Microsoft Releases New Preview Build of Windows 11 26H1
Microsoft has released a new preview build of Windows 11 26H1, which includes quality improvements and several changes that will roll out in phases. The August 27 build, listed as KB5120996, offers users a clearer look at the upcoming updates to the operating system.
The most notable addition is a cloud rebuild option in the Windows Recovery Environment. This feature allows users to reinstall Windows by downloading required files from Windows Update, providing an alternative route when a PC cannot start normally or local recovery files are damaged.
Another feature introduced in this build is a modernized AutoPlay experience, which has been rebuilt with WinUI to better match the rest of Windows 11. This includes support for dark mode, text scaling, and display settings, as well as notifications that appear in the Notification Center rather than as separate interruptions.
However, Microsoft warns that some improvements are delivered through a gradual rollout, which can vary depending on hardware, Windows edition, and the device's update channel. Users should also be aware of a known issue affecting some ARM-based computers, where recent security updates may cause Microsoft Teams and Outlook for Windows to fail to launch or close unexpectedly.