Build 26300.8772 for Windows 11 26H2 outs with new PC rebuild feature – Experimental

• Windows 11 build 26300.8772 is rolling out through the Experimental channel for version 26H2 with new recovery and quality improvements.
• Cloud rebuild lets users reinstall Windows 11 directly from WinRE by downloading a fresh operating system image and drivers through Windows Update.
• The Account Control flyout gets a redesigned interface with subscription badges, benefits, and storage details.
• The update also includes fixes for Taskbar, Search, Settings, accessibility, fonts, and Outlook.

Microsoft is now rolling out the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26300.8772) for version 26H2 through the Experimental experience in the Windows Insider Program. This flight introduces improvements for existing features, as well as various fixes, as part of the Windows K2 initiative.

According to the official notes, Windows 11 build 26300.8772 introduces a new Cloud rebuild feature that performs a full, clean installation of the operating system from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) when the computer won’t start.

Refreshes the Account Control menu in the Start menu with a modern design, makes the Search box on the Taskbar larger, and rolls out several other improvements and fixes.

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What’s new on Windows 11 build 26300.8772 (Experimental)

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

Cloud rebuild recovery feature

As previously reported, Microsoft is testing a new Cloud rebuild recovery option designed to help users restore a computer to a clean, known-good state, even when the operating system can no longer boot.

Unlike the existing Reset this PC feature, Cloud rebuild performs a full operating system reinstall by downloading a fresh image of Windows 11 and the required device drivers directly from Windows Update. This means users can recover a device without needing a bootable USB drive, a custom recovery image, or access to the currently installed desktop environment.

The idea is to make recovery more reliable by ensuring the device returns with the correct Windows version, edition, language, and hardware drivers already in place.

In this preview, users can try Cloud rebuild from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by navigating to Troubleshoot > Cloud rebuild.

Before starting the process, the computer must connect to the internet directly from WinRE via a wired Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi. Users can then review the target Windows build, edition, and language before confirming the data-loss warning to begin the rebuild process.

Cloud rebuild is still under development, but it represents another step toward making recovery tools more capable, especially in situations where traditional repair options fail or the system cannot start successfully.

Account Control flyout design update

The Account Control flyout available through the Start menu is getting a refresh on Windows 11, with a more modern design and clearer account information.

The updated experience adds a visible subscription badge that makes it easier for users to quickly understand their current account state, view available benefits, and discover upgrade options. The flyout also provides additional details, including account benefits and storage information, giving users a more centralized place to manage their Microsoft account experience.

The redesigned Account Control flyout is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to improve account-related experiences across Windows 11 by making important information easier to find without requiring users to navigate through multiple settings pages.

Backup and restore for commercial devices

Starting on Windows 11 26H2, the company is changing how backup and restore work on eligible commercial devices by enabling the Windows settings backup and restore policy by default for devices joined to Microsoft Entra ID or Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined environments.

In the past, administrators had to configure the policy before users could use the feature. This change makes backup a built-in resilience feature that automatically captures important user settings and the list of installed Microsoft Store apps.

According to Microsoft, the goal is to make device recovery smoother. When a computer is reimaged, reset, or replaced, users can resume a more familiar setup without having to manually recreate their previous configuration, helping reduce downtime and improve productivity.

Administrators will still maintain control over the experience. Existing policies remain in effect, manually configured settings take priority over the default behavior, and restore actions continue to be managed through administrator controls.

By making settings backup available by default, the software giant aims to create a more reliable recovery experience for organizations while reducing the friction involved in setting up devices after a reset or replacement.

Other fixes

In addition, Windows 11 build 26300.8772 also pushes several fixes and improvements.

• Search: Increased the search box height by 4 pixels.
• Settings: Added gamepad navigation support to the Bluetooth quick settings page.
• Taskbar: Fixed an issue where the search icon could become invisible when the Taskbar is vertically oriented.
• Run: Improved keyboard focus announcements for screen readers in the redesigned Run experience.
• Fonts: Improved Mongolian Baiti text shaping and rendering for more accurate Mongolian script display.
• Other: Fixed an issue that caused Outlook to become unresponsive when selecting the close button, and improved long-term resource usage for title bar tooltips.

Feature flags for build 26300.8772

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

• Alternate taskbar positions
• Fewer update restarts
• Fluid Dictation Language Expansion in Voice Access
• Fluid Dictation Language Expansion in Voice Typing
• Free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12
• Group of win32k changes including touchpad things
• Magnifier Simplification
• Mouse crosshairs and pointer improvements
• Short Query File Search support
• Show Braille settings by default
• Small Taskbar Feature
• Spinner shown during Logon

Download Windows 11 update 26300.8772

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 also download the ISO files from the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. Specific preview builds are available for a limited time only.