- Windows 11 KB5101684 is rolling out to the stable channel ahead of the August 2026 Security Update for versions 24H2 and 25H2.
- The update introduces Voice Isolation, new touchpad gestures, Windows Hello ESS support for external fingerprint readers, and the ability to uninstall AI components on Copilot+ PCs.
- Microsoft also improves File Explorer, Windows Search, Widgets, Start menu, Windows Update, power management, accessibility, and overall system reliability.
Microsoft is rolling out Windows 11 builds 26200.8973 and 26100.8973 (KB5101684) as the August 2026 optional preview (D) release on the stable channel, bringing a wave of non-security fixes and Windows K2 improvements. The rollout will be available starting August 11, 2026, and the company usually starts the deployment at 1PM Eastern Time.
According to the official changelog, the “2026-07 Preview Update (KB5101684) (26200.8973)” rolls out a bunch of fixes and improvements for File Explorer, Windows Search, Widgets, Start menu, Voice Typing, Accessibility, Power and battery, Windows Update, Sounds, Date and time, networking, print, Clipboard, battery, and more.
The KB5101684 update also adds Voice Isolation for Voice Access, adds new gesture controls to the Touchpad, and now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors for Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS).
Furthremore, it’s now possible to uninstall AI models from Copilot+ PCs. The Windows Setup adds a parental control notice, the Account Control menu gets an interface lift, and much more.
If you want to keep up with every Windows release, including Insider Preview builds and cumulative updates, the Windows Build Tracker has the full timeline.
- What’s new on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 update KB5101684
- What’s new on Windows 11 23H2 update (TBD)
- Windows 11 August 2026 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process
- Windows 11 August 2026 Patch Tuesday – Update history
- Pureinfotech’s Take
What’s new on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 update KB5101684
Microsoft is currently rolling out these improvements and fixes as part of the August 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 24H2 and version 25H2.
File Explorer improvements
Microsoft is improving File Explorer with several usability and reliability enhancements.
In “Details” view, file sizes now display using the appropriate units, such as KB, MB, and GB, instead of showing every value in kilobytes. The company is also making tabbed browsing more consistent by allowing users to middle-click folders in the address bar and “Home” page to open them in a new tab.
The update also fixes a gray flash that could appear while the “Home” page was loading and resolves an issue that sometimes caused the page to scroll back to the top unexpectedly. In addition, thumbnails in the “Recommended” section are now sharper and easier to read.
Windows Search changes
Windows Search is becoming more accurate and useful. The search experience can now find files across local storage, cloud services, and connected content more effectively, including support for searching with as few as 2 characters.
Microsoft has also improved app search to better recognize partial names and typing mistakes, making it easier to locate installed applications. In the Settings app, search results have been refined to prioritize more relevant options higher in the results.
Windows Hello new feature
Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports external fingerprint readers. This means desktop computers, such as Copilot+ PCs (with built-in sensors), and other devices without built-in fingerprint sensors can now use supported ESS-compatible fingerprint readers for more secure authentication.
The feature can be enabled in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options by using the “Enhanced sign-in security” toggle switch.
The feature was first announced in the January 2026 preview update and is now beginning to roll out more broadly.
AI components uninstall option
Copilot+ PCs now allow users to uninstall the Image Generation AI component when it is installed, providing additional control over AI features available on supported devices.
Widgets improvements
Microsoft is making Widgets less distracting and simplifying the Lock screen experience.
Notification badges on the Taskbar now use your selected system accent color instead of the previous red indicator. On the Lock screen, new users will now only see the Weather widget by default, creating a cleaner experience while still allowing additional widgets to be added later.
Touchpad new features
Precision touchpads gain new customization options under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
Users can now adjust the base speed for scroll and zoom gestures and enable accelerated scrolling, which increases the speed of gestures as they are repeated, making it easier to navigate long documents and webpages.
Voice Typing tweaks
For new users, Fluid Dictation is now disabled by default. Windows 11 also displays a teaching tip the first time the feature is used to help users understand how it works.
Voice Access new features
Voice Access receives several new capabilities, including Voice Isolation, a feature designed to improve speech recognition by filtering out background noise and other speakers.
Users can now choose from three speech recognition modes in Settings > Voice Access > Improve speech recognition. The “Voice Isolation” option requires a one-time voice setup and filters both background noise and nearby conversations. The “Remove background noise only” mode suppresses sounds such as typing or doors closing without additional setup, while “No filtering” uses the microphone input without any processing.
Microsoft is also expanding Voice Access with support for Korean.
Accessibility improvements
The Magnifier experience has been refined for touch-enabled devices. The horizontal and vertical touch bars used to move around the magnified screen are now disabled by default so they no longer cover on-screen content.
Anyone who relies on touch panning can re-enable the controls from Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
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.
Windows Setup new parental notice
Windows Setup now displays a parental controls notice during the installation process, highlighting the family safety features available after setup is complete.
Power and battery
Microsoft is making power management settings more consistent across Windows 11.
