky Keys shortcut, while holding Right Shift for eight seconds invokes Filter Keys. Sticky Keys supports entering multi-key shortcuts sequentially rather than holding their keys simultaneously.
The new suppression checkbox remains a PCMag-reported preview detail here, rather than a feature independently established by the Microsoft release notes inspected for this article.
There is also an important accessibility distinction: hiding an activation prompt is not the same task as deciding whether an accessibility feature should be enabled. If you rely on these functions, evaluate the dialog’s wording carefully. The desirable improvement is more control over interruptions, not treating accessibility assistance as clutter that everyone should remove.
6. Android phone controls in Quick Settings
Microsoft’s October 23 Experimental announcement confirms a Mobile devices experience in Quick Settings. With a supported Android phone connected, users can change Do Not Disturb, adjust the ringer mode, and play a sound to locate the phone.
PCMag describes opening Quick Settings from the taskbar and selecting Mobile devices. The everyday appeal is straightforward: quiet the phone before a call, or find it without opening a separate application.
Compatibility needs more nuance than “Android only.” Microsoft says Android initially receives the most complete controls, while iPhone support begins with a more limited, status-focused experience. Capabilities vary with platform and configuration.
Consequently, seeing phone status without every action does not automatically indicate a fault. The sensible first check is whether your connected device supports the particular control you are trying to use.
7. Resume a webpage without installing another browser
PCMag describes moving an Android webpage to the PC’s default browser. Microsoft’s September 8 Experimental announcement explains the specific improvement behind that description.
When the browser used on the phone is not installed on the PC, the Resume hovercard offers two choices: open the webpage in the PC’s default browser, or install the originating phone browser. Previously, the missing application could interrupt the handoff; the new option lets users continue without installing it first.
That is more precise than promising universal browser synchronization. The announcement does not establish that every Android browser, account configuration, or webpage participates.
For testing, look for the default-browser option when a supported webpage produces a Resume hovercard. Success means continuing that page in the browser already configured on the PC—not necessarily transferring browser history, sessions, or every aspect of the phone’s browsing state.
8. Enter a Windows Hello PIN while biometrics are pending
Microsoft’s November 6 announcement confirms an Experimental-channel sign-in change: users can enter their PIN without waiting for face or fingerprint recognition to finish. The idea is to use whichever authentication method succeeds first.
The benefit is reduced waiting, rather than evidence that PIN verification itself has become computationally faster. If facial recognition is taking too long, the user can proceed instead of waiting for that attempt to conclude.
Microsoft also identifies a boundary worth remembering: at certain times, including after a restart, the PIN is required first, after which biometrics work normally.
For anyone evaluating the change, test both an ordinary unlock and a post-restart sign-in. The point is more predictable interaction—not a promise that every authentication event will behave identically.
9. A built-in pointer indicator, with a revised shortcut
Microsoft’s March 20, 2026 release notes for build 26300.8085, KB5079483, documented the resumed rollout of the pointer indicator for low-vision users. The setting helps users locate their cursor.
To enable it:
- Open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch.
- Turn on Pointer indicator.
- Use Windows+Ctrl+Shift+X to toggle it after enabling the setting.
The shortcut deserves emphasis because older instructions can be misleading. Microsoft initially documented Windows+Ctrl+X in February 2024. Later release notes changed it to Windows+Ctrl+Shift+X to reduce accidental activation.
This is therefore an evolving feature with a longer preview history, not an entirely new November invention. Its presence in an Insider roundup also does not establish universal availability on production PCs.
10. Feature flags without third-party commands
Microsoft’s April Insider redesign introduced a Feature flags page within Windows Insider Program settings for Experimental users. It lets testers enable or disable selected features directly. Microsoft initially targeted visible, announced features; less visible fixes and system improvements may not have individual switches.
PCMag contrasts this with using third-party utilities such as ViVeTool. The practical advantage is discoverability: supported switches are easier to inspect than a collection of undocumented identifiers.
Still, this is not a master switchboard for everything Microsoft is developing. If an item is absent, do not assume a flag must exist somewhere. A useful testing discipline is to change one option at a time and record the result, rather than enabling everything and then trying to identify which experiment caused trouble.
How to try these changes without sacrificing your main PC
Use a secondary PC if possible. Microsoft Support warns that Insider builds are less stable than production releases and eventually expire. Before enrolling, back up anything you cannot afford to lose and decide how you would recover the machine.
Microsoft’s enrollment procedure is:
- Register for the Windows Insider Program.
- Open Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
- Select Get Started, then Link an account.
- Choose the account registered with the program.
- Select your channel and continue through the agreements.
- Restart when prompted.
After updating, record the version and build under Settings > System > About. Check each feature’s channel, opt-in setting, language, and device requirements before attempting repairs. For Search specifically, Microsoft says installing the latest preview does not guarantee immediate access.
Also plan the exit. Microsoft’s redesigned program supports in-place movement between compatible channels in most cases, but Experimental Future Platforms still requires a clean installation when moving away from that branch. Do not confuse stopping future previews with instantly restoring a production installation.
The strongest theme across these ten changes is welcome restraint: fewer interruptions, fewer unnecessary application launches, and more useful controls where people already look. Test the improvements that address your actual frustrations—and remember that an experimental checkbox is an invitation to evaluate, not an obligation to enable.