KB5074105 (build 26200.7701) for Windows 11 drops as the February 2026 update (preview)

Windows 11 builds 26200.7701 and 26200.7701 (KB5074105) arrive in the Release Preview Channel as the second cumulative update of 2026 for versions 25H2 and 24H2.
This release includes new features, fixes, improvements, and changes.

Microsoft is rolling out Windows 11 builds 26200.7701 and 26200.7701 (KB5074105) in the Release Preview Channel as the first preview for the February 2026 update.

According to the changelog, the “2026-01 Security Update (KB5074105) (26200.7701)” expands the Cross Device Resume features, upgrades the Windows MIDI Services, allows users to disable Smart App Control without reinstallation, Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors, and a lot more.

The update KB5074105 includes additional fixes, improvements, and changes for the Start menu, Kiosk mode, Windows Update, Lock screen, File Explorer, Activation, Desktop icons, input, and more.

What’s new on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 update KB5074105
Windows 11 February 2026 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process
Windows 11 February 2026 Patch Tuesday – Update history

Important: Usually, Microsoft doesn’t release new features immediately. When a feature is announced as part of an update, it usually signals the start of a gradual rollout using the Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology. Availability can vary based on region, hardware, and software configuration. For instance, some features take longer to reach users in Europe due to regulatory requirements.

What’s new on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 update KB5074105

Microsoft is currently rolling out these improvements and fixes as part of the February 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 24H2 and version 25H2.

Android app resume on Windows 11

Starting with builds 26200.7701 and 26200.7701, Windows 11 is also expanding the ability to resume Android apps on your computer from the Taskbar. You can, for example, resume Spotify playback, work in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or continue a browsing session.

Microsoft also notes that Vivo phone users can continue browsing from Vivo Browser on their computer.

The feature works by turning on the “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” option in the “Manage Devices” settings, under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices to connect your PC with your Android phone.

Furthermore, if you use a phone from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, Vivo, or Xiaomi, you can resume online files that you opened in the Microsoft Copilot app on your phone and continue working on them on your computer.

When the feature is turned on, you can start using an app on your Android phone, and then you’ll receive a “Resume alert” notification in the Taskbar that allows you to launch the Spotify app on your computer to resume the same track or anything else you were listening.

Windows 11 app resume from Android / Image: Microsoft

If the app isn’t available on your computer, you’ll see the option to install it from the Microsoft Store.

Of course, this feature works only if your Android phone is already set up on your computer in the “Mobile devices” settings.

It’s important to note that this feature is rolling out slowly, and it’s up to developers to build this functionality into their apps.

Windows MIDI Services

This update rolls out improvements for MIDI with expanded support for MIDI 0 and MIDI 2.0, adding full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 compatibility with automatic translation, shared MIDI ports across apps, custom port naming, loopback, and app‑to‑app routing, along with performance boosts and reliability fixes to give musicians a smoother, more capable workflow.

The company also notes that the App SDK and Tools package is offered as a separate download that unlocks in‑box MIDI 0 capabilities and provides utilities such as the MIDI Console and the MIDI Settings app.

Windows Narrator changes

Windows Narrator provides better control over how it announces on‑screen controls, letting you choose which details are spoken and in what order so the flow matches how you move through apps.

Settings app

In the Home page, you’ll now find a new Device card that shows key technical specifications, and there’s even a link to open the About settings page.

Smart App Control improvements

Microsoft is making changes to allow you to turn Smart App Control (SAC) on or off without requiring a clean install. This can be done from Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control.

Voice Access changes

A simpler setup makes it easier to start using Voice Access. The new flow will walk you through downloading a speech model for your language, choosing the microphone you want to use, and learning how Voice Access can help you control your device.

Voice Typing update

The “Wait time before acting” setting is now available in Voice Typing, letting you choose how long the operating system should pause before carrying out a voice command. Adjusting this delay helps Voice Typing understand you more accurately, whether you speak slowly or quickly.

Windows Hello with external fingerprint sensors support

Until now, the Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) experience has only supported built-in biometric sensors. However, starting with builds 26200.7701 and 26200.7701, you can now connect and configure any supported Windows Hello ESS fingerprint reader from the “Sign-in options” settings page.

Enhanced Sign in security option / Image: Mauro Huculak

Copilot+ PCs improvements

The AI Agent for the Settings app now supports more languages, with expanded support for German, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Italian, and Chinese (Simplified).

Other changes

The company has also released security fixes and improvements for the operating system:

Start Menu: Fixed an issue where the shutdown warning message for other logged‑in users could be cut off by the edge of the Start menu, and corrected a problem where the Start menu might open on the wrong side of the screen when using Arabic or Hebrew display languages with non‑centered taskbar icons.
Kiosk mode: Removed an unnecessary error message that could appear after signing in to multi‑app kiosk mode, stating, “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer.”
Windows Update: Fixed an issue where attempting to join the Windows Insider Program could become stuck.
Lock screen: Improved underlying behavior to reduce cases where the lock screen might become unresponsive.
File Explorer: Improved underlying performance to make File Explorer more responsive when navigating network locations.
Logging into your PC: Fixed an issue where explorer.exe could hang during initial sign‑in if certain apps were set as startup apps, which could prevent the taskbar from appearing.
Activation: Fixed a problem where a valid Windows license transfer could fail during upgrades because the device couldn’t register with the Windows Activation server.
Desktop icons: Fixed an issue where desktop icons might unexpectedly shift position when interacting with files, such as opening or renaming them.
Input: Corrected reversed labels for keyboard character repeat delay in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Keyboard.
UAC: Fixed a freeze that could occur when attempting to run Windows Terminal elevated from a non‑admin account.

Changes rolling out immediately

While the previous features, improvements, and fixes are rolling out gradually, these changes and fixes are available to everyone immediately.

For example, this release updates the Boot Manager on devices that already have the Windows UEFI CA 2023 certificate in their Secure Boot Signature Database, replacing the older 2011‑signed bootmgfw.efi with the 2023‑signed version. Resetting the DB or enabling Secure Boot afterward can trigger a “Secure Boot violation.” In those rare cases, creating Secure Boot recovery media is the required fix.

In addition, this update adds support for DPAPI domain backup key management, allowing administrators to control how often keys automatically rotate, improving cryptographic security and reducing dependence on older encryption algorithms.

Also, the February 2026 update brings the following fixes:

Start Menu: Fixed an issue where clicking “hide this pane” in the mobile device side panel might not open the setting to hide it.
Graphics: Fixed black screen problems in isolated multiuser environments, typically occurring after a Windows upgrade.
Narrator: Addressed an issue where Narrator might fail to start during Windows installation when using an ISO file.

Furterhmore, this release fixed a startup crash that could occur when Windows Boot Manager debugging was enabled due to issues with kdstub.dll and kdnet.dll, resolved a problem that could cause iSCSI boot to fail with an “Inaccessible Boot Device” error, and addressed an issue in the C Runtime (CRT) libraries in the Windows SDK that caused BinSkim to flag them as non‑compliant with the Microsoft SDL

Windows 11 February 2026 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process

To download and install this Windows 11 update, you have to enroll in the Release Preview Channel, open the “Windows Update” settings, turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option, and click the “Check for Updates” button.

If your computer is having issues after installing this package, you can use these instructions to uninstall the February 2026 update.

Windows 11 February 2026 Patch Tuesday – Update history

Final Release – Patch Tuesday (Stable Channel):
- Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.7701 release date: January 27, 2026. Official notes.
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.7701 release date: January 27, 2026. (same).
- Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.xxx release date: TBD. Official notes.