The first preview of the May 2025 update for Windows 11 is now rolling out as build 26100.3902 (KB5055627) in the Release Preview Channel. This quality update is expected to finally graduate Windows Recall from the preview, meaning it’ll start rolling out to Copilot+ PCs not enrolled in the Windows Insider Program.
Microsoft also plans to bring Click to Do and Semantic Indexing for Windows Search out of preview and into the stable channel.
Furthermore, the May 2025 release will roll out improvements and changes for other components like Widgets, File Explorer, Settings, Windows Share, Start menu, Taskbar, and much more.
These features and changes are gradually rolling out to supported devices, meaning it’ll take some time to reach everyone. Also, the availability of some changes and capabilities will depend on your location.
Windows 11 build 26100.3902 (KB5055627)
These are the changes and improvements coming for the next Patch Tuesday update of Windows 11 24H2.
New Windows Recall
Starting with build 26100.3902, Windows 11 ships with the Windows Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs that feature an NPU with 40+ TOPS.
Windows Recall is a new feature that uses AI to track all your activities across apps and then makes everything you have done on your computer searchable using natural language.
According to the company, this AI feature will be available starting in early 2025 in most markets, but in the European Economic Area, it’ll roll out later this year.
Also, Recall AI is optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish).
New Click to Do
This quality update will also start rolling out the Click to Do feature to all supported Copilot+ PCs.
Click to Do is a feature that gives you a number of additional actions that you can perform from text and elements found on a Recall snapshot. For example, by selecting text from the image, you can copy text to your clipboard, open the selected text with an app, search the web, open a link, and send an email.
This feature is available inside and outside of Windows Recall.
You can launch Click to Do from the Start menu, or you can use the “Windows key + mouse-click” or “Windows key + Q” keyboard shortcuts, or from the Snipping Tool menu and print screen feature.
It’s important to note that the functions will vary per device and market, and the feature will arrive later this year in the European Economic Area.
New Semantic Indexing
The update KB5055627 also begins the rollout of the Semantic Indexing feature for Copilot+ PCs.
Semantic Indexing is a technique that enhances how your computer’s files are indexed and searched. By leveraging AI, particularly Natural Language Processing (NLP), Semantic Indexing allows Windows 11 to understand and interpret the meaning behind your queries. This lets you find files, settings, and other content using natural language.
This search capability will be available from the Start menu, Windows Search interface, Taskbar Search box, File Explorer, and the Settings app.
In addition, the AI search will also work to find photos stored and saved in OneDrive, as well as for those images stored locally on the computer.
Finally, exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will also appear in the search results.
The new search works only with specific text, image, and document formats. Optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish)
This feature doesn’t replace the traditional Windows Search capability. Instead, it’ll complete the existing search feature.
Windows Narrator with new Speech Recap
Windows 11 build 26100.3902 also rolls out an updated version of Windows Narrator with the Speech Recap feature that can track the spoken words, which you can then access for quick reference.
Start menu with new mobile sidebar
Microsoft is finally making available the mobile sidebar that gives you quick access to make phone calls, send SMS messages, access your photos, or share content between your mobile devices and PC.
The new sidebar will be available after linking your mobile device with your computer using the Phone Link and Link to Windows apps.
In addition, this release fixes a couple of issues with the Start menu, including a rendering issue with the “Sign out” and “More options” buttons when changing the text size.
Widgets changes for developers
Starting with this update, web developers can create interactive widgets for Windows 11.
New Recommended section for File Explorer
This update adds a new “Recommended” section to the File Explorer’s home page, which will display your Microsoft 365 files.
Also, if you change the “Text size” setting in the Settings app from the Accessibility section, the text scaling will now apply across File Explorer dialogs.
Microsoft also notes that it’s improving the performance of extracting zipped content and fixing the address bar not showing the path correctly.
Settings app changes
In this release, the Settings app, more specifically the “Apps” section, includes a new “Actions on Copilot+ PCs” setting to manage which apps Windows can recommend actions.
Windows Share new edit options
Microsoft is updating the Windows Share interface to edit images with options to crop, rotate, and add filters before sharing.
Windows Studio Effects changes
The Studio Effects automatic framing filter will now be enabled by default when the camera is used for the first time. This change will only happen on supported devices.
Other fixes and changes
The May 2025 update doesn’t introduce anything significant for the Taskbar but addresses issues with app icons and navigation using the arrow keys.
Starting with this release, app icons on the desktop will no longer show an accent-colored backplate.
This update also fixes display, ExtFloodFill, graphics, and Hyper-V Manager.
In the normal rollout, the “Windows Update” settings estimate the time for how long the computer will be offline to install updates.
In addition, this release addresses an issue affecting internet connectivity on devices after resuming from sleep.
This update fixes an issue when the operating system stops unexpectedly, and an error message appears on a Blue Screen of Death during normal usage with a user profile redirected to a network VHDx.
Finally, the May 2025 update fixes a problem where some content pages with JPEG images were not displaying correctly.
Installation process
To download and install this Windows 11 build, enroll your device in the Release Preview Channel through the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Update & Security” section. Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download the build from the “Windows Update” settings by clicking the “Check for Updates” button, but do not turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option.
The company is expected to release this update again in the Stable Channel as an optional install with minor changes and with a different KB and build number before making it available as the official May 2025 security update on May 13, 2025.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech (est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
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