Microsoft has published KB5101684, a preview for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 that introduces Voice Isolation for Voice Access and extends Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security to external USB fingerprint readers. The optional update also brings smart file size units and middle-click tab navigation to File Explorer, plus improved Windows Search tolerance for typos and two new precision touchpad controls. It will form the codebase for the mandatory Patch Tuesday release arriving August 11, 2026, so verify compatibility before letting it install on production devices. Download the ~5.3 GB x64 or ~4.9 GB ARM-64 installer through Windows Update or sideload it from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Windows 11 KB5101684 Preview Lands with Voice Isolation, ESS Support, and a Few Annoying Fixes
Microsoft has published KB5101684, its latest preview for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. The ~5.3 GB optional update is available now in Windows Update, though it will only become mandatory when Patch Tuesday arrives on August 11.
This isn't a security patch. It's a staged rollout designed to catch regressions before they hit every supported device. Microsoft's documentation warns that enabling the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle "can force-install optional and out-of-band updates on systems where they aren't required." You might want to leave that switch alone unless you're actively stress-testing the build.
What's Actually New
Voice Access gets a proper noise-cancellation toggle. You can now filter out background chatter, non-speech sounds like typing and desk fans, or just use the raw mic input. It's a long-overdue addition for an accessibility tool most people forget about until they actually need it. Voice Access also picks up Korean language support and a handful of startup reliability improvements.
External fingerprint readers are finally getting full Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security support. The previous build only worked with built-in laptop sensors, which left desktop and workstation users out of the biometric party. You'll find the enrollment flow under Settings > Accounts > Sign in options.
File Explorer is adopting a few browser-like habits. Details view now switches between KB, MB, and GB instead of dragging everything in raw kilobytes. Middle-click a folder in the address bar or Home page and it opens in a new tab. The grey flash on launch is gone, and the recommended section thumbnails are actually legible now.
Windows Search is getting more forgiving. Typos and partial app names will still surface the right results, and Settings pages rank higher in the list. It's not AI-powered magic, but it does save you a few keystrokes when you're hunting for a control panel page.
Touchpad users gain two new controls under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. You can adjust baseline scroll and zoom speed, and there's an accelerated scrolling mode for long documents. Tap the gesture twice to keep going. It's the kind of refinement that quietly stops bothering you once it actually works.
The Fine Print and Fixes
Widgets taskbar badges now match your Windows accent color instead of glaring red. New installs only get Weather on the Lock screen by default. Copilot+ PC owners can uninstall the Image Generation AI component if it's taking up prime real estate on their SSD. And the Energy Saver threshold slider in Power & Battery is back, since it apparently just needed a vacation.
The quality fixes cover a lot of ground. File History automatic backups to SMB shares actually work now, DFS drives stop throwing Mark of the Web warnings after waking from offline states, and DHCP renewals are more reliable for devices juggling Modern Standby. MDM-enrolled devices stuck in a noncompliant state after the previous update finally get unblocked. Office apps in virtual desktops are steadier, and Secure Boot certificate deployment is expanding to more legacy hardware without requiring any manual intervention.
If you're running Windows 11 25H2, you're looking at build 26200.8973. 24H2 users get 26100.8973. The x64 offline installer clocks in at 5,370 MB, while the ARM-64 build sits closer to 4,922 MB. You can grab either from the Microsoft Update Catalog if you'd rather sideload.
Head here to download the offline installer for your architecture. The August Patch Tuesday update becomes generally available on August 11, 2026. Keep in mind that some features tied to this preview are held back by gradual rollout flags, so not everything will activate the moment the update finishes installing.
