- Windows 11 build 26300.8935 is rolling out through the Experimental channel for version 26H2 with several quality improvements.
- File Explorer is now faster when deleting large fragmented files and opening the Home page.
- Widgets gain expanded animated icons, while the Taskbar search box becomes slightly taller.
- Desktop background handling is more reliable across multiple desktops.
- The update fixes Windows Update installation errors, Taskbar positioning bugs, mouse issues, and Voice Typing settings.
Microsoft is now rolling out the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26300.8935) 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 26300.8935 introduces an updated version of File Explorer that improves speeds for file deletion and opening the Home page.
This update also rolls out tweaks for the desktop background experience. The Widgets experience gets new animated icons for the Taskbar entry point. This release increases the height of the Taskbar search box by 4 pixels, and includes more fixes.
What’s new on Windows 11 build 26300.8935 (Experimental)
These are the new features and improvements rolling out in the Experimental channel:
File Explorer improvements
Microsoft is making File Explorer more responsive with several performance improvements. Deleting large, fragmented files is now faster in certain scenarios, and the “Home” page launches more quickly for a smoother startup experience.
The company is also improving usability on touch devices by adding support for touch scrolling in the “Recommended” files carousel on the Home page.
Desktop background improvements
This update improves how desktop backgrounds are preserved across different scenarios, including when switching between multiple desktops.
The company has also made small visual refinements to the “Background” page in the Settings app.
Widgets changes
Microsoft is expanding support for animated icons on the Widgets entry point on the taskbar. In addition to the existing notification animations, supported widgets can now display more dynamic updates, making new content easier to notice at a glance.
Run dialog improvements
The redesigned Run dialog now supports pressing “F4” to expand the command suggestions list, making it easier to browse and complete commands.
Search box changes
In the Taskbar, the Search box is now slightly taller, increasing its height by four pixels to improve its appearance and usability.
Other fixes
In addition, Windows 11 build 26300.8935 also pushes several fixes and improvements.
- Windows Update: Fixed an issue that caused recent Insider Preview builds to fail to install with error 0xc0000409.
- Taskbar: Fixed several visual issues affecting the Taskbar when positioned in alternate locations. This update also fixed an issue that caused Notification Center to appear in the wrong position when the taskbar was placed at the top of the screen.
- Mouse: Fixed an issue that caused the mouse cursor to blink repeatedly for some users after recent Insider builds. This update also improves the reliability of mouse cursor size settings so they persist correctly.
- Voice Typing: Improved the reliability of voice typing settings, ensuring automatic punctuation and launcher preferences are retained.
Feature flags for build 26300.8935
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
- Magnifier Simplification
- Mouse crosshairs and pointer improvements
- Refined Windows Search
- Searchable System Components
- Short Query File Search support
- Show Braille settings by default
- Small Taskbar Feature
Download Windows 11 update 26300.8935
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.
Have you noticed File Explorer becoming faster in recent Windows 11 Insider builds?
Voting closes: July 28, 2026 1:00 pm
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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