Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (Dev and Beta Channels) released
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) to Insiders in both the Dev and Beta Channels, which marks an important day in the company's ongoing efforts to refine its flagship operating system.
Among the new bits are some intriguing changes aimed at better usability on Windows. Take the Xbox-style full-screen mode, designed specifically to mimic console navigation for a cleaner, more immersive feel. It's perfect for controller-centric gaming, letting you jump into your game without distractions and easily switch between tasks if needed. You can launch it via Task View or Game Bar settings, or use that dedicated hotkey, Win + F11.
Then there’s point-in-time restore; insiders on both channels now have access to this flexible recovery tool. It's a genuinely useful capability for quickly rolling back your system in case things go sideways. This helps minimize disruption whether you're dealing with major outages or just some random glitch, bringing back not only the OS but also apps, settings, and user files.
Over on the input method side, Microsoft introduced Fluid Dictation for voice typing on NPU devices. It makes dictating via voice feel smoother thanks to smart grammar fixes and punctuation happening automatically while you speak. Importantly, it uses local small language models (SLMs) so your inputs are processed faster directly on-device for better privacy.
Beyond these new features, the team has focused on other refinements too. Consider the convenience of a seamless resume; now more apps can transition from your Android phone to PC. For instance, if you're using a Vivo device and checking something in their browser, you should be able to continue that exact activity over on the computer with ease (presumably switching back via Task View). Similar improvements are happening for M365 Copilot online files across more brands, including Honor, Huawei, Oppo, and Samsung, and of course, Microsoft is testing its Click-to-Do top bar to dial in the right feel going forward.
The Microsoft Store itself got a bit nicer with support now built-in for uninstalling apps it manages. So if you grab an app from there but find you don't need it anymore, finding it installed later means you can just head into your library via the store and hit that three-dot menu to remove it yourself; no extra steps needed.
File Explorer is also undergoing some internal improvements. Microsoft is looking at preloading this background utility for snappier launch times, though unless you're one of those who launches File Explorer constantly while waiting for others, it's probably not something most users will even notice directly. Elsewhere in File Explorer, they've cleaned up the context menu to remove less common commands and potentially shorten its length when viewing folders or files.
However, be vigilant for the potential emergence of a few known issues. The virtual keyboard isn’t always showing itself properly for controller-only users on devices without a touch screen. Additionally, some apps appear to be unstable when utilizing the Full Screen Experience (FSE), so exercise caution if you notice any unusual behavior.
The company is currently investigating other potential issues: reports indicate that some Windows insiders may experience occasional failures when clicking the Start button, and there are instances where apps fail to appear properly in the system tray when they should be running. These are just a few lingering bugs that we're aware of as things continue to evolve with this build.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (Dev & Beta Channels)
Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) to the Dev & Beta Channels.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (Dev & Beta Channels)
