- Windows 11 build 26220.9836 introduces individual camera, microphone, and location permissions for desktop apps.
- The update fixes mouse personalization and wallpaper reset issues and improves the security key sign-in experience.
- File Explorer gets sharper Recommended thumbnails, while Magnifier and Narrator receive accessibility improvements.
Microsoft is making available the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26220.9836) for version 25H2 via the Beta channel in the Windows Insider Program. This update introduces improvements and smaller changes as part of the Windows K2 initiative.
According to the official notes, Windows 11 build 26220.9836 adds per-app privacy controls, letting users manage camera, microphone, and location permissions for individual desktop apps. The update also simplifies the security key sign-in experience and fixes mouse personalization and wallpaper reset problems.
Other improvements include a new Magnifier keyboard shortcut toggle, sharper thumbnails in File Explorer’s “Recommended” section, and Narrator support for eight additional languages when reading mathematical content.
Microsoft is also temporarily rolling back the new solid loading animations across startup, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and update experiences while working on a bug fix.
What’s new on Windows 11 build 26220.9836 (Beta)
These are the new features and improvements rolling out in the Beta channel:
Per-app permissions in Settings
Windows 11 gives you more control over your privacy by letting you manage camera, microphone, and location access for individual desktop apps. Previously, traditional desktop applications relied on a single device-wide permission setting, making it harder to see which apps could access these sensitive resources.
You can now review and allow or deny access for each desktop app individually from Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, Microphone, or Location. The apps that haven’t accessed a resource before will request permission the first time they need it.
Your existing privacy choices remain intact. The apps that previously had access will keep their permissions, and no settings will be reset. Enterprise policies also continue to work as expected.
Keep in mind that some apps may appear under unexpected names because they rely on shared system components or browser-hosted experiences. Others may appear as “Unsigned” if the operating system cannot verify their publisher. Only grant permissions to apps you recognize and trust.
Updated security key sign-in experience
Microsoft is simplifying the security key PIN entry screen by removing the “Other user” icon. The small interface adjustment creates a cleaner, less cluttered sign-in experience when using security keys.
Fixes mouse personalization and wallpaper issues
The Windows team has fixed an issue in recent Insider builds that caused mouse personalization settings to malfunction and desktop wallpapers to reset after restarting the computer.
Control the Magnifier keyboard shortcut
Windows 11 now includes a dedicated toggle under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier to control whether using the “Windows key + Plus (+)” keyboard shortcut launches Magnifier.
The shortcut remains enabled by default, so nothing changes unless you decide otherwise. However, if you frequently activate Magnifier accidentally or the shortcut conflicts with another application or keyboard layout, you can turn it off. You can still launch Magnifier through Settings and re-enable the shortcut whenever needed.
File Explorer thumbnails improvements
File Explorer is getting a small visual improvement to its Home page. Microsoft has sharpened the file thumbnails in the “Recommended” section, making previews crisper and easier to recognize.
Narrator adds support for more math languages
Microsoft is expanding Narrator’s math-reading capabilities with support for eight additional languages, including Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Russian, Swedish, and Vietnamese. The expansion makes mathematical content more accessible to users who rely on the screen reader in these languages.
System rolls back the new loading animations
Microsoft is temporarily rolling back the new solid (donut) loading spinners in several key Windows experiences, including Boot, Logon, Restart, Shutdown, and Update.
The company says the rollback is necessary while it fixes a bug. The updated animations should return once the issue is resolved.
Download Windows 11 update 26220.9836
To download and install these Windows 11 builds, enroll your Devices in the Beta 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 turning on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option and clicking the “Check for Updates” button.
Alternatively, you can also download the ISO files from the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. Specific preview builds are available for a limited time only.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 23 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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