Kategorie

CrushFTP is warning that threat actors are actively exploiting a zero-day vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-54309, which allows attackers to gain administrative access via the web interface on vulnerable servers. [...]

Arch Linux has pulled three malicious packages uploaded to the Arch User Repository (AUR) were used to install the CHAOS remote access trojan (RAT) on Linux devices. [...]

Microsoft has made concessions to the organization representing Europe’s leading cloud providers, giving its members the ability to offer pay-as-you-go plans, match Azure pricing, and privately host customer workloads.

Some see this as merely one more development, not the culmination of the years-long battle between the tech giant and Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE), which has long argued that Microsoft’s contracts harm the European cloud computing market.

However, “it seems like CISPE’s persistence has paid off, and Microsoft has taken a meaningful step toward fairer terms,” said Phil Brunkard, executive counselor at Info-Tech Research Group UK. “The real test will be whether that spirit holds as pricing and licensing evolve in the years ahead.”

What CISPE got out of the deal

Under the terms of the new agreement, qualified CISPE members will be able to offer Microsoft software to their customers on a pay-as-you-go basis through the CSP-Hoster (CSP-H) program. CISPE says this will offer stronger privacy for European customers and create pricing conditions that are “more comparable” to those of Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.

Members can now access pay-as-you-go licensing models for products including Windows Server and SQL Server, in addition to the Flexible Virtualization Benefit already available to them. They will also have access to a new product, Microsoft 365 Local, what CISPE called another step toward “true digital sovereignty for European customers.”

On the privacy front, members are permitted to host Microsoft workloads as pay-as-you-go on independent European infrastructure, without having to share customer details with Microsoft as previously required; this was one of CISPE’s core concerns.

The new program is open to current CISPE members and eligible providers who join “in the coming months,” according to CISPE. Microsoft will review the program after the first year and could potentially expand access.

Importantly, CISPE notes, the program will be closed to hyperscale cloud providers designated by Microsoft as “Listed Providers” (licensees). This preserves its goal to “support competition and innovation in the European digital ecosystem by strengthening European cloud providers.”

CISPE does acknowledge that the deal lacks two provisions it has been pushing for: It doesn’t allow for Windows 10/11 VDI multi-session on European-owned multi-tenant infrastructure, as Azure Local would have, and it still enforces Entra ID with Microsoft 365, so customers can’t use alternative identity management.

De-escalating years of tensions

The conflict between CISPE and Microsoft goes back for years. Notably, in 2022, the member group filed a formal complaint with the European Commission alleging that the company was charging customers more to run its software on rival clouds. This happened shortly before the adoption of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA), designed to create fairer and more competitive digital markets.

“European cloud providers have long complained that Microsoft’s bring‑your‑own‑license rules pushed customers onto Azure by adding extra fees and paperwork everywhere else,” said Brunkard.

He pointed out that Microsoft ultimately compromised and introduced the Flexible Virtualization Benefit, which allowed customers to use their licensed software on any cloud provider’s infrastructure. However, it still blocked regional clouds from offering Windows Server or Microsoft 365 on “true pay-as-you-go terms.”

In March 2023, the company agreed to change its cloud licensing practices to avoid an EU antitrust probe, and in July 2024, Microsoft and CISPE reached a settlement that required the company to pay €20 million ($21.7 million) and develop a new product, Azure Local.

Azure Local would have allowed members to run Microsoft software on their platforms at prices equal to Microsoft’s. It was to include multitenancy support for customer workloads, pay-as-you-go licensing for SQL Server, unlimited virtualization and multi-session virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) for Windows, and free security updates.

But then in May of this year, the European Cloud Collaboration Observatory (ECCO), which is providing independent oversight of the deal, found that “both Microsoft and CISPE have now agreed that Azure Local will not deliver the full set of features outlined in the agreement.” ECCO also described Microsoft’s offering as “disappointing,” and gave the company an Amber rating, indicating that concerns exist and corrective actions have been proposed.

Under the new agreement, any CISPE member who signs the new addendum can bill Windows, SQL Server, and Microsoft 365 by the hour through the CSP‑Hoster program, Brunkard pointed out. No volume agreement is required, and workloads can reside on a local provider.

“For many customers who want to keep their data within a national provider for sovereignty or latency reasons, the change should translate into simpler bills and lower overall costs once providers pass through the metered pricing,” he said.

The deal also helps Microsoft “cool off the threat” of a full antitrust probe under the DMA, Brunkard noted.

He emphasized that enterprises should treat their next renewal as a health check. “When hosters move to the new model over the coming quarters, customers should make sure that pay-as-you-go savings flow through to them, and that any true-up risk stays with the provider,” he advised.

What about non-CISPE members?

Some say that, while it may be good for CISPE members, the agreement fails to tackle the core issues undermining competition in the EU cloud market.

Mark Boost, CEO at cloud company Civo, pointed out that the concessions apply only to CISPE members, and that there’s no clarity as to what benefits, if any, other European cloud providers may see.

“Is this a private deal for a select few? Who decides who gets access, Microsoft or regulators?” he asked. “Without these answers, it is easy to arrive at the assumption that this is a workaround that protects market power instead of challenging it.”

Ryan Triplette, executive director of the Coalition for Fair Software Licensing, called it a stalling tactic that simply gives Microsoft more time to lock in customers with “restrictive and anticompetitive” licensing practices.

“This is more smoke and mirrors from Microsoft: Offer weak concessions in an attempt to avoid regulatory scrutiny and disingenuously pretend these actions promote European competition,” she said. “Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to line its pockets at the expense of customer choice around the world.”

The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has formally attributed 'Authentic Antics' espionage malware attacks to APT28 (Fancy Bear), threat actor already linked to Russia's military intelligence service (GRU). [...]

Microsoft has mistakenly tagged an ongoing Windows Firewall error message bug as fixed in recent updates, stating that they are still working on a resolution. [...]

ChatGPT's o3 is OpenAI's best model to date because it features reasoning, and it might get even better in the next update. [...]

WineLab, the retail store of the largest alcohol company in Russia, has closed its stores following a cyberattack that is impacting its operations and causing purchase problems to its customers. [...]

The Japanese police have released a Phobos and 8-Base ransomware decryptor that lets victims recover their files for free, with BleepingComputer confirming that it successfully decrypts files. [...]

Researchers are seeing exploitation attempts for the CVE-2025-48927 vulnerability in the TeleMessage SGNL app, which allows retrieving usernames, passwords, and other sensitive data. [...]

Windows are cracking. And it’s not just Apple that’s seeing the benefit; some users are jumping on the Linux bandwagon as a way to avoid the Microsoft upgrade tax. Case in point: Linux has broken the 5% barrier for desktop operating systems in the US for the first time ever, according to StatCounter data.

StatCounter claims Windows’ market share has fallen 13% over the last decade to 63.2%. That’s still a huge number, but as Microsoft forces its customers to endure the expense of a Windows 11 upgrade later this year, it represents an attractive congregation of potential Apple and Linux switchers. Millions of Windows users are taking that journey this year. 

Linux takes the leap to 5%

Meanwhile the Linux community is celebrating the fact that it has finally exceed 5% share. Achieving 5% is a symbolic achievement built partly on the desire to find life outside Windows. 

People want more privacy, dislike forced system updates, don’t want to be exposed to adware and want to retain control of their information against Microsoft’s data collection tools. These are just some of the reasons people are migrating to Linux and, more frequently, to the Mac. 

It wasn’t so long ago Apple’s own share stood under 4%.

The word on Windows

None of this is particularly new, of course. The writing on the windows has been visible for years. The international move away from monotheistic operating system monoculture is a good thing, of course — not only does it open the market up to a little competition, but it also helps enterprises become more secure. It means that if one OS goes down the other systems probably will not — and the deep fragility of the Windows ecosystem makes thinking that way mandatory. 

You can expect more of the same, particularly as — on an international basis — the desire for computing experiences that are not completely controlled by US corporate interests will only grow in the current political environment. 

Trust is fading and that makes it inevitable that the soft power of the tech industry will feel that change, even as Linux continues to improve and become more available to non-technical users. It’s also obvious that Apple (which is at least Unix-based) will need to recognize the growing challenge of the smaller platform — though it is good that you can run Linux on your Mac. 

Flies in the ointment

All the same, for many, the advantage of Linux will eventually be that it lacks any form of background AI software gathering data about what you do. As Apple itself likes to say, the best way to keep data secure is not to gather any at all, which Linux doesn’t. At the same time, a recent UK court case in the UK suggests that, at least to some extent, Apple does.

