Windows 11 Insiders Update: AI Features, Multi-Monitor Enhancements & Reliability Fixes

Windows 11 Insiders have reason to celebrate as Microsoft’s latest preview builds—Dev Channel build 26200.5722 and Beta Channel build 26120.5722, both delivered as KB5062669—bring a suite of meaningful enhancements and fixes, many targeting long-standing user pain points. With a shared changelog between the two release channels, this update unites the Windows testing community around a refreshed, smarter, and more user-centric desktop experience. As Redmond continues to iterate on Windows 11 amid rapid advances in AI integration and user feedback, these builds provide a glimpse into the platform’s near future—where natural language controls, refined multi-monitor workflow, and robust reliability are beginning to take center stage.

An Intelligent Settings Agent for Copilot+ PCs​

Central to this update is a new agent embedded into the Settings app, tailored for Intel and AMD-powered Copilot+ PCs. This feature lets users search for and adjust Windows settings using everyday language, bypassing the need to remember exact menu names or toggles. Type or say, for example, “I can’t connect to Wi-Fi,” and the agent will surface relevant solutions directly within Settings.
This move is emblematic of Microsoft’s AI-driven push: by reducing friction and technical jargon, Windows 11 becomes more inclusive for less technical users and more productive for power users alike. The concept is similar to what Microsoft has showcased with Copilot integration across its ecosystem—bridging gaps between human intention and digital action.
Analysis: Early previews of such natural language control have shown potential, but depend heavily on robust language models and context understanding. Competitors like macOS and ChromeOS are also moving toward conversational user assistance, yet Microsoft’s head start via Copilot+ chips and Windows integration could deliver a uniquely deep and coherent experience—should it prove accurate and context-aware in real-world use. If user feedback from Insider builds suggests ambiguity, lag, or incomplete results, Microsoft may need to invest further in dataset diversity and regional language support.

Taskbar Multitasking: True Multi-Monitor Parity Arrives​

For years, Windows multi-monitor enthusiasts have asked for more consistent and flexible taskbar experiences. Historically, features like notification center and calendar flyouts were limited to the primary display, leading to a fragmented feel for those with elaborate setups. With this update, the notification center and calendar flyout functionality are finally available on all attached monitors. Invoking these features from any display—no more reaching for a specific taskbar—brings Windows closer to the parity offered by third-party tools and, increasingly, by competitor operating systems.
Usability Impact:

• Greater workflow fluidity for power users, developers, and creators managing several displays
• Reduced “mouse mileage” and cognitive load when referencing notifications or calendar events
• Support for a broader array of hardware setups—especially in work-from-home and hybrid office contexts

Caveats: While the change is platform-wide, there’s potential for edge-case bugs with less common configurations (e.g., daisy-chained monitors, USB-display adapters) which Microsoft acknowledges should be reported via the Windows Feedback Hub. Power users are encouraged to stress-test these changes, as the company’s history with taskbar revisions has sometimes yielded surprising regression bugs.

Second Chance Out of Box Experience (SCOOBE) Streamlined​

Windows onboarding is in perpetual evolution, with Microsoft experimenting to maximize successful setup outcomes and proper privacy configuration. The new single-page SCOOBE screen surfaces toggles for multiple settings at once, aiming to streamline out-of-box flows for new users or post-upgrade scenarios. This change may help reduce the common user frustration of being forced through multiple, sequential configuration pages.
Strengths:

• Faster, more user-friendly initial setup process
• Immediate visibility of key privacy and personalization choices
• Aligns Windows with onboarding conventions seen on rival platforms

Potential Risks: Over-simplification could mean some important options are missed or misunderstood by new users. As with all condensed UIs, fine-tuning clarity and default selections is critical to avoid accidental opt-ins (or opt-outs) with privacy ramifications.

Click to Do: An Evolving Smart Productivity Tool​

Click to Do, Microsoft’s lightweight task manager and organizer that leverages AI for intelligent suggestions, receives a new tutorial for first-time launches—an important step as the company pushes for wider adoption beyond early testers. For new users, this onboarding promises better handholding and understanding of the feature’s unique value.
Current Limitations: Some AMD and Intel Copilot+ PC users may experience slow startup times when launching Click to Do’s intelligent text actions for the first time after updating. Microsoft explicitly points to forthcoming fixes, signaling responsiveness to this feedback. As productivity tools compete for real estate and engagement in Windows, execution speed and reliability remain as important as clever features.

File Explorer, Start Menu, and Input Method Fixes​

Several smaller but crucial fixes further demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to squashing long-standing platform hiccups:

• File Explorer: Users can again successfully unblock files through Properties, resolving issues where files appeared perpetually blocked despite user action.
• Start Menu (Touch): The reimagined Start menu now works reliably for touch navigation, crucial for the next generation of touch-enabled Windows devices. The swipe-up gesture and other touch controls now behave as expected.
• Input Methods: Microsoft restores full support for the Changjie Input method, Hindi and Marathi Phonetic keyboards. This maintains Windows’ reputation as a multilingual platform, especially important for global markets.

Critical analysis: These corrections, while “minor” in scope, are the unseen fabric of a trustworthy OS. Recent user frustration on forums about blocked files, Start menu inconsistencies, and broken input methods suggests Microsoft’s triage approach is working, though the reactive cycle highlights the importance of broader Insider testing pre-release.

