Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (Dev and Beta Channels) released
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 to Windows Insiders in both the dev and beta channels, focusing on refining features and ironing out some kinks.
Widget Board Tweaks
If you're using the Widget Board, there's a new way to manage your dashboards. The navigation bar now defaults to showing live weather by opening the first dashboard in your list when activated; this aims for a slightly less jarring experience. To change which dashboard becomes the default, look for the gear icon at the bottom of the widget navbar and navigate to the full-page 'Widget Settings' area (a new experience!), where you can reposition desired panels.
Also related to widgets, your navigation bar now sports numbered badges under active dashboards, a clear visual indicator showing how many alerts might be waiting. These numbers automatically reset when you leave that specific dashboard view.
Quick Machine Recovery Changes
For the recovery folks: Quick Machine Recovery in Windows Settings and the WinRE environment has gotten a bit smoother. The goal is to make troubleshooting quicker and less confusing. If both 'Quick machine recovery' and 'Automatically checking for solutions' are enabled, QMR now defaults to one single diagnostic pass instead of looping scans until it finds nothing. This means if there's an immediate fix, you get it faster; otherwise, the system should nudge you toward proper manual steps or other options.
App & Browser Control Adjustment
Smart App Control settings can now be toggled on or off directly from Windows Security; no need for a reinstall is involved. It's another configurable layer within the existing 'App & Browser Control' interface in Windows Settings (Security). When enabled, it actively blocks unvetted applications as per Microsoft Support guidelines.
File Explorer Updates
A few adjustments are happening to File Explorer, too. The "People" icons under the "Activity" column have been re-enabled on the home view, a nice touch for those who like seeing their contacts there. Conversely, some temporary disabling is underway: support for certain StorageProvider APIs and recommendations for frequently used or recently downloaded cloud files via the taskbar aren't active right now.
Under-the-Hoof Fixes
Elsewhere, things are being tightened up. A recent bug where interacting with the desktop could trigger Task View unintentionally should hopefully be resolved. Also fixed: an issue preventing Shift+click (or middle-click) from launching a new File Explorer window via its taskbar shortcut and ensuring active tab titles in File Explorer are properly bolded immediately rather than waiting for a hover.
Investigating Issues
On the other hand, some problems need more investigation. A couple of insiders are reporting the Start menu fails to open when clicking (only working with the Win key), possibly linked to a notification center bug too. There's also an ongoing probe into apps not appearing correctly in the system tray for affected users.
Recall Camera Eligibility Message
Lastly, there's a fresh issue cropping up around Recall; some insiders are unexpectedly seeing camera ineligibility messages despite having compatible devices. The correction is reportedly underway to address this confusion.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (Dev & Beta Channels)
Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (KB5070300) to the Dev & Beta Channels. As a reminder we are offering the same builds to both the Dev & Beta Channel
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (Dev & Beta Channels)