The world is changing and the platforms people choose will reflect this change.

At the same time, while StatCounter’s information accurately reflects changing tastes in desktop computing, I am puzzled at some of the information it has come up with, data that could undermine the central argument it makes. You see, when you look at the details, you’ll soon find that it claims 16.57% of global desktops are running OS X while just 7.72% run macOS.

That data seems suspect, not only because the last version of OS X release shipped nine years ago, but also because data StatCounter provides elsewhere shows that of the two, macOS is by far the most widely installed — with macOS Catalina accounting for 87%. This lack of consistency undermines the credibility of the claims, so while I believe the trends they represent are accurate, I don’t necessarily believe in the Mac OS split. (I dropped a line to StatCounter to see how it explains this and will update this story if it responds.)

Time to look outside the Windows

Sside from these unexplained statistical discrepancies, there is no doubt at all that this year more than any other is a huge opportunity for people to explore life after Windows. 

You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, and Mastodon.

** Veřejné nabíječky jsou stejně nebezpečné jako přes 14 lety ** Ochrany jsou zabudovány v nových verzích mobilních systémů ** Zejména většina starších Androidů ale už dávno není aktualizovaná

While Chinese car manufacturers are increasingly turning their vehicles into a mobile entertainment centers with features such as karaoke, laser or LED projectors, and retractable screens, German manufacturers are looking to transform their vehicles into mobile offices. Mercedes-Benz, for example, is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft.

The Stuttgart-based company is bringing the Microsoft Teams meeting app into the vehicle and also integrating the cloud-based management solution Microsoft Intune. The partners are also working on offering Microsoft 365 Copilot in the car. In this way, the auto maker’s ambitious goal is to “transform the vehicle into a third workplace that complements the office and the home office.”

Teams uses the car’s camera

Mercedes wants to use the Teams meeting app to “take productivity in the car to a new level,” it said. Users can use the interior camera while driving so that other participants can see them during a meeting.

While German car manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz see the car as a mobile office, Chinese manufacturers are focusing on the leisure aspect – for example with a video projector and screen.

Hill

Mercedes-Benz emphasizes that the use of the camera complies with the law and is approved for use on the road. To minimize distractions and maximize safety while driving, the meeting video stream switches off automatically as soon as the camera is activated. This means that no shared screens or slides can be seen. The camera can also be switched off at any time.

Emails by voice input

The updated Meetings for Teams app also offers business customers an even more efficient way to work in the vehicle. For example, a new dashboard under “Next meetings” shows upcoming appointments and enables quick access to frequently used contacts. An extended chat function is also designed to make it easier to read and write messages. Text is entered using voice control. Users can also take part in a Teams meeting directly from the calendar.

To ensure that security is not neglected, Mercedes-Benz has integrated Microsoft Intune to enable secure, company-compliant access to business accounts. The management solution enables the separation of private and business data. It also enables IT administrators to centrally manage access rights and security policies. In this way, the car manufacturer wants to ensure that its vehicles can meet the same corporate-level security standards as mobile devices such as company smartphones.

MB.OS as the technical basis

The technical basis for Teams and Intune in the car is the new Mercedes-Benz operating system MB.OS in conjunction with a fourth-generation MBUX infotainment system. In addition, an active Entertainment Package Plus and data volume are required for use.

Calendar and Teams integration in the new Mercedes-Benz CLA:

Mercedes-Benz

Furthermore, the availability of a number of functions and services depends on the configuration of the vehicle, and which optional extras have been paid for. From the summer, the new CLA will be the first model to receive Teams and Intune integration. Other model series are to follow.

Generative AI for the car

Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft are also working together to integrate Microsoft 365 Copilot into future models. Using generative AI, it should be possible to prepare for upcoming meetings while on the move. Voice control could be used to summarize emails, call up customer preferences and details and complete daily tasks without distraction, the companies said. Mercedes-Benz did not provide any information on when Microsoft 365 Copilot will be introduced in the car.

You’ve heard of vibe coding, right? 

Vibe coding, a phrase coined by Andrej Karpathy in February, means using natural language to tell an AI tool what you want your software to do, and letting AI write the code for you.

The top three vibe-coding platforms are Hostinger Horizons, Lovable, and Bolt.new. By signing up with these services and simply talking (or typing), you can build your own apps. 

The stoned face of vibe coding is one Rene Turcios. The son of Missouri circus folk, Turcios smokes weed and wins app-building hackathons while high, despite lacking coding or software engineering knowledge. Now he’s a sought-after app developer who builds vibe-coded apps in hours for businesses and teaches others how to vibe code.

The idea of “vibing” instead of coding to create apps is mocked. But vibe coding isn’t a joke. It’s just ahead of the curve. 

The concept of achieving complicated tasks by talking to AI is happening all around us. 

Vibe browsing

The Browser Company, the people who make the Arc browser, recently released an AI-focused browser called Dia. The browser, currently in an invitation-only beta, takes a vibe-coding approach to using a browser, meaning that you talk to it and it does complicated things for you. It can summarize articles, answer questions, and interact with open tabs and videos, which aligns with the vibe coding ethos of achieving complex results with minimal expertise.

Dia is part of a larger trend. Perplexity launched its Chromium-based Comet browser this month, using Perplexity as its default search engine and featuring a built-in AI assistant. The browser aims to streamline workflows, allowing users to highlight text for instant explanations, explore related ideas, and get counterpoints without losing their place. Comet can also compare information across tabs, help with tasks like comparing insurance plans, booking hotels or making purchases. 

The biggest news in this space comes from OpenAI, which is expected to launch its Chromium-based browser this month. We can expect a ChatGPT-style interface and integrated AI agents capable of performing tasks directly on web pages. These agents, including one called Operator, can automate actions like filling out forms, booking reservations, summarizing content, and conducting research. 

These new “vibe browsers” are designed to replace complex browsing with simple, natural language interaction. 

Vibe settings

Microsoft began rolling out a new feature for Copilot+ PCs in May that lets you change settings and fix problems by typing or saying what you want in plain English. If you say, “my mouse pointer is too small,” the AI will find the right setting and, if you approve it, make the change for you, according to Microsoft. This works on Windows 11, first on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with Intel and AMD support coming soon. The feature runs locally and works in English, with more languages promised.

Vibe automation

Samsung announced this month that its SmartThings platform now lets people create home automation routines just by typing what they want in plain language. Anyone using the SmartThings app on Android or iOS can now write a simple phrase like “Turn off all the lights when I leave the house,” and the system will set up the routine automatically, without any need to mess around with device settings or menus.

This new Routine Creation Assistant uses genAI to understand requests and build the automations. The update also brings features such as Delay Actions, which let users schedule steps in a routine at different times, and Confirm to Run, which asks for approval before running a routine in shared homes. 

Vibe mobility

Perplexity is working with Deutsche Telekom to launch an “AI Phone” in Europe in 2026 for less than $1,000. The main interface will be Perplexity’s AI assistant, which can answer questions, book taxis, reserve tables, send emails, make calls, and translate text, all with natural language interaction, according to the companies. The product intends to enable smartphone use without the user explicitly using apps, instead just talking to the phone. 

Vibe communication

People use AI chatbots like ChatGPT and others to write research papers, presentations, and emails by simply describing what they want. This is the vibe-coding approach to communication. (I don’t recommend using AI to write for you, and instead encourage readers to do your own work and then consult AI only at the end of the process.)

Dedicated tools like HyperWrite, MailMaestro, ContentStudio’s AI Email Writer, and Snov.io’s AI Email Writer are designed to vibe-code your way through the world of business communication.

Why ‘vibing’ is a horrible description

While “vibe coding” has emerged as the label for using AI to make apps without coding knowledge, it’s a bad label.  In American slang, “vibing” means enjoying the moment, feeling good or relaxed, alone or with others, and just going with the mood of the place or the people around them. 

Using a computer system with natural language and having those words interpreted and acted upon by genAI isn’t “vibing.” It’s just using a new user interface. 

From the 1946 launch of ENIAC to the 1976 release of the Apple I by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs to the 1991 debut of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee, the user-interface trend has always been clear: Increased compute power and more sophisticated software has been applied to the task of making interaction between person and machine easier for the person. From the setting of switches to punch cards to command lines to graphical interfaces, we’ve always made computers work harder to make interfacing easier for users. 

We’re embarking on a breathtaking leap in that 80-year trajectory, where the user barely has to work and the computer processes a billion billion calculations per second in massive data centers. 

