Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.5742 (KB5064075) to the Beta Channel, introducing significant enhancements and fixes for users on Windows 11, version 24H2.
In this build, Microsoft continues its initiative to migrate settings from the traditional Control Panel to the modern Settings app, enhancing user experience and accessibility. Key changes include:
Source: Microsoft - Windows Insiders Blog Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.5742 (Beta Channel)
Transitioning Time and Language Settings to the Settings App
In this build, Microsoft continues its initiative to migrate settings from the traditional Control Panel to the modern Settings app, enhancing user experience and accessibility. Key changes include:- Additional Clocks Configuration: Users can now add multiple clocks directly from Settings > Time & language > Date & time. These additional clocks will appear in the Notification Center and as tooltips when hovering over the taskbar clock.
- Time Server Selection: The option to change the time server is now available under Settings > Time & language > Date & time in the "Additional settings" section.
- Date and Time Formatting: Formatting settings, including the ability to change the AM/PM symbol, have been relocated to Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
- Number and Currency Format: Users can now adjust number and currency formats via Settings > Time & language > Language & region under the "Region" section.
- Unicode UTF-8 Support: A new toggle to enable Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support has been added under Settings > Time & language > Language & region in the "Language" section.
- Copy Language and Region Settings: Users can now copy current language and region settings to the welcome screen, system account, and new user accounts from Settings > Time & language > Language & region under "Additional settings".
Enhancements to Keyboard Settings
Further streamlining the user experience, Microsoft has moved additional keyboard settings from the Control Panel to the Settings app:- Character Repeat Delay/Rate: This setting is now accessible via Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Cursor Blink Rate: Users can adjust the cursor blink rate under Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor.
Visual Updates and Fixes
The latest build also includes visual enhancements and critical fixes:- Updated Dialogs: Dialogs, such as those appearing when an app cannot open, have been updated to align with Windows 11's modern aesthetics.
- File Explorer Improvements: Issues with icon mirroring in right-to-left languages, persistent tooltips, and performance during file launches and context menu loading have been addressed.
- Start Menu Refinements: Fixes include resolving unexpected category generation in the "All" section and ensuring correct categorization of applications like Visual Studio.
- Task Manager Reliability: Improvements have been made to prevent freezes in the performance section and enhance accessibility features.
- Input Method Editor (IME) Fixes: Issues related to typing Chinese characters after copying text and functionality of certain IMEs have been resolved.
- Settings Stability: Crashes occurring when adding security keys under Settings > Account > Sign-in options have been fixed.
- System Stability: Underlying issues causing app crashes and system bugchecks have been mitigated.
Known Issues and Workarounds
Microsoft acknowledges several known issues in this build:- Update Rollback: Some users may experience a rollback with error 0x80070005 during installation. A potential workaround is navigating to Settings > System > Recovery > "Fix issues using Windows update".
- Click to Do (Preview): After updating, text and image actions may not function correctly, and the application may crash. This issue is slated for resolution in the next update.
- Start Menu Layout: The Start menu may temporarily display a smaller layout. This is a known issue and will be addressed in upcoming releases.
- File Explorer Visuals: In dark mode, certain colors, such as the red indicator for low disk space, may appear incorrectly.
- Live Captions: Attempting to use live translation on a Copilot+ PC may cause Live Captions to crash.
- Xbox Controller Connectivity: Using an Xbox Controller via Bluetooth may lead to system bugchecks. To resolve this, users can uninstall the relevant driver via Device Manager.
Conclusion
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.5742 brings a host of enhancements aimed at improving user experience, system stability, and accessibility. By migrating more settings to the modern Settings app and addressing critical issues, Microsoft continues to refine Windows 11 in response to user feedback. Insiders are encouraged to explore these new features and report any issues to assist in the ongoing development process.Source: Microsoft - Windows Insiders Blog Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.5742 (Beta Channel)
