Complete list of Experimental feature flags in Insider builds on Windows 11

Microsoft introduced an Experimental channel for Windows 11 Insider builds with built-in feature flags.
Feature flags change frequently between builds and may disappear once features become part of Windows 11 by default.
Some hidden Windows 11 features still require ViVeTool because not all experiments appear in the Feature flags page.

As part of the new Windows Insider Program, Microsoft now distributes preview builds of Windows 11 through the Experimental channel, allowing testers to preview upcoming features and improvements before they become widely available. In this guide, you’ll find a complete and constantly updated list of the experimental feature flags available in each Insider preview build.

Unlike traditional Insider channels, the Experimental channel focuses on feature testing through toggleable flags built directly into the operating system. These flags allow Microsoft to gradually roll out experiences while giving users the ability to enable them manually if they’re missing by default.

However, these feature flags can change on every preview build release. Microsoft regularly adds, removes, renames, or replaces flags between builds. If a specific feature graduates from experimental testing and becomes integrated into the operating system by default, the corresponding flag usually disappears from the feature flags page. Once that happens, the feature can no longer be manually disabled or re-enabled through the built-in controls.

It’s also important to understand that the list of flags is dynamic. If you don’t see a specific flag right away, you may have to wait and check again later to reveal additional experimental options.

The feature flags page only exposes advertised or officially testable experiences. A lot of hidden features and under-development components still remain inaccessible through the graphical interface. In those cases, you may still need third-party tools such as ViVeTool to manually enable features that Microsoft has not yet exposed for public testing.

At the time of writing, the Experimental channel includes feature flags for active development branches such as version 25H2, version 26H1, and Feature Platform releases. The Beta channel doesn’t include the feature flags interface, because features in this channel are typically enabled automatically by default.

In this guide, I’ll track and outline the features available on Windows 11 as they appear on each preview through the Experimental channel of the Windows Insider Program.

Flags to enable features on Windows 11
Enable feature flags on Windows 11
Pureinfotech’s Take

Flags to enable features on Windows 11

These are the flags to enable experimental features after installing a preview build through the Windows Insider Program.

Build 26300.8497

Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26300.8497):

Alternate taskbar positions: Allows the taskbar to be positioned on any side of the screen (bottom, top, left, or right), providing greater flexibility in how users arrange their workspaces.
Consistent solid (donut) spinners across key Windows scenarios: Introduces a unified solid (donut) spinner with matching status text across key Windows experiences like boot, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and updates.
Faster reopening of restartable apps: Enabling this feature allows apps that were previously open to reopen more quickly after a restart following updates, reducing disruption and helping you return to your work faster.
Fluid Dictation Language Expansion in Voice Access: Uses Windows Voice Access fluid dictation in Spanish & French to automatically correct grammar, punctuation, and filler words as you speak.
Fluid Dictation Language Expansion in Voice Typing: Uses Windows Voice Typing fluid dictation in Spanish & French to automatically correct grammar, punctuation, and filler words as you speak.
Free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12: Windows Insiders in K-12 education environments can now experience a seamless upgrade path from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro Education edition—at no additional cost. Please note: This upgrade is one-way only. Reverting to Windows Home is not supported without a clean OS reinstall.
Improved Magnifier quick settings access: Enabling this feature gives you more control over how you zoom in Magnifier, including the ability to enter an exact zoom percentage directly in the toolbar for more precise adjustments.
Magnifier Simplification: Simplifies Magnifier by disabling touch bars for panning by default, providing a cleaner and less distracting magnified view on touchscreen devices.
Make Narrator braille display Settings visible without downloading optional features (FOD): Enables HID braille support, allowing users with HID-compliant braille displays to use braille settings without installing BRLTTY through Feature on Demand (FoD). Previously, the braille enable toggle was hidden until BRLTTY was installed, making it inaccessible for HID-only users.
New Windows Insider Program experience: Enabling this feature updates the Windows Insider Program settings experience with clearer channel definitions and improved navigation, helping you better understand available preview features and simplifying build selection.
Pause updates on your schedule: Enabling this feature lets you pause updates using a calendar-based experience, allowing you to select a specific date and extend the pause as needed to better align updates with your schedule.
Screen Tint: Screen Tint feature applies color tint effects to the display to reduce eye strain and improve viewing comfort.
Smaller Taskbar: Enables a more compact taskbar experience with smaller icons and reduced height, giving users more available screen space for their apps.
Touchpad Enhancements: Add new gesture based functionality to touchpad in Settings, including scroll and zoom speed, automatic scrolling, accelerated scrolling, and single-finger scrolling.
Windows Search Box: Files and apps more reliably appear ahead of web suggestions when your content is a stronger match.

