Build 26300.8376 for Windows 11 26H2 adds big changes for File Explorer and Touchpad

Windows 11 build 26300.8376 introduces new precision touchpad gestures, including accelerated scrolling and single-finger scrolling in the Experimental track.
File Explorer gains readability and reliability improvements, including better file size formatting and rename fixes.
K-12 schools can now upgrade eligible Windows 11 Home devices to Pro Education at no extra cost.
Microsoft also released build 26220.8270 in the Beta track with similar changes.

Microsoft has released the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26300.8376) for version 26H2 via the Experimental experience in the Windows Insider Program. This flight introduces changes to existing features and a small set of fixes.

In addition, the company is rolling out the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26220.8270) to the Beta experience, with some changes and fixes available in the Experimental channel.

According to the official notes, Windows 11 build 26300.8376 includes new touchpad gestures, and school devices can upgrade from Home to Windows 11 Pro Education.

Also, this preview rolls out an updated version of File Explorer with various fixes and changes, and the Administrator Protection feature works more reliably on the Japanese IME.

Although these changes are part of development for version 26H2, the operating system will continue to report version 25H2 in Settings for now. Microsoft will update the version number closer to the official release.

What’s new on Windows 11 build 26300.8376

These are the new features and improvements rolling out in the Experimental Channel:

New touchpad gesture controls

Microsoft is introducing several new precision touchpad gesture features through the Settings app, expanding customization and navigation options across Windows 11.

The new settings include controls for scroll and zoom speed, allowing users to adjust the baseline sensitivity for touchpad gestures.

Touchpad new settings / Image: Microsoft

The software giant is also adding automatic scrolling, which keeps scrolling active without lifting your fingers. This feature can be triggered by moving your fingers near the edge of the touchpad while scrolling or by pressing harder while holding them still, although this requires compatible hardware.

In addition, accelerated scrolling dynamically increases scrolling speed during repeated gestures, making it easier to move quickly through long documents and webpages.

Another new addition is single-finger scrolling, which enables vertical scrolling with one finger by swiping along the left or right edge of the touchpad.

While most functionality will work across apps, some features may require updated WinAppSDK versions to be fully supported in WinUI 3 applications.

File Explorer improvements

File Explorer is getting several improvements focused on reliability, readability, and navigation. The address bar now better supports paths with double backslashes and quotation marks, improving compatibility with different input formats.

Also, the suggestion dropdown in the address bar should also close more reliably after selecting an item.

In the “Details” view, file sizes will now display in more readable units, such as KB, MB, and GB, instead of only KB.

Microsoft has also fixed issues affecting the rename experience, including repeated text selection and delays in showing case-only name changes across local and cloud storage. In addition, keyboard navigation for context menu flyouts has been improved.

The touchpad and File Explorer improvements are only in Experimental. They’re not available in the Beta track.

Free Windows 11 Pro Education upgrade

The software giant is also introducing a new upgrade path that allows eligible K-12 organizations to move devices from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro Education at no additional cost. The change is designed to help schools purchase lower-cost “Home” edition devices and later bring them under school management.

To upgrade, users must first sign in with a local account, then run the Clipupgrage.exe command from an elevated Command Prompt. After signing in with a qualifying K-12 organization account, the operating system will verify eligibility, prepare the upgrade, and complete the process after a restart.

Other changes

The company has also released several other improvements for the operating system. For example, there are several fixes, including improved Japanese IME reliability when Administrator Protection is enabled.

In addition, the development has resolved a WPN-related hang that was causing notification problems and preventing some apps from launching correctly.

Feature flags for build 26300.8376

Here’s a complete list of the flags you can use to enable experimental features on Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Features flags:

Faster reopening of restartable apps.
Free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12.
Improved Magnifier quick settings access.
New Windows Insider Program experience.
Pause updates on your schedule.
Smarter app suggestions in Share.
Touchpad Enhancements.

Download Windows 11 update 26300.8376

To download and install these Windows 11 builds, enroll your Devices in the Experimental or Beta Channels 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.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft is now labeling preview builds with the new names (Experimental, Beta, and Release Preview), even though users may still not have transitioned to the Experimental experience. Users in the Beta Channel have not yet begun moving to the new Beta experience.