Task Manager, Administrator Protection, and Settings Dialog Tweaks​

• Task Manager: Microsoft reintroduces refined CPU utilization calculation logic for further tester feedback.
• Administrator Protection: Resolves an issue preventing the Xbox app (and potentially others) from launching under certain protection settings. Previously, users saw unhelpful errors (0xC0000142 or 0xC0000045); with this fix, app compatibility and security policy coexist more harmoniously.
• Settings (BitLocker link): The storage settings page no longer teases unsupported BitLocker drive encryption options—a small UX improvement that spares users dead-end clicks and ambiguous errors.

ARM64 and Thunderbolt Support: Subtle but Significant​

For the growing Windows on ARM community, this update addresses:

• Installer stalls for certain apps on ARM64 hardware—a key barrier to greater ARM device adoption, especially in enterprise settings.
• Thunderbolt-connected external graphics cards now properly appear in Device Manager, a nod to pro users and gamers using advanced setups.

Strategic Outlook: With Microsoft betting big on ARM-powered Copilot+ machines and AI workloads, tightening up compatibility and performance for ARM64 is an investment in Windows’ future competitiveness.

Known Issues: Active Transparency and Troubleshooting​

Transparency is one of the strong suits of Microsoft’s Insider Program, and the list of known issues in these builds is no exception. Highlights include:

• Update Rollback (0x80070005): Some insiders experience install failures due to this infamous error. Microsoft offers an explicit workaround (“Settings > System > Recovery > Fix issues using Windows update”), but longer-term corrective action is in progress.
• Live Captions Crash on Copilot+ PCs: Translation features in Live Captions may cause instability, an important caveat for accessibility feature testers and those relying on real-time captioning.
• Xbox Controller Bluetooth Bugcheck: Some users report system crashes when connecting Xbox controllers via Bluetooth. Microsoft provides a manual driver removal fix (uninstalling the “oemXXX.inf (XboxGameControllerDriver.inf)” driver in Device Manager) while a permanent remedy is in the pipeline.
• Click to Do First Use Slowness: Already noted above—productivity may be reduced on first launch for select hardware, with improvements planned for subsequent builds.

Critical perspective: While most of these known issues target edge-case or enthusiast scenarios, their proactive documentation and workarounds mark a renewed focus on community trust. Power users should still exercise caution, especially when running early preview builds on production-critical machines.

Search and Discoverability: Image Grid in Search Results​

The left pane of the Windows Search box now incorporates a grid view for related images—a subtle improvement, but one that enhances discoverability and visual search workflows. As Microsoft seeks to make search a true “first stop” for actions and exploration within Windows, this move brings the interface closer to modern web search engines, where image results frequently surface alongside text.
UX Strengths:

• Facilitates multi-modal discovery for visual learners and creative professionals
• Complements Microsoft’s investments in AI-powered Bing and Copilot, further blurring the lines between web and local search

Possible Issues: Effectiveness will depend on the relevance of image results and the speed at which the grid populates. If early Insider feedback flags latency or poor curation, further tuning will be needed.

The Road Ahead: Strengths, Weaknesses, and User Empowerment​

Strengths​

• Natural Language Integration: Bringing conversational controls to Windows 11 settings marks a step-change in everyday usability, echoing Redmond’s wider AI-first strategy.
• Multi-Monitor Parity: Taskbar notification center and calendar flyout availability on all displays is a long overdue, community-driven win for power users.
• Reliability and Inclusion: Fixes for diverse input methods, ARM64 stalls, and external GPU support demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to a global, heterogeneous user base.
• Prompt Transparency: Clear communication of known issues and workarounds keeps the skilled user community engaged and empowered.
• Modernized Search and Onboarding: Refinements to SCOOBE and the Windows Search image grid reflect a user-centered design ethos, welcoming both novices and pros.

Weaknesses/Risks​

• AI Dependence: Heavy reliance on natural language and AI-powered controls brings risks of incomplete understanding, “hallucinated” results, or privacy confusion if queries are misinterpreted.
• Edge-case Bugs Persist: With a vast hardware/software matrix, some regressions will slip through. Early testers may encounter unresolved update or device compatibility bugs.
• Onboarding Cramming: Condensing configuration into single screens could sacrifice user clarity. Micro-copy and default settings are critical to prevent missteps, especially in privacy settings.
• Feature Fragmentation: Preview fixes and features can create a “moving target” for everyday users—changes may be walked back or withheld pending feedback, leading to confusion or inconsistency across insider and stable releases.

Final Thoughts: A Platform at a Crossroads​

Windows 11’s latest Insider builds epitomize a decade-long trend: as Microsoft embraces AI, multiplatform compatibility, and a more diverse hardware ecosystem, its OS is morphing from a static utility into an adaptive, semi-intelligent digital workspace. These updates, while in preview, showcase the company’s ambition to lead in natural-language computing, streamline critical workflows, and maintain Windows’ cross-device dominance into the Copilot+ era.
For testers, the message is clear: robust feedback matters more than ever. Each fix, feature, and known issue reflects Microsoft’s iterative responsiveness. Early adopters not only shape the future of Windows but directly influence the platform’s inclusivity, security, and intelligence.
As these changes move from Insider builds to general release, users across the spectrum—IT pros, creators, remote workers, and everyday consumers—should watch closely. With each update, Windows 11 reaffirms its dual legacy as a workhorse operating system and an ever-evolving platform for the next wave of digital innovation.

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Source: Neowin Windows 11 gets an important taskbar update and more in the latest builds