Build 26300.8493

Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26300.8493):

Alternate taskbar positions: Allows the taskbar to be positioned on any side of the screen (bottom, top, left, or right), providing greater flexibility in how users arrange their workspaces.
Faster reopening of restartable apps: Enabling this feature allows apps that were previously open to reopen more quickly after a restart following updates, reducing disruption and helping you return to your work faster.
Fluid Dictation Language Expansion in Voice Access: Uses Windows Voice Access fluid dictation in Spanish & French to automatically correct grammar, punctuation, and filler words as you speak.
Fluid Dictation Language Expansion in Voice Typing: Uses Windows Voice Typing fluid dictation in Spanish & French to automatically correct grammar, punctuation, and filler words as you speak.
Free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12: Windows Insiders in K-12 education environments can now experience a seamless upgrade path from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro Education edition—at no additional cost. Please note: This upgrade is one-way only. Reverting to Windows Home is not supported without a clean OS reinstall.
Improved Magnifier quick settings access: Enabling this feature gives you more control over how you zoom in Magnifier, including the ability to enter an exact zoom percentage directly in the toolbar for more precise adjustments.
Magnifier Simplification: Simplifies Magnifier by disabling touch bars for panning by default, providing a cleaner and less distracting magnified view on touchscreen devices.
New Windows Insider Program experience: Enabling this feature updates the Windows Insider Program settings experience with clearer channel definitions and improved navigation, helping you better understand available preview features and simplifying build selection.
Pause updates on your schedule: Enabling this feature lets you pause updates using a calendar-based experience, allowing you to select a specific date and extend the pause as needed to better align updates with your schedule.
Touchpad Enhancements: Add new gesture based functionality to touchpad in Settings, including scroll and zoom speed, automatic scrolling, accelerated scrolling, and single-finger scrolling.

Build 26300.8376

Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26300.8376):

Faster reopening of restartable apps: Enabling this feature allows apps that were previously open to reopen more quickly after a restart following updates, reducing disruption and helping you return to your work faster.
Free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12: Windows Insiders in K-12 education environments can now experience a seamless upgrade path from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro Education edition—at no additional cost. Please note: This upgrade is one-way only. Reverting to Windows Home is not supported without a clean OS reinstall.
Improved Magnifier quick settings access: Enabling this feature gives you more control over how you zoom in Magnifier, including the ability to enter an exact zoom percentage directly in the toolbar for more precise adjustments.
New Windows Insider Program experience: Enabling this feature updates the Windows Insider Program settings experience with clearer channel definitions and improved navigation, helping you better understand available preview features and simplifying build selection.
Pause updates on your schedule: Enabling this feature lets you pause updates using a calendar-based experience, allowing you to select a specific date and extend the pause as needed to better align updates with your schedule.
Smarter app suggestions in Share.
Touchpad Enhancements: Add new gesture based functionality to touchpad in Settings, including scroll and zoom speed, automatic scrolling, accelerated scrolling, and single-finger scrolling.

Enable feature flags on Windows 11

To enable experimental features on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Windows Insider Program page.
Click the Feature flags setting.
Select the Enabled option under the specific hidden feature in the “Available Flags” section.

Quick note: You may need to repeat this step to enable other features in the operating system.
Click the Apply Changes button.
Click the Restart button.

Once you complete the steps, the features will be availble on your Windows 11 setup.

Feature flag options

No Override: The system automatically determines whether the feature or improvement is enabled or disabled.
Enabled: Forces the operating system to turn on the feature or improvement.
Disabled: Forces the operating system to turn off the feature or improvement.

After configuring the feature, you may need to restart the system to apply the changes.

Pureinfotech’s Take

Microsoft finally giving us an official Experimental channel with a built-in feature flags interface is a welcome shift in the enthusiast community, but it comes with a major catch. For years, we’ve had to rely on third-party utilities like ViVeTool to surface the best parts of Windows preview builds. Now, having a native toggle system directly inside the Settings app simplifies the process and makes tweaking much safer for the average tester.

However, don’t throw away ViVeTool just yet, as the company is only exposing officially advertised experiments here. Some hidden and deeply under-development code may still be locked away.

What are your thoughts about the built-in feature flags on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.