Natural language is the interface of the future because it’s the most natural way for people to communicate. Our machines are finally powerful enough to meet us in the human world of conversation. Voice interaction with powerful computing systems is revolutionizing usability, transforming who can use advanced computers (almost everybody) and where (almost everywhere). 

It’s not about “vibing.” It’s about talking. The voice interface from popular culture and sci-fi — 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek, Blade Runner, and The Jetsons — is here. And it’s spreading to all our applications, thanks to AI. 

Sorry to bring bad vibes to the whole “vibe coding” thing. But voice interaction is about usability, not “vibing.” 

According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, thanks to AI, “The world will be more productive. There will be higher GDP. There will be more jobs. But every job will be augmented by AI.”

And according to Doug Matty, the US Department of Defense’s Chief AI Officer, the generative AI (genAI) program Grok can help us guard against our enemies, and “maintain strategic advantage over our adversaries.”

Yeah. Right.

Sure, the genAI revolution has been very good for Nvidia, which now has $4 trillion in value and is growing. It’s also fine and dandy for Grok that — only days after Elon Musk’s prize AI program went full MechaHitler, it landed a $200 million contract. 

But what about the people who, you know, actually have to use AI tools to get work done? Funny thing, that — it’s not working out so well for them.

Take, for example, programming. That’s one of the things AI is supposed to be really good at. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confidently asserts, “that Copilot is transforming the developer experience,” and it now contributes to over 30% of Microsoft’s codebase.“

Does it, really? A recent study showed that, for experienced open-source developers, genAI tools made them less effective, not more. The study, Measuring the Impact of Early-2025 AI on Experienced Open-Source Developer Productivity, was conducted by the nonprofit AI research group METR. It involved 16 experienced open-source developers, averaging more than 10 years of experience. In short, these were experts set to working on genuine issues like bug fixes and features in projects they knew well in familiar code repositories.

Using such genAI tools as Cursor Pro and Claude 3.5/3.7 Sonnet, the programmers presumed that with AI’s help, they’d reduce their task time by 24%. Even after finishing the study, they believed it had sped them up by 20%. They were wrong, badly wrong.

In reality, it took them 19% longer to complete tasks compared to their compadres who hadn’t used genAI at all. Tasks expected to take roughly six hours or less showed the most pronounced slowdown, with AI-assisted work slowing completion times significantly.

What happened? First, the developers burned time prompting genAI. One of the things people praising the technology to high heaven overlook is that writing good programming prompts is hard. As Domenic Denicola, a Google Chrome developer and the jsdom maintainer who was in the study, wrote, he was surprised at just “how bad the models are at implementing web specifications.”

Developers also wound up spending more time than expected reviewing generated code and fixing errors, including — surprise, surprise! — potential security holes.

Why are we so sure genAI makes things faster? Well, never forget that genAI companies are usually selling efficiency and productivity. The faster and more efficient they appear, the more likely you are to buy them. Leaving advertising hype aside, the researchers also noted that “While coding/agentic benchmarks have proven useful for understanding AI capabilities, they typically sacrifice realism for scale and efficiency.” This benchmarking, however, was all about real work. 

This is not the first study to reach these conclusions. Google’s 2024 DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) study found that while genAI coding tools increased code review speed, their results tended to be too poor to be pushed out to production. Teams using the tech also reported more errors. In short, the programmers had to burn time cleaning up the bots’ messes. 

Over on the Reddit/programming site, none of this surprised the developer regulars who hang out there. The most popular post started, “My experience is [AI] can produce 80% in a few minutes, but it takes ages to remove duplicate code, bad or non-existent system design, and fixing bugs. After that, I can finally focus on the last 20% missing to get the feature done. I’m definitely faster without AI in most cases.”

Sure, for fast and dirty code, genAI can deliver a program that might work. The problem is that it’s not enough for working software.

It’s also not good enough for beginning AI-first “vibe” coders. As the technical writer Kaustubh Saini recently wrote, after a catastrophic vibe programming failure, “the core problem with vibe coding: it produces developers who can generate code but can’t understand, debug, or maintain it. When AI-generated code breaks, these developers are helpless.” 

Yes, they are. 

It’s the exact same problem in other fields. It’s just not quite as obvious in other areas. 

I see this constantly in writing. There are more and more reports, stories, and news articles riddled with errors and badly written. For now, companies and second-rate publishers are getting away with producing genAI slop. People don’t check for mistakes, and the work can sound plausible if you don’t know any better. 

It’s almost certainly true in whatever field you’re working in, as well. The long and short of it is that genAI, at best, can be a useful aid to getting work done. Never, ever mistake it as a replacement for real expertise. It’s not. 

OpenAI's next foundational and state-of-the-art model, GPT-5, is still on its way after a delay. OpenAI won't tell us the release date for now. [...]

Man, oh, man — I don’t know about you, but tech news right now has me feeling a haunting sense of déjà vu.

Have ya heard? Android and ChromeOS are, like, totally merging. Again. Like, any minute now. For realsies, this time.

That’s the buzz around this wacky ol’ web of ours this week, and it’s a tale we’ve heard told — with great confidence, every single time — quite literally for years now. Such rumblings started more or less at the moment Google’s ChromeOS platform came into existence roughly a decade and a half ago.

From the Chromebook’s first baby breath, would-be pundits have been predicting a time when ChromeOS as we know it would cease to exist and instead merge with Android, in one way or another. And so far, each and every time, those predictions have proven to be missing the mark and misinterpreting the way Google thinks about its two primary platforms.

In short: Every time we’ve heard certain-seeming predictions about Android and ChromeOS merging, the reality has ended up being much more nuanced — with less of a binary, one-or-the-other combining of the two environments and instead a more subtle ongoing alignment that makes the platforms more consistent, complementary, and connected. That involves more and more Android-inspired elements appearing in ChromeOS and more ChromeOS-inspired elements showing up on the Android side, too, but notably not an only-one-can-survive death match scenario.

That history, however, hasn’t stopped this latest round of web-wide conclusion jumping from charging forward at full speed. The whole thing started with a report last fall suggesting Android and ChromeOS would soon be — yes, indeedly — merging together into a single unified operating system. For the first time, even as the internet’s unofficially official Android-ChromeOS rumor skeptic/reality-checker/whack-a-mole captain, I saw that report and thought: “Huh — you know, this might actually make sense now, after all these years of false starts.”

But it was Google’s ongoing silence, combined with an eyebrow-raising remark from a company executive this past week, that really set off the sirens and started this newest bout of merger-predicting madness.

The situation may be slightly different this go-round, but the underlying reality is actually quite similar to what we’ve seen in this arena before. In other words: Don’t necessarily believe what you read. This alleged “merger,” like the many alleged Android-ChromeOS “mergers” before it, isn’t entirely what it seems on the surface — and is far less certain to come together than most headlines out there would lead you to think.

[Get level-headed knowledge in your inbox with my free Android Intelligence newsletter. Three new things to know and try every Friday!]

ChromeOS and Android — Google’s star-crossed lovers

So, to zoom in a bit closer to our current context: This latest round of operating system bingo got going, specifically, by way of an interview current Android head honcho Sameer Samat — a nine-year Google veteran, though only president of Android since last spring — gave to the website TechRadar.

The comment in question wasn’t even the crux of the article — in fact, you could almost skim right over it if you weren’t paying close attention. But it be there, all right, as part of an exchange in which Samat asked the author of the piece why he (the author) personally preferred using a Mac.

“I asked because we’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interested in how people are using their laptops these days and what they’re getting done,” Samat is quoted as explaining.

Okay — hold the phone: Did he just casually drop a passing mention of some seemingly monumental tech news? Y’know, the very news that’s been rumored and painted as fact at least 7,942 times over the past 15 years?

He did, all right. But, again: This passing comment seemingly isn’t entirely what it seems.

Back in June of last year, y’see, Google published an announcement entitled “Building a faster, smarter, Chromebook experience with the best of Google technologies.”

Go, go, gadget super-quoter:

To continue rolling out new Google AI features to users at a faster and even larger scale, we’ll be embracing portions of the Android stack, like the Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks, as part of the foundation of ChromeOS. …

Bringing the Android-based tech stack into ChromeOS will allow us to accelerate the pace of AI innovation at the core of ChromeOS, simplify engineering efforts, and help different devices like phones and accessories work better together with Chromebooks. At the same time, we will continue to deliver the unmatched security, consistent look and feel, and extensive management capabilities that ChromeOS users, enterprises, and schools love.

Ohhhh. Right. That.

