- Windows 11 build 28000.3612 (KB5132265) introduces a customizable File Explorer context menu with more control over commands and app extensions.
- Magnifier gains independent zoom levels for multiple displays, viewport locking, and a new contrast theme.
- Cloud Rebuild provides another way to reinstall Windows 11 using files downloaded through Windows Update, even when the computer cannot start.
- The update also improves Narrator, Live Captions, WinRE, memory integrity protection, and IPv6 networking.
Microsoft has made Windows 11 build 28000.3612 (KB5132265) available in the Release Preview channel as the first preview of improvements expected in the December 2026 Security Update for version 26H1. The update introduces new features, changes, and fixes. The final version of the update is expected to begin rolling out on December 8, 2026, during Patch Tuesday around 1PM ET.
According to the changelog, this Windows 11 release introduces a redesigned Windows Search experience with inline actions. Initially, the new experience supports English only and is rolling out gradually.
The update also improves several existing features. For example, Live Captions now lets users choose whether to transcribe system audio, microphone input, or both. In XBOX mode, Quick Settings is becoming available directly from the Gaming Task View navigation bar.
For sign-in, Web sign-in now supports Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined devices, extending passwordless authentication options to more business environments. Windows Hello facial recognition also gains an option to automatically brighten the screen in dimly lit environments.
Other changes include updated Sticky Keys and Filter Keys prompts that make it easier to dismiss future notifications, a new view of shared Microsoft 365 Family cloud storage usage in Settings, and support for the ~ character in File Explorer’s address bar.
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.
Windows 11 26H1 is not a version for current devices. Microsoft has explicitly stated that version 26H1 is not an upgrade path for Windows 11 25H2 or earlier releases.
According to the company’s newly published Microsoft Health Dashboard page, version 26H1 is a hardware-optimized release designed to enable next-generation silicon developed in partnership with device manufacturers and silicon partners. This release will be available exclusively as a preinstalled experience on select new devices beginning in early 2026, with capabilities tailored specifically for those platforms.
Microsoft is referring to the new ARM64 PCs, starting with devices powered by the Snapdragon X2 Plus, Elite, and Extreme processors. If you own a computer running on Intel or AMD hardware, Windows 11 26H1 will never be offered to your system.
- What’s new on Windows 11 26H1 build 28000.3612
- Windows 11 December 2026 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process
- Windows 11 December 2026 Patch Tuesday – Update history
What’s new on Windows 11 26H1 build 28000.3612
Microsoft is gradually rolling out new features and improvements with Windows 11 build 28000.3612 for version 26H1.
Customizable File Explorer context menu
The right-click context menu in File Explorer is getting a welcome redesign that makes it faster, cleaner, and more customizable. You can now select “Customize menu” at the bottom to control which built-in commands and app extensions appear, add commands such as Print, move app extensions into the main menu or a submenu, or hide the extensions submenu entirely.
You can also display “Cut,” “Copy,” “Paste,” “Rename,” “Delete,” and “Share” as text commands instead of icons and move Properties to the bottom. The default configuration requires no changes, and holding “Shift” while right-clicking the desktop provides access to more options.
Task Manager memory reporting
Task Manager now reports all installed system memory on the Performance > Memory page.
The displayed statistics also add up to the total amount of memory installed in your computer, providing a more consistent view of memory usage.
File Explorer improvements
File Explorer search results now display essential file details, including the name, location, and date, in a consistent layout that’s easier to scan.
The address bar also supports the ~ character, allowing you to navigate directly to your user profile folder and subfolders, such as ~\AppData. In addition, the Folder Options dialog now supports dark mode.
Improved XBOX mode navigation
Gaming Task View in XBOX mode is getting a refreshed navigation bar with quick access to “Exit to Desktop” and “Power Options.”
These shortcuts make it easier to manage essential system actions without interrupting the gaming experience.
Better privacy controls in Settings
The “Privacy & security” settings page now groups related Camera, Microphone, and Location controls together.
It also brings usage information from linked pages directly onto the main page, making it easier to review privacy settings and understand how these features are being used.
