Microsoft drops four new Windows 11 Insider Preview builds with cloud recovery and taskbar flexibility
Four new Windows 11 Insider Preview builds shipped on July 6, 2026. You can grab Beta Preview Build 26220.8764, Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772, Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.2380, or Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2387 depending on your channel.
The release notes are packed with changes, but a few stand out. Microsoft is pushing cloud-based recovery deeper into the OS, giving admins and users a way to reinstall Windows without USB media. The Experimental 26H1 build also adds taskbar positioning and sizing options for those who want more control over screen space.
Cloud recovery and default backups for managed devices
The new Experimental Preview build introduces Cloud rebuild. It lives inside the Windows Recovery Environment and performs a full OS reinstall by downloading both the target Windows image and the device drivers from Windows Update. No custom images. No USB drives. No depending on a broken OS to get back to a clean state. Start it from WinRE by selecting Troubleshoot, then Recovery and uninstall, then Cloud rebuild. Wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi works fine. You review the build, edition, and language before confirming the data loss warning.
Commercial devices get a policy shift too. Starting in Windows 11 version 26H2, settings backup and restore will enable by default on eligible Microsoft Entra joined or hybrid joined machines. Admins no longer have to configure it first. Windows settings backup automatically captures user settings and the Microsoft Store app list. When a device gets reimaged or reset, users land on a familiar setup. Restore remains opt-in and admin-managed, so existing policies still hold.
The Account Control flyout gets a modern refresh. A clear subscription badge makes your account status instantly visible. It helps you identify your plan, discover benefits, and explore upgrades. Search box height increases by 4 pixels. Bluetooth quick settings now supports gamepad input. Title bar tooltips see improved resource usage over time.
Taskbar flexibility and free education upgrades
The Experimental 26H1 build adds two taskbar changes. Alternate Taskbar Position lets you move the taskbar to the top, left, or right. Select Settings, then Personalization, then Taskbar, then Taskbar Behaviors. Tooltips, flyouts, and animations still come from the taskbar. Most customization settings like small taskbar and never combine taskbar icons work in any location. Touch gestures, Search box, and Ask Copilot support for alternate positions is still in progress. Auto-hidden and touch optimized taskbar are not yet supported.
Smaller Taskbar is another option. It gives you a more compact experience with smaller icons and reduced height. Go to Settings, Personalization, Taskbar, then Taskbar behaviors, then Show smaller taskbar buttons. Set it to Always for both icons and height to shrink. Core elements like Start, Search, and the system tray scale appropriately. Support for resizing taskbar settings is also being worked on.
Education environments get a free upgrade path. Windows Insiders in K-12 can move from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro Education at no cost. Sign in with a local account. Launch an elevated Command Prompt. Run Clipupgrade.exe. Sign in with your K-12 organization account to validate eligibility. The device restarts to complete the upgrade. It is one-way only. Reverting to Home requires a clean reinstall.
Outlook gets a long-overdue fix. If the close button was not responding last week, it should work now. File Explorer also stops throwing errors on the OneDrive shortcut when run in administrative mode. Voice Access now supports Portuguese in Portugal and Brazil, plus Korean in South Korea. Mongolian Baiti font rendering sees improved shaping for more accurate text output.
These builds feel like Microsoft is polishing the edges of 26H2 while still pushing experimental features ahead. Cloud rebuild is a solid addition for managed environments. Taskbar positioning and sizing options give you more control over screen real estate. The free Pro Education upgrade is a smart move for schools procuring Home devices.
Windows Insiders can download these builds through Windows Update. Keep an eye on the Release Health hub for known issues. Feedback goes to the Feedback Hub under the relevant categories listed in the release notes. For a detailed change log, visit the linked release notes below.
Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.8764
Release notes for Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.8764
Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.8764 - Windows Insider Program
Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772
Release notes for Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772
Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772 - Windows Insider Program
Windows 11 Insider Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.2380
Release notes for Windows 11 Insider Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.2380
Windows 11 Insider Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.2380 - Windows Insider Program
Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2387
Release notes for Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2387
Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2387 - Windows Insider Program