To clarify: That announcement — from June of 2024 — does not suggest Android and ChromeOS are “merging” in any standard sense of the term. It simply says that more under-the-hood pieces of Android will be making their way into ChromeOS over time, to further streamline and align the two platforms, while ChromeOS will continue to maintain its own distinctive interface and identity on the outside.

That, suffice it to say, is a very different thing from the talk of the two platforms merging and turning into one.

And despite what so many headlines out there right now seem to suggest, the story still doesn’t end there.

Google’s Android-ChromeOS comment cleanup

As Samat’s seemingly off-the-cuff comment started to take on a life of its own, it appears Google realized it needed to say something to address the story that it presumably didn’t intend to create.

So far, that’s taken the form of Samat working to reframe his remark with the aforementioned “under-the-hood alignment” notion in mind. In a post on the bile collection center online social network formerly known as Twitter, Samat shared a link to the TechRadar article and added:

Great to see so much interest in this topic! To reiterate what we announced in our 2024 blog post: We’re building the ChromeOS experience on top of Android underlying technology to unlock new levels of performance, iterate faster, & make your laptop + phone work better together. I’m excited about it!

Womp, womp. (Can’t you just feel the air deflating out of everyone’s metaphorical balloon at the same time?!)

Now, to be fair: It’s entirely possible that Samat said something he shouldn’t have and revealed more than he meant to during a casual interview conversation. It’s entirely possible that this don’t-call-it-a-tweet posting was a frantic effort to cover his tracks, misdirect us all with vaguely worded, not-entirely-a-direct-denial smoke and mirrors, and reclaim control over a narrative Google isn’t yet ready to unleash on the world.

It’s certainly possible.

But it’s also possible that Samat really was just talking about the underlying platform changes we already knew Google was working on — which one could absolutely frame as a “combining” of the two operating systems into a single “platform,” particularly if you lean on the definition of “platform” as a shared underlying technological architecture, as engineers often do. His language that Google is “building the ChromeOS experience on top of Android” sure seems to support that.

I’d like to say I have some clear and unambiguous confirmation from Google one way or the other. But Google is being curiously coy about this whole thing.

For months, in fact, my requests for comments and context around the original fall ’24 report of ChromeOS being completely merged into Android went completely unanswered. Nada. Crickets.

Following the publication of another interview where Samat alluded to similar subjects back in May, I reached out again to Google to see if anyone there could shed any light on the plans around this and what exactly Samat was referencing then — whether it was just the same under-the-hood thing from last year or he was hinting at something more.

And that time, I actually got a reply.

A teensy touch of Android-ChromeOS clarity

Don’t get too excited: The word provided to me by Google was basically just that it was “still very early days” with the shift — the under-the-hood alignment evolution outlined by Google in 2024 — and that they were unable to share any more specific details about how, exactly, it might play out as far as any possible user-facing changes go, as it was all still quite a ways off and such specifics weren’t yet certain.

The Google media rep who replied to me also noted that that fall ’24 merger report was “heavy on speculation,” which is a polite way of saying: “It could be true, but we aren’t gonna confirm or deny it and will instead just point out that it isn’t necessarily correct.”

One thing we do know is that in its 2024 post about the under-the-hood alignment changes, Google said — unambiguously — that, amidst this transition, (a) it would “continue to deliver the unmatched security, consistent look and feel, and extensive management capabilities” that define ChromeOS today and (b) the changes were only starting to be worked on then (in June of 2024) but wouldn’t be ready for us regular folk to experience “for quite some time” yet.

More broadly, Google swore it intended for Chromebooks to continue “deliver[ing] a great experience,” with the company having never been “more excited about the future of ChromeOS” — not the future of Android, with ChromeOS folded into it, but the future of ChromeOS.

So, yeah: We’re clearly doing some careful interpretation and up-close word analysis here. But all of that certainly seems to align with the interpretation that Samat was, in fact, simply talking about the already-announced and in-progress architectural changes and the way Android and ChromeOS would become a single conjoined “platform” — under the hood, in the engine room — quite possibly with different shells that we as users would experience on the outside.

As for whether he slipped up and accidentally revealed more than he meant to or whether that is, in fact, all there is to this story — well, your guess is as good as mine. Few people outside of Google’s walls know that answer. And, once more, Google isn’t responding to my requests for comment (the most recent of which I sent on Monday, four full days ahead of this article’s publication).

What we can say for now is that the once-again widespread suggestion that Android and ChromeOS are absolutely being combined into one indistinguishable identity — a single Google operating system that runs on tablets, phones, computers, and beyond and is identified entirely as “Android” no matter where you look or how you use it — is, as of this moment, little more than unsupported conjecture.

Only time will tell what Google is actually thinking and planning and how even the most concrete internal plans may evolve in the months and years ahead. But much like every other time this topic has come up in the tech universe, the instant assumptions and confident assertions are unequivocally off base and out of line.

To be sure: It’d be quite an interesting twist if Google were ever to fully combine Android and ChromeOS into a single unified system. Such a pivot would offer advantages to Google and to us, as lay users of these products, alike. But it’d also raise an awful lot of challenges that aren’t easily addressed. And, in many ways, an escalation of the more nuanced type of alignment we’ve seen between the platforms all these years could arguably be even more logical.

Maybe, hopefully, one day, we’ll gain a clearer picture of what exactly is on the horizon and how Android and ChromeOS will both come together and remain separate in the future. Despite what the internet’s click-seeking headline writers would like you to believe, though, that day has not yet arrived — and, by all counts, won’t be arriving anytime soon.

Craving more no-nonsense Google perspective? Join Android Intelligence and get my free weekly newsletter right in your inbox every Friday.

This article was originally published in German at Computerwoche.

Microsoft Teams continues to gain ground as a business collaboration tool, in part because Microsoft has tied the meeting and messaging app ever more tightly to the rest of its Microsoft 365 (formerly Office) productivity suite over the years. Teams makes it easy for users to share documents and access information, but this increases the risk of data leaks.

This risk can be managed with tools built into Teams and Microsoft 365 — coupled with knowledge and personal responsibility on the part of Teams owners and users — without losing the benefits of the platform for efficient collaboration in distributed teams. This article explains the most important settings and procedures.

Secure Teams, secure collaboration

The Teams app centers around the concept of “teams,” or groups of employees. In Teams, a team can encompass a small group of employees working on a specific project, members of a department, or even the entire company.

The first step toward secure collaboration in Teams is to identify the “real” teams in your organization. Who works together on which topic? Who is the leader of the team? And who provides organizational support? These questions are easy to answer, but they need to be asked. The answers reveal which working groups a company has, which it needs, and who has which role in them.

Teams can be created for departments and groups within these departments, for example. You can create them for projects, but also for individual customers or for topics in which employees work together across departments. Within a department, different teams can also be formed for different topics, which makes particular sense if the composition of the members varies.

From an IT security perspective, smaller, homogeneous teams are always the better option, because small teams ensure that only the people who should have access to the information shared there actually do have that access. Experience from using Microsoft Teams for quite a long time now also shows that small teams are more manageable, and it’s possible to be a member of many teams without sacrificing efficiency. With Microsoft Teams, more is usually more.

Microsoft automatically moves teams that are rarely used to the “Hidden teams” area. However, you can show these teams again at any time and display them permanently in the “Your teams” area as required, a technique that also works well for managing many small teams. And if you set the channel notifications for the channels in your teams accordingly, you can always see in the Activity area which team has made important changes.

The head of a team must make the members aware of collaboration best practices, in particular the careful handling of data. There should always be at least two “owners” — no more than three — who manage the team. Personal responsibility is essential for safe and efficient use of Teams: the owners of a team must ensure that the security settings are set appropriately and that the information in team rooms is handled sensibly.

Microsoft Teams: essential security settings

The first important task for team owners is managing members. There are three roles here:

• Owners have administrative authorizations for this team. They can manage the settings for the Teams room and add members.

• Members can use the Teams room and also add channels and make other settings within the defined authorizations. Members come from the same organization as the owners.

• Guests are members of Teams rooms who come from other companies.

Owners and members should generally be able to see and use all information in a Teams room. This can be different for guests, as in many cases they should only be able to see certain data, but not all internal discussions. A tried and tested solution here is to use two Teams rooms — for example, “Customer A – internal” and “Customer A – external.” Only internal employees have access to the first room, while customers can access the second room as guests.

Two document libraries can then be used in the internal room. One is used only for internal documents, the other for documents that guests should also see. The second document library is the standard Files area from the external Teams room, which is linked to the internal Teams room. This makes it easy to create a clean separation.

