Attention all Windows Insiders! Fresh off the digital oven is Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 (KB5050094), officially rolling out on the Release Preview Channel for Windows 11, version 24H2. This update is jam-packed with a mix of new features, sleek improvements, interesting fixes, and more—all designed to refine your overall Windows experience. Let’s tear into this update like your favorite dessert and explore what's under the hood!
The update is split into two main categories: Gradual Rollouts and Normal Rollouts. Gradual Rollouts highlight features being cautiously handed out to ensure stability, while Normal Rollouts bring improvements available to all Insiders once the update kicks in. Let’s dive right in.
Source: Microsoft - Windows Insiders Blog Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 to the Release Preview Channel
Major Highlights of Windows 11 Build 26100.3025
The update is split into two main categories: Gradual Rollouts and Normal Rollouts. Gradual Rollouts highlight features being cautiously handed out to ensure stability, while Normal Rollouts bring improvements available to all Insiders once the update kicks in. Let’s dive right in.Gradual Rollout Features & Fixes
These updates will be seedily introduced, meaning you might not have them out of the gate—they're on a slow rollout train for now.Better Taskbar Previews
- What's New? The taskbar app previews are getting a major animation boost, providing a smoother and snappier experience when you hover over apps. Think of this as a tiny sneak peek showcase getting a much-needed cinematographic touch.
Windows Studio Effects Icon
- What’s New? Devices outfitted with Neural Processing Units (NPU) will now display a quick system tray icon when running apps that support Windows Studio Effects. This lets you access the effects settings directly or sneak a peek at which app is swiping your camera input.
Fonts Love Unicode G, H, and I
- What’s New? Introducing Simsun-ExtG, a new Chinese simplified font, now supporting a whopping 9,753 ideographs! Fancy Unicode enthusiasts, rejoice—characters from Unicode Extensions G, H, and I are here, including support for quirky terms like biángbiáng (“Biangbiang noodles”). Some apps might take a while to fully support these new Unicode characters, but hey, progress is tasty.
File Explorer Improvements
- "Collaborate, Your Way" – The home page of File Explorer now lets you access files shared by others via Microsoft accounts or Microsoft Entra IDs. Shared files from Teams chats, OneDrive, and emails line up neatly in the "Shared" tab under your File Explorer Home.
- Revamped Left Pane Context Menu – Right-clicking just got smarter with a "New Folder" command front and center in the context menu.
- Fixed Annoying Glitches – Issues like File Explorer search repeating itself randomly, icons refusing to update, and the learning curve between dark mode vs. light mode have been sorted. Microsoft, we see you.
Mobile Hotspot Goes 6 GHz
- Your Mobile Hotspot now takes advantage of the 6 GHz band (if your device hardware and drivers support it). This speed boost helps you share the fastest Wi-Fi signals available today, but keep in mind: only devices with newer chipsets will get access to this band.
Miscellaneous Fixed Bugs
- Mouse Madness: Bugs with pointer "stutters," transparency causing odd black boxes, or cursor disappearance are things of the past.
- Pinyin IME Stability: No more random language-switching (like Chinese to English) when shifting between windows—keyboard warriors using Pinyin can breathe a sigh of relief.
- Snipping Tool Tame: Screenshots looking distorted on clashing multi-monitor setups? Fixed. Capture away!
- Cumulative Update Errors Resolved: Important installs failing (error code 0x800736b3)? Consider that stress vanquished.
Normal Rollout Changes
Unlike gradual changes, these are official and generally available public-facing improvements.Windows Backup
- Restoring data onto a new device? Post-backup setups now also restore the Standard Windows Taskbar experience. Yes, you still need to pin your apps, but this change aims to keep things familiar.
Auto HDR Now Behaving
- Got some overly saturated visuals while gaming? If the game uses Auto HDR, Microsoft has fine-tuned it to depict colors closer to perfection without visual overkill.
Time Zone Editor – "everyone but an admin function holders:
....T=Remember processing path between domain-bootstrap-manager.listenerSource: Microsoft - Windows Insiders Blog Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 to the Release Preview Channel
