Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7674 (Dev Channel) released
Windows 11 Insider Preview just got a new update. Build number 26300.7674 (KB5074170) is rolling out now to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.
This marks something important: from this build onwards, the Dev channel will be serving up updates from the 26300 series. Effectively, the transition phase from older builds towards the Beta channel has concluded for most Insiders. They've been moving through the 262xx builds leading to where we are today.
Switching channels now is straightforward if someone still wants it. When you get Build 26300.7674 via Windows Update, you can pause, change your settings over to Beta, and then resume updates. It's a simple process.
A few things stand out about these new Dev builds: they share quite a few features and improvements seen in the current Beta Channel releases (the 262xx series). So there might be some overlap for those following along on different channels.
Like always with Insider builds, you should expect potential hiccups. These are testing versions after all. If problems pop up, and they probably will sometimes, your feedback is crucial. Head over to the Feedback Hub app or site and report what's not working. It helps guide future updates.
The developers also want to clarify how changes in these builds get documented. They're splitting it into two groups: One covers new features, major upgrades, or specific fixes for Dev Insiders themselves; this info is usually tucked away later. Another set deals with broader improvements being applied across the entire Dev Channel user base.
More details on these categories are covered further down in their blog post; check those reminders if you're interested.
This build also includes a notable fix. The "Extract All" option, previously missing for some folders even when archives were available, finally appears where it should. That's definitely welcome!
Also addressed was an issue with the Start menu itself. Sometimes clicking the 'hide this pane' button wouldn't behave as expected; now that problem seems corrected.
Search fans will see another fix too: icons showing up wrong (like an X instead of a magnifier) have been sorted out.
Performance-wise, things improved slightly for some users. Slow loading times on the Settings Home page got fixed here. Good riddance to that one.
Meanwhile, problems with secondary monitors randomly going black after updates should be resolved too. There was also another glitch tied to Azure Virtual Desktop, and Windows 365 sign-in issues have been patched.
But things aren't entirely smooth sailing yet. The following problems are still on the radar: The Start menu can remain buggy in Categories view, with entries sometimes failing to launch properly. File Explorer windows or tabs might randomly jump over to the Desktop or Home views unexpectedly. Apps using FSE technology occasionally exhibit strange behavior; this is one of those things that's being looked into.
And some users are reporting apps not showing correctly in the system tray anymore. That can be annoying depending on what you're doing.
Crucially, the Microsoft 365 Copilot prompt box sometimes stops working if the app it relies on isn't running. This is another known issue they might be investigating or waiting to address.
So yeah, this latest build arrives for Dev Insiders and brings some solid fixes alongside the ongoing issues you should already know about from following along in the Beta channel. Use Feedback Hub properly to help out, and keep an eye on those Settings reminders down thread if you want all the details.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7674 (Dev Channel)
Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7674 (KB5074170) to the Dev Channel.
Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7674 (Dev Channel)