Changes made to display timeouts, sleep and hibernate timers, power button behavior, and laptop lid actions from the Settings app are now automatically applied to every power plan instead of only the active one. The update also improves the reliability of saving those preferences.
In addition, Windows once again allows users to configure the battery percentage at which Energy Saver automatically turns on from Settings > System > Power & battery.
Secure Boot certificates
Microsoft also notes that it continues rolling out updated Secure Boot certificates through Windows Update to consumer and unmanaged business devices.
The original certificates used by most devices began expiring in June 2026, but computers that haven’t yet received the new certificates will continue to start and operate normally, and regular Windows updates will continue to install.
The company says the updated certificates will continue to roll out automatically over the coming months to ensure systems remain compatible with future security updates. However, you can always install the certificates manually.
Other fixes
This update includes a broad set of reliability improvements and small changes across Windows 11:
- Sounds: Improved several system sounds when Windows 11 is running in dark mode.
- Windows Update: Provides more accurate progress estimates while updates are being downloaded and installed. The company has also updated the cleanup process that runs after installing updates to improve system performance immediately upon completion.
- Taskbar: Improved reliability during startup and when loading the system tray when the operating system is used in tablet posture on touch-enabled devices.
- Start menu: Improved reliability during startup, and this update ensures your preferred Start menu layout is retained consistently, while keyboard navigation has also been improved when moving through the apps list.
- Clipboard: Improved clipboard reliability when using Remote Desktop and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
- Print: Improved performance for IPPS (Internet Printing Protocol Secure) printers, enabling faster page printing in supported environments.
- Networking: Improved the reliability of DHCP lease renewals in certain scenarios, particularly when DHCP servers return NACK responses and on devices using Modern Standby.
- Date and time: Improved the detection of time zone changes and updated daylight saving time information for several regions, including Beirut, Casablanca, Jerusalem, and Nuuk.
- Input: Improved the reliability of mouse cursor size settings, ensuring the selected cursor size is maintained more consistently.
- File Explorer: Fixed stability issues affecting
explorer.exewhen opening jump lists, accessing recent files, sharing files and folders, and switching between Task View and multiple desktops. Also, this update fixed an issue in which files stored on DFS-mapped drives could be incorrectly identified as originating from the Internet after reconnecting to the network. This issue could trigger unnecessary security warnings in the “Preview” pane and incorrectly apply the “Mark of the Web” to copied files. - Sign-in and Lock Screen: Improved reliability, particularly on devices with limited memory.
- Font: Restored support for Unicode variation sequences in the Myanmar Text font and improved character shaping and rendering for the Mongolian Baiti font, resulting in more accurate text display.
- Storage: Fixed an issue preventing File History automatic backups to SMB network shares due to an incorrect “invalid credentials” error.
- Mobile device management (MDM): Fixed an issue that could cause newly provisioned or recovered Windows devices enrolled in an MDM service, such as Microsoft Intune, to remain in a noncompliant state and lose access to corporate resources.
- Apps: Improved the stability of Microsoft Office apps in virtualized environments, providing a more reliable experience when using and closing applications.
What’s new on Windows 11 23H2 update (TBD)
The company has also released security fixes and improvements for Windows 11 23H2, as part of the update.
- TBD
Also, this version of the operating system won’t receive any new features, as this release has reached the end of support.
Windows 11 August 2026 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process
Since there’s always a chance of problems during and after applying a quality update, it’s recommended to prepare your computer by creating a restore point and a full backup before proceeding with the installation.
To download and install this Windows 11 update, open the “Windows Update” settings, turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch, and click the “Check for Updates” button.
If your computer has issues after installing this package, follow these instructions to uninstall the August 2026 update. If you’re unable to uninstall the update, follow these steps to recover your device.
Windows 11 August 2026 Patch Tuesday – Update history
- Initial Release – Release Preview Channel:
- Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.8968 release date: July 20, 2026. Official notes.
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.8968 release date: July 20, 2026. (same).
- Second Release – Optional Install (Stable Channel):
- Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.8973 release date: July 29, 2026. Official notes.
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.8973 release date: July 29, 2026. (same).
- Final Release – Patch Tuesday (Stable Channel):
- Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.xxxx release date: August 11, 2026. Official notes.
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.xxxx release date: August 11, 2026. (same).
- Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.xxxx release date: August 11, 2026. Official notes.
Pureinfotech’s Take
I don’t think anyone is going to install this update because of a single feature, and that’s exactly why I like it. Instead of trying to reinvent Windows 11 again, Microsoft is spending time polishing the experience. Little things, like making File Explorer easier to use, improving Search, and refining power settings, are the types of changes people stop noticing after a few days because they simply become part of a better operating system.
The ability to remove the Image Generation AI component also caught my attention. It’s a small change, but it signals that the company is slowly giving users more choice over AI features instead of treating them as permanent parts of Windows 11. I hope that trend continues.
If the company keeps shipping updates like this alongside larger feature releases, Windows 11 should continue to feel more refined without forcing users to relearn how the operating system works.
What do you think about the improvements coming in this Windows 11 update? Let me know in the comments.
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.
You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].