Device information expands to more markets
The “Device Info” card on the Settings Home page is expanding to additional markets.
Available to users signed in with a Microsoft account, the card provides a quick overview of key computer specifications and usage. You can find more detailed hardware information under Settings > System > About.
Preview Phone Link notifications from Start
Phone Link now lets you preview recent messages and notifications directly from the Start menu.
You only need to hover over an item in the Recent section to see its content without opening it. You can manage this behavior under Phone Link > Settings > Start menu personalization.
Magnifier improvements
Magnifier receives several useful improvements for users working with multiple displays. The update introduces a new contrast theme to reduce screen glare, independent zoom levels for each monitor, and the ability to lock a magnified view on one display while interacting with another.
New contrast theme
Magnifier now includes a contrast theme toggle that reduces screen glare while preserving the original colors in photos, videos, and charts. The feature uses a dark contrast theme by default and is available from the Magnifier toolbar.
To choose another theme, go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. Color inversion remains available as a separate option.
Independent zoom levels for each display
Magnifier now supports per-monitor zoom, allowing each connected display to maintain its own magnification level while keeping the magnified view within that screen. This feature requires your displays to use the “Extend” configuration under Settings > System > Display and is enabled by default.
To adjust magnification on a particular display, move the pointer to it and use the “Windows key + Plus (+)” or “Windows key + Minus (-)” shortcut. You can also hold “Ctrl + Alt” and use the mouse wheel, or move the Magnifier toolbar to that display and use its controls.
You can disable per-monitor zoom or adjust individual zoom levels from the toolbar or under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
Lock views across displays
For multi-monitor setups using per-monitor zoom, Magnifier now supports viewport locking. This feature keeps the magnified view on one display in place while you move the pointer to another screen, and the locked display remains interactive for normal use.
To lock or unlock a display, point to it and use the “Ctrl + Windows key + K” keyboard shortcut. Use the “Windows key + Esc” shortcut to release all locked displays.
You can also change the locking shortcut to “Ctrl + Alt + P” under Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
Live Captions excludes screen reader audio
Live Captions now includes an “Include screen reader audio” setting, which is turned off by default. When disabled, captions won’t transcribe audio from screen readers such as Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, keeping the transcription focused on microphone and system audio.
You can enable this option under Settings > Accessibility > Captions.
Narrator reads math equations
Narrator can now read and navigate math equations in supported Microsoft 365 apps, including Word and PowerPoint, as well as supported web content in Microsoft Edge version 153.0.4234.32 and later and Google Chrome version 153.0.8010.18 and later. This improvement makes equations, formulas, and scientific notation easier to understand for people who are blind or have low vision.
Use the “Narrator key + Alt + N” shortcut to enable math navigation, then use the arrow keys to explore individual parts of an equation. Press “Esc” to exit. Math reading supports English (United States), English (United Kingdom), Traditional Chinese, Finnish, German, and Spanish.
You can adjust the language and other preferences under Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Math reading.
WinRE reuses saved Wi-Fi connections
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) can now automatically reuse eligible Wi-Fi profiles saved in the system, including supported certificate-based networks.
This allows devices to connect to the internet during recovery operations, such as Quick Machine Recovery and Cloud rebuild, without requiring administrators to configure Wi-Fi credentials separately in WinRE.
The capability is enabled by default, but administrators can disable it. Microsoft previously disclosed this improvement, and it is now rolling out.
Cloud rebuild reinstalls Windows without USB media
Windows 11 is introducing Cloud rebuild, a new recovery option that reinstalls the operating system using a Windows image and device drivers downloaded through Windows Update. It can also work when the computer cannot start, eliminating the need for USB installation media or a custom recovery image.
The feature includes two additional capabilities. Drive sanitization lets you choose to remove your files or securely erase data using the storage hardware’s erase capability before reinstalling the operating system. This operation is irreversible. Remote management allows administrators to configure and initiate a rebuild remotely through the Recovery CSP, using either the currently installed build or a specified target build.