The next step is to make the settings for the individual Teams rooms. The context menu can be opened by clicking on the three dots behind a Teams room. Among other things, the “Manage team” command can be found there. As the owner, you will then see several tabs. There you can manage members, process pending requests for team membership, manage channels, set preferences, analyze the use of the team, and restrict the apps that can be used in the team.

One useful feature here is the “Channels” area, where you can display the various channels in a Teams room and control whether channels are displayed for members in any case (Fig. 1). It is important to understand here that you cannot block channels. However, in the channel settings, which can be found via the three dots next to a channel, the owner can control which channels are always displayed for employees.

Fig. 1: Team owners can control whether all members are allowed to see each channel.

Much more important, however, is the “Settings” tab (Fig. 2). This is where the permissions of members and guests in Microsoft Teams can be set. By default, members are allowed a lot. They can create and customize channels, create private channels, add apps, and so on.

The extent to which you want to restrict this depends primarily on the team’s area of responsibility and structure. For teams that work together for longer, it makes sense to restrict administration to the owners in order to create and maintain structured team spaces. Only the two options — “Give members the ability to delete their messages” and “Give members the ability to edit their messages” — can be left activated with a clear conscience. The settings for guests should always remain as restrictive as they are defined by default.

Fig. 2: The permissions of members in Teams rooms should be restricted by the owners.

Photo: Martin Kuppinger / Microsoft

Microsoft 365: built-in tools for more security

What is striking about these settings is that there are no options for restricting access to individual channels or “apps,” such as SharePoint libraries. Microsoft Teams assumes equal collaboration within Teams.

In addition to the options already mentioned, such as the separation of internal and external teams and the creation of small teams, there is another very useful Microsoft 365 function that is easy to use in Teams: Microsoft Information Protection. The basic functions of Information Protection are available as standard with Microsoft 365; only advanced functions require additional licensing. But even with the basic functions, a higher level of IT security can be achieved.

To do this, go to the “File” menu in an Office document and then to “Information” (Fig. 3). Here you will find the “Protect document” option. Documents can be assigned a password and encrypted here. Even more elegant, however, is the selection “Restrict access/restricted access.”

Fig. 3: Microsoft 365 offers comprehensive options for protecting sensitive documents.

Photo: Martin Kuppinger / Microsoft

Access can then be restricted in the following dialog box (Fig. 4). To do this, select the relevant option and then select the users or user groups from the organization’s address book who are to be granted access. The document is also automatically encrypted.

Fig. 4: Read and write access can be controlled per user or user group for each document in Microsoft 65.

Photo: Martin Kuppinger / Microsoft

The price to be paid for using Microsoft Information Protection is restrictions on the sharing of documents and the deactivation of automatic storage. But for really sensitive information, you can easily increase the level of protection.

With good structuring of team rooms, the use of a few authorization settings in Teams, and the use of Microsoft Information Protection where really necessary, efficient team collaboration can be implemented quickly, easily, and with a sufficient level of data security for most use cases. This is all the more true if everyone in the team ensures that information remains within the team and is handled with care.

Windows 11 24H2 has been released, but behind the scenes, Microsoft is constantly working to improve the newest version of Windows. The company frequently rolls out public preview builds to members of its Windows Insider Program, allowing them to test out — and even help shape — upcoming features.

Skip to the latest builds

The Windows Insider program is divided into four channels:

• The Canary Channel is where platform changes (such as major updates to the Windows kernel and new APIs) are previewed. These changes are not tied to a particular Windows release and may never ship at all. Little documentation is provided, and builds are likely to be very unstable. This channel is best for highly technical users.
• The Dev Channel is where new features are introduced for initial testing, regardless of which Windows release they’ll eventually end up in. This channel is best for technical users and developers and builds in it may be unstable and buggy.
• In the Beta Channel, you’ll get more polished features that will be deployed in the next major Windows release. This channel is best for early adopters, and Microsoft says your feedback in this channel will have the most impact.
• The Release Preview Channel typically doesn’t see action until shortly before a new feature update is rolled out. It’s meant for final testing of an upcoming release and is best for those who want the most stable builds.

The Beta and Release Preview Channels also receive bug-fix builds for the currently shipping version of Windows 11. See “How to preview and deploy Windows 10 and 11 updates” for more details about the four channels and how to switch to a different channel.

Not everyone can participate in the Windows 11 Insider program, because the new operating system has more stringent system requirements than Windows 10. If your PC fails to meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, you cannot join the Windows 11 Insider Program. (See “How to check if your PC can run Windows 11.”)

Below you’ll find information about the Windows 11 preview builds that have been announced by Microsoft in the past six months. (For the Release Preview Channel, we cover builds released for the current version of Windows 11, not for earlier versions.) For each build, we’ve included the date of its release, which Insider channel it was released to, a summary of what’s in the build, and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it.

Note: If you’re looking for information about updates being rolled out to all Windows 11 users, not previews for Windows Insiders, see “Windows 11: A guide to the updates.”

The latest Windows 11 Insider preview builds Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27902

Release date: July 17, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This build, according to Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.”

It also fixes two bugs, including one in which the Camera app got stuck on some PCs after switching between front and back camera.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27902.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5702

Release date: July 14, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs get a new “describe image” action in Click to Do, which shows detailed descriptions of images, charts and graphs, offering a quick overview of the visual content. Support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs will be coming soon.

In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including Administrator protection, a security feature that aims to protect free floating admin rights for administrator users allowing them to still perform all admin functions with just-in-time admin privileges. This feature is off by default and needs to be enabled via Windows Security under Account protection or via group policy.

The same group gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug that caused random File Explorer preview windows to appear when hovering over unrelated app icons in the taskbar.

There are eight known issues in this build, including one in which multiple error pop-ups about unexpected elements may appear when opening Group Policy Editor.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5702.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4733

Release date: July 14, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs get a new “describe image” action in Click to Do, which shows detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs, offering a quick overview of the visual content. Support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs will be coming soon.

In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including Administrator protection, a security feature that aims to protect free floating admin rights for administrator users, allowing them to still perform all admin functions with just-in-time admin privileges. This feature is off by default and needs to be enabled via Windows Security under Account protection or via group policy.

A variety of bug fixes are being rolled out gradually to the same group, including one that addresses an issue in which app updates sometimes caused the icons for app shortcuts pinned to the desktop to become white pages rather than proper thumbnail images.

There are eight known issues in this build, including one in which using touch to navigate the new Start menu may not work reliably. For example, it currently does not support the swipe-up gesture.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4733.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27898

Release date: July 11, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces Quick machine recovery, a feature introduced as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative at Ignite 2024. When enabled, it automatically detects and fixes widespread issues on Windows 11 devices using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This reduces downtime and avoids the need for manual fixes. If a device experiences a widespread boot issue, it enters WinRE, connects to the internet, and Microsoft can deliver a targeted fix through Windows Update. IT admins can enable or customize this experience for their organization through the Intune Settings Catalog UI using the RemoteRemediation CSP.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27898.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4762 (KB5062660)

Release date: July 10, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one for admins in which the Configure Start Pins policy now includes an option to apply Start menu pins only once. This means users will receive the admin Start menu pins on their first sign-in (day 0), but afterward can personalize their pinned layout, and those changes will be retained. This policy can also be applied through group policy, in addition to the existing Configuration Service Provider (CSP).

In addition, several bug fixes are being immediately rolled out, including one that addresses an issue in which File Explorer Home unexpectedly displayed only a single folder (for example, Desktop), rather than the expected content with recent files.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4762.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27891 

Release date: July 3, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, Windows PowerShell 2.0 has been removed. A number of bugs have also been fixed, including one in which the “Reset this PC” option under Settings > System > Recovery did not work.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27891.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4520

Release date: June 27, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including 1Password passkey integration in beta.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which File Explorer Home crashed, potentially also making File Explorer crash on launch, since Home is the default section for File Explorer.

There are seven known issues in this build, including one in which using touch to navigate the new Start menu may not work reliably. For example, it currently does not support the swipe-up gesture.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4520.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5670

Release date: June 27, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including 1Password passkey integration in beta.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which File Explorer Home crashed, potentially also making File Explorer crash on launch, since Home is the default section for File Explorer.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets two bug fixes, including one that addresses the Windows Vista boot sound playing instead of the Windows 11 boot sound.

There are seven known issues in this build, including one in which using touch to navigate the new Start menu may not work reliably. For example, it currently does not support the swipe-up gesture.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5670.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4452

Release date: June 23, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, Copilot+ PCs get a new Windows Recall homepage, which shows you your most recent snapshots so you can quickly return to what you were previously doing, and also displays the top three apps and websites you have spent the most time on in the past 24 hours.

