- Windows 11 build 26340.9596 is rolling out through the Experimental channel for version 26H2 with several quality improvements.
- File Explorer now supports
~in the Address Bar, while Settings should load faster in certain scenarios. - Cloud Rebuild gets a new entry point under Settings > System > Recovery, and Windows adds Unicode 17.0 support with 4,803 characters.
Microsoft is making available the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26340.9596) for version 26H2 through the Experimental experience in the Windows Insider Program. In this release, the company is improving existing features and includes various fixes as part of the Windows K2 initiative.
According to the official notes, Windows 11 build 26340.9596 is rolling out several improvements, including updated Unicode 17.0 support for newly encoded characters and scripts.
File Explorer now lets you use ~ in the address bar to quickly navigate to your user profile folder or subfolders, while Microsoft is also improving Settings home page performance to reduce loading times in some scenarios.
The build also adds a new Cloud Rebuild entry point under Settings > System > Recovery, making the recovery option easier to find. Microsoft is investigating update installation failures with error 0x80073712, which may be related to Windows Sandbox. Disabling Windows Sandbox is the current workaround.
What’s new on Windows 11 build 26340.9596 (Experimental)
These are the new features and improvements rolling out in the Experimental channel:
File Explorer gets faster path navigation
File Explorer’s address bar now supports the ~ character, giving you a quicker way to jump directly to your user profile folder or a subfolder. For example, entering ~\AppData takes you straight to the AppData folder under your profile.
Cloud Rebuild gets a new entry point
Windows 11 is adding a new Cloud Rebuild entry point under Settings > System > Recovery, making the feature easier to find and access directly from the Settings app.
Faster Settings home page
Microsoft is improving the Settings home page to reduce loading times in certain scenarios, helping the page open faster when you need to change a setting.
Unicode 17.0 support
Microsoft is updating Windows 11’s text shaping support to Unicode 17.0, helping the operating system correctly display and shape newly encoded characters and scripts. The Unicode 17.0 update adds 4,803 characters, including four new scripts: Beria Erfe, Sidetic, Tai Yo, and Tolong Siki.
The change keeps Windows text support aligned with the evolving Unicode Standard while improving support for languages and writing systems used around the world.
Update installation issue
Microsoft is investigating an issue that causes some Insiders to fail to install the latest updates and encounter error 0x80073712. The company believes the problem may be related to Windows Sandbox.
As a workaround, the company recommends disabling Windows Sandbox before trying to install the update again.
Download Windows 11 update 26340.9596
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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