Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8062 (KB 5079458) – What’s New and Why It Matters
The latest insider build brings a handful of under‑the‑hood tweaks that will help IT pros keep their fleets lean, improve driver security, and give regular users a smoother setup experience.
Policy‑Based Removal of Preinstalled Microsoft Apps
Administrators can now delete preinstalled Store apps by adding the app’s package family name (PFN) to a dynamic list in Group Policy. To do so, open gpedit.msc, go to Computer Configuration Administrative Templates Windows Components App Package Deployment, and set Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system. Add PFNs to the multi‑text field under “Specify additional package family names to remove.”
A common scenario: an IT admin at a school tried to strip out OneDrive from every student machine. After adding Microsoft.OneDrive_* to the list, the app vanished with no side effects—no need for third‑party uninstallers that often leave orphaned registry keys.
The dynamic list is still missing in Intune’s current CSP rollout, so admins must wait for a future update or stick to Group Policy until it arrives. Also, OMA‑URI can’t validate multi‑entry ADMX policies; testing has to happen through the Settings Catalog or Group Policy itself.
Customizing Your User Folder in Setup
During Windows Setup, users now have the option to rename their personal folder on the “Device Name” page. This change only affects the first setup wizard—if you skip it, Windows falls back to the default name. The new field accepts any valid Windows file‑system name and is handy when setting up a machine for a child or colleague who prefers a more descriptive folder.
Windows Driver Policy Update
The kernel’s driver policy now drops default trust for cross‑signed drivers while keeping WHCP (Windows Hardware Compatibility Program) drivers safe by default. The change runs in audit mode for 100 hours plus three reboots; if no incompatibilities surface, enforcement kicks in automatically.
A gamer who installed an aftermarket graphics card firmware saw a “Driver blocked” toast pop up during a recent build update—a clear sign the new policy is actively filtering out potentially risky cross‑signed code.
If you’re running legacy drivers that aren’t WHCP‑approved, keep them off or submit them to Microsoft’s testing program. Otherwise, most users will notice nothing at all.
Point‑in‑Time Restore Enhancements
Admins now see a UAC prompt before launching restore points, giving them the chance to tweak default settings and view the list of available snapshots. The updated WinRE experience also recommends plugging in a charger during recovery and displays the OS version as a four‑part string (e.g., 22H2.1024.0.12345) instead of the old two‑part format.
Drag Tray Renamed to Drop Tray
The little floating bar that lets you drop items onto your desktop has been renamed from “Drag Tray” to “Drop Tray.” Its settings moved under System Multitasking, no longer nested in Nearby Sharing. The change is purely cosmetic, but the rename clarifies what the feature does for new users.
Pen Settings Tweaks
The pen options page got a few refinements: the tail‑button now offers an additional choice—“Same as Copilot key”—so the button can launch whatever app the Copilot key would. This is useful for artists who rely on consistent shortcuts across devices.
File Explorer Context Menu Pause
Microsoft paused the rollout of new context‑menu refinements to focus on further improvements. The feature will return in a later update, so if you were waiting for that tweak, hold your breath—there’s no point in reloading the page hoping for an instant change now.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8062 (Beta Channel)
Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8062 (KB 5079458) to the Beta Channel.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8062 (Beta Channel)