In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including the option to move the hardware indicators for brightness, volume, airplane mode, and virtual desktops to different positions on your screen.

Some additional improvements are being gradually rolled out to the same group, including the addition of a Boolean to the Configure Start Pins policy to allow admins to apply Start menu pins once. This means that a user will receive admin pins on day 0 but can then make any changes to their Start pinned layout and have those safeguarded. These changes can be optionally applied through the existing configuration service provider (CSP).

A handful of bug fixes are rolling out to the same group, including one that addresses an issue in which File Explorer Home only showed a single folder (like Desktop) and nothing else for some people.

Several bugs have been fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the Windows Vista boot sound played instead of the Windows 11 boot sound.

There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4452.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5661

Release date: June 23, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, Copilot+ PCs get a new Windows Recall homepage, which shows you your most recent snapshots so you can quickly return to what you were previously doing, and also displays the top three apps and websites you have spent the most time on in the past 24 hours.

In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including the option to move the hardware indicators for brightness, volume, airplane mode, and virtual desktops to different positions on your screen.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which the File Explorer Home only showed a single folder (like Desktop) and nothing else for some people.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the Windows Vista boot sound played instead of the Windows 11 boot sound.

There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26200. This will not prevent you from getting future Dev Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5661.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27881 

Release date: June 19, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces speech recapto Narrator. It lets you keep track of what Narrator has said and offers access to it for quick reference. With it, you can quickly access spoken content, follow along with live transcription, and copy what Narrator last said, using keyboard shortcuts.

A number of bugs have also been fixed, including one in which File Explorer crashed when the user tapped the View button using touch.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27881.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4482 (KB5060829)

Release date: June 19, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including automatic icon resizing in the taskbar to fit more apps, and a new Screen Curtain feature that blacks out the screen while Narrator reads content aloud. Also new is the ability add custom words to the dictionary in voice access.

In addition, several bug fixes are being immediately rolled out, including one that improves the Copilot key’s reliability and resolves an issue that prevented users from restarting Copilot after using the key.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4482.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4441

Release date: June 13, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs in the European Economic area get the option to export their Recall snapshots to be shared with third-party apps and websites. When they open Recall for the first time and opt into saving snapshots, they will be shown their unique Recall export code. The Recall export code will be needed if they ever choose to export their Recall snapshots to share with a trusted app or website in the future.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of new features being gradually rolled out, including a bigger clock with seconds in the notification center.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for an issue in which folders opened outside of File Explorer would open it in a new File Explorer tab, but the tab wasn’t put in focus.

There are nine known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4441.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5651

Release date: June 13, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, Copilot+ PCs get agents that can help make it easier to find and change settings on PCs. Rather than dig through settings, you’ll be able to simply describe what you need help with like, “how to control my PC by voice” or “my mouse pointer is too small” and an agent will recommend the right steps you can take to address the issue.

In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of new features being gradually rolled out, including a bigger clock with seconds in the notification center.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for an issue in which folders opened outside of File Explorer would open it in a new File Explorer tab, but the tab wasn’t put in focus.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26200. This will not prevent you from getting future Dev Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5651.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4250 

Release date: June 9, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of new features being gradually rolled out, including a larger scrollable Start menu. The menu automatically resizes itself according to the size of your screen, and offers two views, category and grid. In addition, the “Search permissions” and “Searching Windows” settings pages have been combined so you can access all the Windows Search settings under a single page via Settings > Privacy & security > Search.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which input did not work for some Insiders, including when typing into Search, and with the Chinese pinyin IME candidate window, clipboard history, and the emoji panel.

For everyone in the Beta Channel, the build fixes a bug in which some people might have seen severe discoloration when connecting their PC to some older Dolby Vision displays.

There are nine known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4250.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5641

Release date: June 9, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of new features being gradually rolled out, including a larger scrollable Start menu. The menu automatically resizes itself according to the size of your screen, and offers two views, category and grid. In addition, the “Search permissions” and “Searching Windows” settings pages have been combined so you can access all the Windows Search settings under a single page via Settings > Privacy & security > Search.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which input did not work for some Insiders, including when typing into Search, and with the Chinese pinyin IME candidate window, clipboard history, and the emoji panel.

For everyone in the Dev Channel, the build fixes a bug in which some people might have seen severe discoloration when connecting their PC to some older Dolby Vision displays.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26200. This will not prevent you from getting future Dev Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5641.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27871 

Release date: June 4, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, IT administrators can use Microsoft Intune to control the energy saver settings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations.

A number of bugs have also been fixed, including one in which when Virtualization Based Security was enabled, applications dependent on virtualization, such as VMware Workstation, lost the ability to run unless the “Windows Hypervisor Platform” Windows optional component was installed on the system.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27871.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4230 

Release date: June 2, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new dedicated settings page for quick machine recovery, which can be found under System > Recovery > Quick machine recovery. This makes it easier to manage recovery options directly from Settings. This is being gradually rolled out.

A variety of bug fixes are being rolled out gradually to the same group, including one addressing a bug that caused File Explorer to crash performing various actions, such as when deleting files. 

For everyone in the Beta Channel, a bug is fixed in which when Virtualization Based Security was enabled, applications dependent on virtualization, such as VMware Workstation, would lose the ability to run unless the “Windows Hypervisor Platform” Windows optional component is installed on the system.

There are nine known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4230.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5622 

Release date: June 2, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs get a new action in Click to Do, Draft with Copilot in Word. Select text, press the Windows key and click simultaneously, and choose Draft with Copilot in Word. Copilot will create an initial draft based on the text.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including quick machine recovery, designed to help Windows 11 devices recover from widespread boot issues by applying remediations through the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

The same group also gets several bug fixes, including for an issue in which File Explorer crashed when performing various actions, such as deleting files.

There are eight known issues in this build, including one in which taskbar icons may appear small even though the setting to show smaller taskbar buttons is configured as “never.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5622.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27868 

Release date: May 29, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, voice access has been redesigned to help you more easily discover and learn about new features. You can launch or dismiss this new experience from the settings menu.

Several bugs have been fixed, including one that was causing pen input to be non-responsive on some PCs.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27868.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4161 

Release date: May 23, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

This build begins the rollout of a new Click-to-Do action that uses Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant to rewrite or elaborate on selected text. To get started, select text, then press the Windows key and click, then choose the Draft with Copilot in Word action. (This feature requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.)

In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including the ability to add, remove, and rearrange lock screen widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, Traffic, and more. Any widget that supports the small sizing option can be added here. To customize your lock screen widgets, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Note that these features are being rolled out gradually.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a variety of bug fixes rolled out gradually, including one for a bug in which the Describe image feature of narrator wasn’t working.

There are nine known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4161.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27863 

Release date: May 23, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This build adds support for post-quantum signature algorithm ML-DSA in NCrypt and BCrypt cryptography API surfaces, as well as Crypt32 certificate APIs. Three variants are supported, ML-DSA 44, 65, and 87. 

Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which Windows Sandbox was not working and showed error 0xc0370106 on launch.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27863.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4151

Release date: May 19, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including AI actions in File Explorer, which offers a set of AI-related tools when you right-click a file. For now, the only AI tools available are for image files, including Bing Visual Search for searching the web using an image instead of text, as well as several AI-related image-editing capabilities. Eventually, other features will be added, such as summarizing documents using Copilot. These features, including the ones related to images, are being rolled out gradually.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes being rolled out gradually, including one that addresses a bug in which if File Explorer was maximized and you clicked the new tab button, it would unmaximize the window.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4151.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5603

Release date: May 19, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including AI actions in File Explorer, which offers a set of AI-related tools when you right-click a file. For now, the only AI tools available are for image files, including Bing Visual Search for searching the web using an image instead of text, as well as several AI-related image-editing capabilities. Eventually, other features will be added, such as summarizing documents using Copilot. These features, including the ones related to images, are being rolled out gradually.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes being rolled out gradually, including one that addresses a bug in which if File Explorer was maximized and you clicked the new tab button, it would unmaximize the window.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26200. This will not prevent you from getting future Dev Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5603.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4188 (KB5058499)

Release date: May 19, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a wide variety of new features, including a new Copilot action in Click to Do. When you highlight text or an image, Click to Do offers an Ask Copilot option. Selecting it opens Microsoft Copilot with your content in the prompt box. You can send the selected text or image directly to the Copilot app to complete your prompt.

