Announcing new builds for 29 May 2026

Hello Windows Insiders,

This week we continue to expand the rollout of the new Windows Insider Program changes to devices in channels already announced.

New builds this week

Today we are releasing new Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds. As a reminder, all Insiders can find the release notes for your device based on the new channel system, even if you haven’t moved yet. This is to make finding build information as easy as possible during the transition. See your channel release notes here:

For those on other specific build versions, here are today’s new builds and release notes:

• Experimental (26H1): Build 28020.2207
• Experimental (Future Platforms) – Including Canary 29500 series: Build 29599.1000
  • Please note: We have identified an issue internally causing crashes on AMD machines supporting System Guard, meaning these devices in WIP will not be offered this week’s Experimental (Future Platforms) build. This should be fixed by the next flight.

As a reminder, you can always find your build number in the watermark on bottom right-hand corner of your desktop.

Advanced core selection

As mentioned in recent WIP blogs, we are in the process of releasing the Windows 11 version 26H1 build to those Insiders who have elected this version under Advanced options in the Windows Insider Program settings. We will begin releasing this version to those Insiders who have elected this change on June 5 2026.

As outlined in our Windows IT Pro Blog, Windows 11 26H1 is a targeted release that supports some of the new device innovations coming in 2026, including devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Series processors. Devices running Windows 11, version 26H1 will not be able to update to the next annual feature update in the second half of 2026. This is because Windows 11, version 26H1 is based on a different Windows core than Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, and the upcoming feature update. These devices will have a path to update in a future Windows release.

Insiders who have elected the 26H1 option in Advanced options but no longer wish to take this version, should reselect version 25H2 before version 26H1 is made available to these devices beginning June 5. Insiders who do take version 26H1 and want to move back to 25H2 will be able to do so through a complete reinstall of Windows.

Notable new features:

[Start menu]

Release channel: Experimental

This update brings a number of improvements for the Start menu as first outlined in the Making Taskbar and Start more personal Insider blog. This includes:

• Renamed “Recommended” section to “Recent” in Start and Settings page
• Section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recommended, and All.
• Choose between a small and large Start menu, in addition to “Automatic (default)” setting option that’s already available today
• The option to hide your name and profile picture in Start
• Redesigned Start menu settings page

[Windows Search]

Release channel: Experimental, Beta

We’re improving Windows Search results:

• Search by Substring: Files with compound names or content (e.g., MeetingNotesApril, ProjectStatusReport) are now easily discoverable by typing “april” or “status”.

Thanks,

Stephen and the Windows Insider Program team