- Windows 11 build 26340.9882 improves Windows Hello by letting users enter their PIN without waiting for facial or fingerprint recognition.
- Live Captions now lets users choose system audio, microphone input, or both for transcription.
- Narrator expands math support to refreshable Braille displays, adding several math formats and customization options.
- Windows 11 also improves Sticky Keys prompts and Microsoft account discovery in Settings, while Task Manager may show outdated CPU speeds.
Microsoft is releasing the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26340.9882) for version 26H2 through the Experimental channel in the Windows Insider Program. In this release, the software giant improves existing features and adds several updates as part of the Windows K2 initiative.
According to the official notes, Windows 11 build 26340.9882 introduces several improvements to Windows Hello, Live Captions, accessibility, and Settings. The update makes sign-in more flexible by letting users enter their PIN without waiting for face or fingerprint recognition to finish. It also adds new Windows Hello events to help administrators monitor sign-in methods and troubleshoot failed authentication attempts.
The update improves Live Captions by allowing users to choose whether to transcribe system audio, microphone input, or both. Windows 11 also makes Sticky Keys and Filter Keys prompts less intrusive by adding an option to dismiss them permanently. For accessibility, Narrator now supports displaying mathematical equations on refreshable Braille displays, with multiple Braille math formats and additional customization options.
Additionally, Microsoft is making Microsoft account benefits and services easier to discover directly from the Settings app. However, the release also includes a known issue affecting Task Manager, where the CPU speed reading may stop updating after installing recent Insider builds. Microsoft is looking into the reports.
What’s new on Windows 11 build 26340.9882 (Experimental)
These are the new features and improvements rolling out in the Experimental channel:
Settings makes Microsoft account benefits easier to find
Finally, the company is making it easier to discover the benefits and services associated with your Microsoft account directly from the Settings app.
The updated experience brings account-related offerings into Settings, giving users a more convenient way to explore the services and benefits available through their accounts.
Windows Hello sign-in gets more flexible
Windows 11 makes the Windows Hello sign-in experience more consistent by letting you enter your PIN without waiting for face or fingerprint recognition to finish. You can now use whichever sign-in method works first, although certain situations (such as after restarting your computer) will require your PIN before biometric authentication becomes available again.
Microsoft is also adding new Windows Hello events for administrators. In Event Viewer, security event 4628 records the Windows Hello methods configured on a user’s account and the method used to sign in, including PIN, face, fingerprint, or no Windows Hello. Event 4629 records failed Windows Hello sign-in attempts. Both use the existing Audit Logon policy. For additional troubleshooting, events 5010 and 7010 under the HelloForBusiness Operational log record each sign-in and unlock attempt, including its result.
Live Captions adds audio source controls
The Windows team is making Live Captions more customizable by letting you choose exactly which audio sources get transcribed. You can now select system audio, microphone input, or both directly from Live Captions settings.
This gives you more control over what appears on screen, whether you’re captioning an in-person conversation without capturing computer audio or following audio from a meeting or video playing on your computer.
Sticky Keys and Filter Keys prompts become less intrusive
This preview build is making Sticky Keys and Filter Keys prompts less disruptive by adding an option to stop showing these notifications directly from their dialogs.
If you don’t use these keyboard accessibility features, you can permanently dismiss the prompts without digging through Settings, avoiding unnecessary interruptions while working.
Narrator expands math support for Braille displays
Microsoft is also improving accessibility for users who rely on Braille displays by bringing Narrator Math support to connected refreshable Braille devices. When Narrator reads supported equations in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Edge, or Google Chrome, users can now explore the mathematical content through touch while listening to Narrator.
This makes it easier for students and professionals to understand equations, formulas, and scientific notation independently, especially in STEM learning.
The update also lets users select their preferred Braille math format without changing their default Braille output table. Supported formats include Nemeth (default), UEB, CMU, Vietnamese, Swedish, LaTeX, and ASCIIMath.
Narrator Math settings also let you customize the reading language, speech behavior, and navigation preferences.
Known issues
Microsoft is looking into reports that Task Manager no longer updates the displayed CPU speed after installing recent Windows Insider builds. The issue may cause the processor’s reported speed to remain unchanged instead of reflecting its current operating frequency.
Download Windows 11 update 26340.9882
To download and install these Windows 11 builds, enroll your Devices in the Experimental 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 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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