In addition, IT admins can manage energy saver settings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations using Microsoft Intune. This feature helps extend battery life by limiting background activity, dimming the screen, and contributing to environmental sustainability. To configure the policy, go to the Local Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Energy Saver Settingsand select Enable Energy Saver to Always Be On.

A number of bug fixes are also being gradually rolled out, including one for a bug in which Settings crashed at times when loading information about Bluetooth devices.

Several bugs are being fixed immediately, including one in which some devices with BitLocker on removable drives encountered a blue screen error after resuming from sleep or hybrid-booting.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.4188.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27858

Release date: May 16, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This build includes a new system tray icon on the taskbar that makes it easier to find and use emojis, GIFs, Kaomoji, etc. It also fixes a variety of bugs, including an explorer.exe crash related to snap layouts, which happened when dragging a window or hovering over the maximize button in a window.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27858.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3964

Release date: May 12, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

This build introduces a new agent in Settings on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCS. Using it, you can describe what you need help with, such as “how to control my PC by voice” or “my mouse pointer is too small,” and the agent will recommend steps you can take to address the issue. Support for AMD- and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs is coming soon.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including a new FAQs section on the Settings > System > Aboutpage to provide help with using your PC.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes being rolled out gradually, including for an issue that caused live captions to crash and another that could make some apps like Word hang when trying to print.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3964.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5600

Release date: May 12, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

This build introduces a new set of intelligent text actions using Click to Do on AMD- and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. You can Use Win key + mouse-click or Win key + Q to select a text block and drag to select the text that you want. You’ll see options to summarize, create a bulleted list, or to help you rewrite your text so it sounds more causal, more formal, or more polished.

A wide variety of bug fixes are being rolled out gradually to those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates, including for an issue that caused File Explorer Home to hang when loading and another that caused live captions to crash.

There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26200. This will not prevent you from getting future Dev Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5600.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3950

Release date: May 5, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including one that gives IT administrators the ability to use Microsoft Intune to control energy savings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations.

The same group also gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows’ startup sound would not play, even though it was enabled.

There are nine known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3950.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581

Release date: May 5, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including one that gives IT administrators the ability to use Microsoft Intune to control energy savings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations.

The same group gets several new bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows’ startup sound would not play, even though it was enabled.

There are seven known issues in this build, including one in which live captions have been crashing.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3941

Release date: April 25, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features and minor improvements, including a new profanity filter setting for voice typing. This group will also have several bugs fixed, including one that caused apps to appear blank, and another in which Windows Hello facial recognition would not work for login for some Insiders. The new feature and bug fixes are gradually rolling out.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a fix for a bug that caused Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to not work and the option “Fix problems using Windows Update” option under Settings > Recovery to also not work.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3941.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570

Release date: April 25, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features and minor improvements, including a new profanity filter setting for voice typing. This group will also have several bugs fixed, including one that caused apps to appear blank, and another in which Windows Hello facial recognition would not work for login for some Insiders.

Everyone in the Dev Channel  gets a fix for a bug that caused Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to not work and the option “Fix problems using Windows Update” option under Settings > Recovery to also not work.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Sandbox may fail to launch with a 0x800705b4 error. If this occurs, try reinstalling Sandbox by unchecking Sandbox under “Turn Windows features on or off” to uninstall it, then reboot, go back to “Turn Windows features on or off” and check Sandbox to reinstall it and reboot again.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5570.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27842

Release date: April 23, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This build previews a new UI that is used when a PC unexpectedly restarts. It also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the Smart App Control icon wasn’t displaying correctly in the Windows Security app.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27842.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5562

Release date: April 21, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs get two new text actions in Click to Do, including the “Practice in Reading Coach” Click to Do action that can increase fluency and pronunciation.

In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including several improvements in voice access and to the notification widgets settings page, so that they can control the number of notifications per feed or dashboard. 

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bugs fixed, including one that was causing Start menu to crash when creating folders. Everyone in the Dev Channel gets additional bug fixes, including for a bug that didn’t allow some apps like Spotify to install from the Microsoft Store.

There are 14 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5562.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3872

Release date: April 21, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs get two new text actions in Click to Do, including the “Practice in Reading Coach” Click to Do action that can increase fluency and pronunciation.

In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including several improvements in voice access.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including one that was causing Start menu to crash when creating folders. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets one bug fix, for a bug that didn’t allow some apps like Spotify to install from the Microsoft Store

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3872.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551

Release date: April 11, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

This build begins the rollout of natural language search for settings in the Windows search box on the taskbar for users with Copilot+ PCs. For example, you can use your own words to find settings like “change my theme” or “about my PC.” You no longer need to remember the exact setting name you are looking for.

In addition, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including one in which you can read content such as full articles, slideshows, and videos directly within your MSN feed in the widgets board.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug that caused File Explorer Home to crash for some Insiders. Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a fix for Windows Sandbox, which was not working.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3863

Release date: April 11, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

This build begins the rollout of natural language search for settings in the Windows search box on the taskbar for users with Copilot+ PCs. For example, you can use your own words to find settings like “change my theme” or “about my PC.” You no longer need to remember the exact setting name you are looking for.

In addition, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new features being rolled out gradually, including one in which you can read content such as full articles, slideshows, and videos directly within your MSN feed in the widgets board.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug that caused File Explorer Home to crash for some Insiders. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a fix for Windows Sandbox, which was not working.

There are 14 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3863.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3902 (KB5055627)

Release date: April 10, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out several new features for Copilot+ PCs, including Windows Recall (preview) in which you can quickly find and get back to any app, website, image, or document by describing its content. To use Recall, you need to opt in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enroll in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access them. Those with Copilot+ PCs can also search by describing what they’re looking for, without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. 

A number of new features are being rolled out immediately for all PCs, not just Copilot+ PCs, including one in which you get an estimated time for how long your PC will be offline to install updates from Windows Update. Several bugs are also being fixed, including one in which some content pages with JPEG images were not displaying.

There is one known issue in this build, in which Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) may not work, and you may not be able to use the “Fix problems using Windows Update” option under Settings > Recovery.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3902.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518

Release date: April 3, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

Those in the Dev Channel who have opted to receive the latest updates get several new features that are being rolled out gradually, including taskbar icon scaling — when your taskbar starts to get crowded with pinned or open apps, the icons automatically scale down to a smaller size. This lets you keep more apps visible and accessible without having to use a secondary menu.

Dev Channel users who have opted to receive the latest updates get three bug fixes, one in which external graphics cards connected over Thunderbolt were unexpectedly not discoverable in some cases; another in which Hyper-V Manager erroneously reported 0% CPU usage for VMs in some scenarios; and another for those with Copilot+ PCs who saw semantic search stop working until their PCs were rebooted.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3671

Release date: April 3, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who agreed to receive the latest updates get several new features being rolled out gradually, including taskbar icon scaling — when your taskbar starts to get crowded with pinned or open apps, the icons automatically scale down to a smaller size. This lets you keep more apps visible and accessible without having to use a secondary menu.

Those in the Beta Channel who get the latest updates get two bug fixes, one in which external graphics cards connected over Thunderbolt were unexpectedly not discoverable in some cases, and another in which Hyper-V Manager erroneously reported 0% CPU usage for VMs in some scenarios.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates, which will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3671.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516

Release date: March 28, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

This build includes improved search tools for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. When searching in File Explorer, the Windows search box on the taskbar, or in Settings, you can type plain-English searches without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. In addition, those with AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs can find photos in the cloud by using plain-English searches.

Those who have turned on the toggle to receive changes as soon as they come out get a speech recap in Narrator which keeps track of what Narrator has spoken and access it for quick reference. They also get a variety of changes and improvements, including one in which on Copilot+ PCs, they can now access Click to Do from the Start menu and can pin it to Start and the taskbar.

They also receive a variety of bug fixes, including one in which File Explorer was very slow to close for some Insiders when closing it using the X button.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a bug fixed in which the toggle to get the latest updates as soon they are available via Settings > Windows Update didn’t render correctly and turned itself off.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653

Release date: March 28, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features being rolled out gradually, including a speech recap feature in Narrator that keeps track of what Narrator has spoken and lets you access it for quick reference. There are also a variety of changes and improvements, including one in which on Copilot+ PCs, users can now access Click to Do from the Start menu and can pin it to Start and the taskbar.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the taskbar icons weren’t increasing in size as they should when using your PC in a tablet posture.