To start a rebuild from Windows, open Settings > System > Recovery, select “Rebuild PC,” and let the device restart into WinRE. If Windows 11 cannot start, the computer can enter WinRE automatically after repeated boot failures. From there, select Troubleshoot > Recovery and uninstall > Cloud rebuild.
Smarter adaptive hibernation
The Windows team is adjusting its adaptive hibernation policy to provide faster resumes from Modern Standby while preserving battery life when the charge gets low. The system will hibernate less frequently when the battery is above 80 percent and enter hibernation sooner when the charge drops below 10 percent.
Expanded memory integrity protection
Microsoft is expanding Memory Integrity protection to more eligible devices.
Supported devices may now have the feature enabled during updates to improve security and prepare for advanced Windows security capabilities. The change respects existing choices made by users and IT administrators.
IPv6 CLAT support for Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Windows now supports IPv6 CLAT on Wi-Fi and Ethernet network interfaces, adding client-side 464XLAT translation so IPv4-only applications can reach IPv4 services from IPv6-only networks. This helps organizations move toward IPv6-only deployments without losing compatibility with older applications that still require IPv4.
The system discovers the PREF64 prefix through Router Advertisements (RA) by default, with DNS lookup for ipv4only.arpa available as a fallback. CLAT requires SLAAC-based IPv6 addressing. DHCPv6 Prefix Delegation and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) aren’t currently supported.
You can enable the feature with the following command in an elevated Command Prompt or configure it through Group Policy under Network > TCPIP Settings > IPv6 Transition Technologies.
netsh interface clat set global permit=enabled pref64fromdns=enabled pref64fromra=enabled
Other fixes
This update includes a broad set of reliability improvements and small changes across Windows 11:
Other fixes and improvements
- Settings: Makes small visual refinements to the temporary files section under Settings > System > Storage.
- Taskbar: Improves app window preview animations when moving the mouse across application icons.
- Multi-monitor: Improves how Taskbar settings persist when you connect or disconnect multiple monitors, helping preserve your preferred configuration.
- Windows Spotlight: Includes underlying platform changes designed to improve reliability on the lock screen.
- Unicode 17.0: Adds text shaping support for Unicode 17.0, helping Windows display newly encoded characters and scripts correctly. The update adds support for 4,803 characters, including four new scripts: Beria Erfe, Sidetic, Tai Yo, and Tolong Siki, expanding support for languages and writing systems around the world.
- Family Safety: Improves messages displayed when applications are blocked by age-restricted parental controls, making these restrictions clearer.
Windows 11 December 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, enroll the device in the Release Preview channel on the Windows Insider Program page, and click the “Check for Updates” button on the main update settings page.
If your computer has issues after installing this package, follow these instructions to uninstall the December 2026 update. If you’re unable to uninstall the update, follow these steps to recover your device.
Why the November preview becomes the December update
Microsoft develops Windows updates in stages, which can make release dates and naming confusing. Changes for a monthly update typically appear in the Release Preview channel the month before the update’s final release. Microsoft then releases the changes as an optional, non-security update in the Stable Channel, usually near the end of that month, before including them in the following month’s Patch Tuesday update.
For example, the changes previewed in November 2026 are intended for the December 2026 update. Microsoft first tests them in the Release Preview channel, then makes them available as an optional update in the Stable Channel, and finally includes them in the December 8 Patch Tuesday update. The final release can also include additional fixes and security updates.
In other words, the month a feature appears in a preview does not necessarily match the month of its final release. The November preview is an early look at changes intended for the December update without the security fixes.
Windows 11 December 2026 Patch Tuesday – Update history
- Initial Release – Patch Tuesday (Release Preview):
- Windows 11 26H1 build 28000.3612 release date: November 13, 2026. Official notes.
- Optional Install Release – Patch Tuesday (General Availability):
- Windows 11 26H1 build 28000.3612 release date: November xx, 2026. Official notes.
- Final Release – Patch Tuesday (General Availability):
- Windows 11 26H1 build 28000.3501 release date: December 8, 2026. Official notes.
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].
