The version change is less dramatic than it sounds. Microsoft says the move comes through an enablement package (eKB), so you shouldn't expect any big change from the new build number alone. The features listed below are what actually make this build different.
From 26220 to 26320: the version jump
Until this week, Beta was the last channel still on 25H2. A week earlier, Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.9836 to the Beta Channel on October 30, 2026. The update is based on Windows 11 version 25H2 and delivered through an enablement package. In early October, Insiders on Eleven Forum noted that 26H2 was not on the Beta channel yet, while Release Preview and public builds were 26H2 26300.9550 and the Experimental channel was 26H2 26340.9596. One forum member guessed it would take a separate Enablement package to get to 26320.xxxx. That's what Microsoft shipped.
Microsoft's own release-information page lists Version 26H2 (OS build 26300) as the shipping baseline. The Beta channel's 26320 numbering puts it on the same 26H2 codebase but in a separate preview lane. The Russian site Comss.ru reports that the update is cumulative update KB5132099 (Build 26320.9876) for Windows 11, version 26H2. That KB number comes from third-party reporting, not from Microsoft's release notes.
Where the channels stand now:
| Channel / release | Version | Build family |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (before Nov. 6) | 25H2 | 26220.x |
| Beta (now) | 26H2 via eKB | 26320.9876 |
| Release Preview / GA | 26H2 | 26300.x |
| Experimental | 26H2 | 26340.x |
In short: the version label changed, but the new features below are what Beta testers will actually notice.
Windows Search rebuilt on WinUI 3
The headline feature is a new Windows Search built on WinUI 3, which is now starting a gradual rollout. Microsoft says it's faster and uses fewer resources, and that the streamlined design makes results easier to scan. Matching for typos and synonyms is also improved, and Microsoft says it will keep tuning that over the coming weeks. This first release supports English only.
The bigger change is inline actions. You can do certain things directly from search results without opening Settings, including:
- turning on dark mode or Bluetooth
- adjusting screen brightness
- muting your device
- arranging windows
Microsoft's October 7 Windows Insider Blog post has more background. The new Search first appeared that day in the Experimental channel. The redesign puts everything in one results list, because Microsoft's data showed nearly all clicks came from the left-hand results list, not the large preview pane on the right. Microsoft says early testing showed "substantial improvements in performance and memory usage" but didn't publish any numbers. Treat it as an unverified claim for now.
Some things are not in this build. According to that same blog post, inline file previews, rich web previews (weather, quick answers) and category filters are coming later. Phone actions through Phone Link are also listed as "coming soon." The new Search won't reach the Start menu until next year, so searching from Start still uses the old experience for now. Microsoft also mentioned future "thoughtful integrations" with Copilot. That will interest anyone who has watched Copilot spread across Windows.
If something misbehaves, open Feedback Hub with Win+F and file it under Desktop Environment > Search.
In short: Search is moving toward being a command launcher, not just a search box. The Beta preview covers the core redesign and the first set of actions. The extras come later.
Web sign-in on Entra hybrid-joined devices
For IT administrators, this is the most important item. Microsoft says Web sign-in now works on Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined devices. Until now it was limited to Entra-joined devices. Users can sign in at the lock screen without a password, using:
- a FIDO2 security key
- a passkey on their phone
- a Temporary Access Pass (TAP)
After sign-in, Windows gets a Kerberos ticket, so on-premises file shares and internal sites keep working. Many organizations still run hybrid setups, and passwordless sign-in has often been hard to deploy there.
Microsoft's documentation hasn't caught up yet. The current Microsoft Learn page on Web sign-in, last updated March 29, 2026, still lists Entra joined as a prerequisite. It also states plainly that Web sign-in is not supported on Entra hybrid-joined or domain-joined devices. The Beta release notes are describing a preview expansion that the official configuration guidance doesn't cover yet. Don't plan a production rollout around it.
That page does document what's already known about Web sign-in, and it's useful if you want to test the preview in a lab:
- It needs policy. Web sign-in doesn't turn itself on. In Intune, create a Settings catalog policy and set Authentication > Enable Web Sign In to Enabled. Optional settings let you list allowed sign-in domains and domains that may use the webcam. The matching CSP path is
./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Authentication/EnableWebSignIn, and provisioning packages use Policies/Authentication/EnableWebSignIn. - It needs the internet. Authentication happens online, and cached credentials aren't supported. If the device is offline, Web sign-in can't be used to sign in. That matters for laptops that leave the office.
- It becomes the default. Once it's enabled, Web sign-in is the default credential provider for new users. You can change that with the DefaultCredentialProvider policy.
- Getting back out. Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete returns you to the lock screen. That's also the documented workaround for the offline error, where "Back to sign-in" doesn't work.
Those details describe the existing Entra-joined feature. Microsoft hasn't confirmed that they apply unchanged to the hybrid preview. Use them as a starting point for testing, not as a full list of requirements.
In short: this is a significant change for hybrid shops, but it's still an Insider feature. Test it in a lab and keep production plans on hold.
Live captions, Windows Hello and accessibility prompts
Live captions now lets you choose what gets transcribed: system audio, your microphone, or both. Previously, captions used system audio, and the microphone was only an add-on. Now you can caption an in-person conversation without picking up a video playing in another window. You can also caption only your PC's audio during a meeting.
Windows Hello facial recognition can now briefly brighten your screen to help it recognize you in a dark room. To turn it on:
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Expand Facial recognition (Windows Hello).
- Turn on Automatically adjust screen brightness during face recognition.
Sticky Keys and Filter Keys prompts are also being updated. These are the dialogs that pop up when you press Shift five times or hold it down, which often happens by accident mid-game. You'll now be able to stop them for good from the prompt itself.
XBOX mode, family storage and the tilde
- Gaming: Quick settings is coming to the Gaming Task View navigation bar in XBOX mode. You get the full set of taskbar Quick settings without leaving the controller-friendly interface. Microsoft doesn't list any separate hardware requirements.
- Microsoft 365 Family storage: Settings now shows shared cloud-storage use for Family subscriptions under Settings > Accounts > Cloud storage. A per-member breakdown is "coming soon," so it isn't there yet. Availability depends on when you bought the subscription:
- Bought after October 8, 2026: you can see the view now.
- Bought before October 8, 2026: it appears after your first renewal on or after May 2, 2027.
- File Explorer: the address bar now understands
~as your user profile folder, so typing~\AppDatatakes you straight there. Anyone who uses Linux, macOS or PowerShell will find this familiar. Microsoft's notes only mention the profile folder and its subfolders, so don't expect other shortcuts.
Should you care, and should you install it?
For most Beta Insiders, this build is worth taking. The new Search is the most visible change to the shell in a while. Live captions and Windows Hello get real improvements, and the tilde shortcut is a small fix that power users will use daily. One question is whether the new Search stays out of your way, or whether the Copilot plans mentioned in the blog bring back the clutter Microsoft removed earlier this year. Insider feedback will help decide that.
Admins need to read the Web sign-in item carefully. Expanding passwordless sign-in to hybrid-joined PCs while keeping Kerberos access to on-premises resources is a real step forward. For now, though, it exists only in Insider release notes, while Microsoft's official documentation still says hybrid isn't supported.
The usual Insider caveats apply. Microsoft says features in these builds may change, be removed, or never ship beyond Insiders, and some may not be fully translated yet. The watermark in the lower-right corner of the desktop is normal on Insider builds. Several features, especially Search, are rolling out gradually, so if you don't see them right away, your PC may just be later in the rollout.