Two bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the toggle to get the latest updates as soon they are available via Settings > Windows Update did not render correctly and automatically turned itself off.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates that will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27823

Release date: March 26, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows. It also includes new “top cards” under Settings > System > About. Top cards provide an easy way to view your PC’s key specifications—processor, RAM, storage, and GPU.

The build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Settings could crash when interacting with Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27823.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585

Release date: March 24, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

This build includes improved search tools for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. When searching in File Explorer, the Windows search box on the taskbar, or in Settings, you can type plain-English searches without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. In addition, those with AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs can find photos in the cloud by using plain-English searches.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer was very slow to close via the X button.

Two bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update did not render correctly and automatically turned itself off.

There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510

Release date: March 24, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build the Dev Channel is jumping ahead to receive 26200 series builds. This means that once you install it, you cannot switch to the Beta Channel. If you are in the Dev Channel and want to switch to the Beta Channel, don’t install this build. Instead, pause updates in Windows Update, switch your channel to the Beta Channel and then un-pause updates.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3624 (KB5053656)

Release date: March 24, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out several new features for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, including natural-language search in Windows Search. Just describe what you’re looking for without having to remember specific file names, exact words in file content, or settings names.

In addition, the build includes the same set of improvements and bug fixes as a previous build, Build 26100.3613, such as Natural Language Commanding in voice access, available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3624.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27818

Release date: March 19, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop sometimes froze when connecting.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27818.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3613 (KB5053656)

Release date: March 18, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including Natural Language Commanding in voice access, which lets users speak commands naturally, using filler words and synonyms, rather than rigid, predefined commands. It is available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.

Several bug fixes are also being rolled out gradually, including one in which the “see more” (…) menu in the File Explorer command bar opened in the wrong direction in some cases.

A variety of new bug fixes are being rolled out immediately, including one for a bug in which critical PowerShell modules required for device configuration were not executed under Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3613.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576 

Release date: March 17, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, you can use natural language commands during voice access, rather than having to remember specific voice commands.

The same group gets several bug fixes, including one addressing a bug for users in managed environments, in which your Windows Recall snapshots would get deleted after installing Build 26120.3380 and after each reboot on that build.

There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings, and another in which Recall is no longer able to save new snapshots or modify settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813

Release date: March 12, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

The build also fixes two bugs, one which the WDMAud system driver was causing some app crashes, and the other in which Settings > System > Display > Color Management did not always display the expected color profile list for the selected monitor.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380 

Release date: March 10, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which File Explorer displays a new Recommended section that is displayed as a carousel with thumbnail previews. This includes content such as files you frequently use, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery. Users with a work/school account (Entra ID) will have additional types of recommendations available with this update.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which windows.storage.dll led caused some apps to crash when files were opened in them.

There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808

Release date: March 7, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, a change is being rolled out in the way Task Manager calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. For backward compatibility, a new optional column called CPU Utility is available (hidden by default) on the Details tab showing the previous CPU value used on the Processes page.

The build also fixes a number of bugs, including one that caused the search window to go blank for some Insiders when searching from the taskbar, due to a background crash.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN. In the other, a d3d9.dll crash is causing multiple apps to fail to launch starting with Build 27802 for some Insiders.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a new system tray icon on the taskbar, which lets you use emojis, GIFs, Kaomoji, etc. across all apps and surfaces in Windows in addition to using the Win + . keyboard shortcut. This new system tray icon can be changed by right-clicking on the icon to go to taskbar settings page.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a number of new bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer Home crashed for some Insiders.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which File Explorer is very slow to close for some Insiders when closing using the X button. This may also affect the other title bar buttons.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360 

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get two new features being gradually rolled out, including one in which Task Manager changes the way it calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. Also being added is the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug which some people experienced Remote Desktop freezes on login, or frequent disconnect.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, new battery icons in Windows 11 communicate the battery status of your PC with a quick glance. Key changes include colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one that was causing the login screen to crash when clicking the “sign-in options” link for some Insiders.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291

Release date: February 21, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs can search photos saved in the cloud by using your own words to describe what you’re looking for in the Windows search box on the taskbar.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bugs fixed, including one in which switching languages crashed live captions if audio was playing or the microphone was enabled.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321 (KB5052093)

Release date: February 18, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can share files directly from a jump list on the taskbar, and another in which you can find out more information about a background image by hovering over the image or clicking the “Learn about this picture” icon.

A variety of bug fixes are also being gradually rolled out, including one in which when you enter a URL in the File Explorer address bar, it might not go to the location.

The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop stopped working.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281

Release date: February 14, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates have the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS and Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click. In addition, when “Restore previous folder windows at logon” is enabled in File Explorer, you can now restore all the extra tabs that you previously had open in each File Explorer window. 

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which if you tried to reset your password from the login screen, it wouldn’t work due to an underlying crash. Another fix addresses a bug for users who have a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC, in which File Explorer search was unresponsive and required a reboot to start working.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788

Release date: February 5, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes the first in-box public preview of Windows MIDI Services, a complete rewrite of MIDI on Windows for musicians. Windows MIDI Services handles MIDI 2.0 and improves MIDI 1.0 implementation, with automatic translation between the two. It works on 64-bit operating systems on all supported processors, including Arm64.

The build also gradually rolls out the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS or Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one that prevented scanning apps from detecting a connected scanner.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870

Release date: February 3, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, IT administrators in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a new group policy called “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen,” which allows them to disable lock screen widgets without disabling widgets elsewhere on PCs they manage. 

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the Start menu crashed for some Insiders when they interacted with the letters in the apps list.

Several bugs have been fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which PCs did not recognize that USB cameras were on after installing the January 2025 security update.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073

Release date: January 31, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those who have Copilot+ PCs get a new feature in Windows Search, in which you can use your own words to find photos stored and saved in the cloud by describing what they are, such as “European castles” or “summer picnics.” In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results as well. Exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will show in the search results.

The build also includes changes being gradually rolled out for all Windows 11 PCs. Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. The feature will show some existing cards relevant to enterprise-managed PCs like “Recommended settings” and “Bluetooth devices,” as well as two new enterprise-specific device info and accessibility preferences cards. For commercial customers who also use their Microsoft account on their managed PC, there will also be a new accounts card indicating the presence of both work/school and Microsoft account types. 

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which minimized File Explorer windows might not have rendered correctly when restored.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the display of some games appeared oversaturated when you used Auto HDR.

There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” message while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783

Release date: January 29, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, users signed into Windows with a Microsoft account will be able to view files that have been shared with the account, such as email, Teams chat, etc., in File Explorer. Commercial customers signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID account will also be able to view files that they have shared with others. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the ‘Shared’ tab item.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which taskbar preview windows sometimes didn’t display when hovering over open apps in the taskbar.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805

Release date: January 24, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a change to Snap in Windows 11 in which inline messaging will now appear when you accidentally invoke the Snap Bar when dragging an app to the top middle of your desktop or Snap Flyout when hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button of an app. This is designed to provide guidance on snapping app windows and educating users on the keyboard shortcuts for quickly snapping app windows in the future.

This group also gets new keyboard shortcuts in Narrator scan mode for quickly jumping to list items and to the beginning or end of large elements such as tables or lists. These changes are gradually rolling out.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000

Release date: January 24, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new battery icons, including colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage. The same group also gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in File Explorer in which you sometimes would be unable to navigate by entering a path in the address bar. These changes are gradually rolling out.

There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000.)

Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 (KB5050094)

Release date: January 21, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which an icon will appear in the system tray when you use an app that supports Windows Studio Effects. This only occurs on a device that has a neural processing unit (NPU). Select the icon to open the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings.

The update also improves the previews that show when your cursor hovers over apps on the taskbar. In addition, the Windows Mobile Hotspot now supports 6 GHz connections. This new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers. 

A variety of bug fixes are also being rolled out, including for a bug in which the Snipping Tool screenshots were distorted when you used two or more monitors that have different display scaling.

The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you will now have a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3025.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800

Release date: January 17, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC. You can still find your apps in the Start menu and Search, and you can pin apps to your taskbar. In addition, the build starts the rollout of the Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. 

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one bug fix, which includes increased support for text scaling in File Explorer, File Open/Save dialogs, and copy dialogs.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800.)

A critical Citrix NetScaler vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-5777 and dubbed "CitrixBleed 2," was actively exploited nearly two weeks before proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits were made public, despite Citrix stating that there was no evidence of attacks. [...]

VMware fixed four vulnerabilities in VMware ESXi, Workstation, Fusion, and Tools that were exploited as zero-days during the Pwn2Own Berlin 2025 hacking contest in May 2025. [...]