Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 Insider build that lets users adjust Bluetooth, WiFi, and power settings directly within Xbox gaming mode, without exiting to the full desktop. The update also overhauls search, adding filters for files, actions, and web results, the ability to trigger actions like changing volume or brightness, detailed result previews such as file edit history, embedded stock and weather charts, and thumbs-up/down feedback buttons to refine results over time.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-31
Microsoft is testing a built-in internet speed test feature in Windows 11, currently available to Windows Insiders on the Experimental channel. The tool replaces the previous method of redirecting users to a Bing webpage, instead offering a direct test accessible from the system tray or network icon. Users must enable a specific feature flag to access it, and results show live download and upload speed graphs.
zdnet.com
· 2026-10-27
Microsoft has rolled out a new customizable right-click context menu to Windows 11 Insider Beta channel testers. Users can add or remove commands, reorder items, and insert shortcuts for specific actions like opening files in Notepad or Photos, accessible via a new customize entry in File Explorer or through Settings.
zdnet.com
· 2026-10-27
A Windows 11 Insider build (29295) spotted by Neowin includes a new 'Advanced Performance Extensions (APX)' setting, though no Intel chips currently support the feature. Intel first detailed APX in 2023, describing 32 general-purpose registers and new instruction formats meant to cut loads by 10% and stores by 20% versus its baseline Intel 64 architecture.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-27
Developer Rafael Rivera found that wallpapers Microsoft emailed to Windows Insiders in mid-October, marking the program's 12th anniversary, carried file metadata showing they were saved using Photoshop on a Mac. Rivera said the ten wallpapers came from Microsoft's in-house design team, and the company has since replaced the files on its design site without comment.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-25
Windows Insider Beta Build 26220.9343 introduces Cloud Rebuild, a new recovery option that downloads a factory version of Windows 11 directly from Microsoft's servers instead of requiring a USB drive or custom image. The feature lives inside the Windows Recovery Environment under 'Reset this PC' and works over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, even restoring devices when the installed OS is too corrupted to boot normally.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-11
Microsoft confirmed a bug causing the Windows Security app to falsely display 'Microsoft Defender Antivirus is turned off' notifications after recent Defender updates, even though protection remains active. The issue, which has quietly affected Windows Insiders since June, now impacts all supported Windows client and server versions, including Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft says a fix is in development and will roll out in a future Defender update.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-08-31
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