Microsoft has deployed a substantial batch of updates to eight built-in Windows 11 applications via the Windows Insider Experimental (26H1) channels. These changes target everyday tools like Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Paint, Photos, Sound Recorder, and Notepad, focusing on reliability fixes and long-requested feature refinements.
- #1 Calculator: Stability and layout fixes
- #2 Camera: Zoom slider and QR scanning
- #3 Clock: Timer countdowns and snooze options
- #4 Media Player: Caption customization
- #5 Paint: Eraser transparency and JPEG fixes
- #6 Notepad: Performance and search improvements
- #7 Photos: AI watermarking controls
- #8 Sound Recorder: Waveform and memory fixes
While none of these updates overhaul the user interface, they address specific pain points that have persisted for months. Here is a breakdown of what has changed in each app.
#1 Calculator: Stability and layout fixes
The Calculator app (version 11.2605.9.0) receives critical stability improvements. Microsoft fixed a crash that occurred when calculations resulting in zero displayed small residual decimal values. For example, calculating sqrt(2.25)-1.5 should now return a clean zero instead of triggering an error.
The update also resolves layout issues for Arabic and Hebrew language users, ensuring the number pad and equation fields orient correctly. Additionally, High Contrast themes (Aquatic and Desert) now display text colors accurately in the settings menu.
#2 Camera: Zoom slider and QR scanning
The Camera app (version 2026.2605.7.0) introduces a continuous zoom slider, replacing the previous limited three-level zoom options. This allows for finer control over framing when using external or laptop cameras.
Perhaps most useful for everyday tasks is native QR code scanning. You can now point your camera at a QR code to read and open links directly within the app, eliminating the need for third-party scanners. The update also improves support for front-facing wide-angle cameras and higher-density resolution options.
#3 Clock: Timer countdowns and snooze options
The Clock app (version 11.2605.9.0) sees significant behavior changes. Timers now count up after reaching zero, allowing you to track how much time has passed beyond your set limit. Focus Sessions gain an “Off” option for daily goals, and completed tasks no longer clutter the active list.
A new 15-minute snooze option is available for alarms, providing a middle ground between immediate dismissal and longer delays. The Countdown Widget now supports three simultaneous countdowns instead of two. Various accessibility fixes ensure screen readers announce timer values correctly and keyboard focus remains stable.
#4 Media Player: Caption customization
Media Player (version 11.2605.14.0) allows users to customize closed caption styles directly within the app. A quick link opens Windows caption settings, streamlining accessibility adjustments. The update enforces playlist naming, preventing the creation of blank playlists.
A banner now appears in the play queue when the media library is indexing, explaining why some files may not appear immediately. File-type recognition has improved to reduce playback failures, and codec error dialogs provide clearer guidance for missing components.
#5 Paint: Eraser transparency and JPEG fixes
Paint (version 11.2605.61.0) adds a transparency slider to the eraser tool. This lets you control how much of the underlying image shows through, offering more nuance than the previous hard-edge erase. The app also fixes a long-standing issue where saving rotated JPEGs would prompt for a “Save As” action instead of overwriting the original file.
Visual clutter has been reduced by restoring classic selection outline behavior, which hides the outline while moving or resizing objects. The update also resolves crashes when opening damaged images and fixes color shifts in stamp brush strokes.
#6 Notepad: Performance and search improvements
Notepad (version 11.2605.29.0) launches faster, addressing performance degradation as the app has grown in features. The Find/Replace function has been refined: helper tips no longer persist between searches, and a less intrusive inline tip appears when no results are found.
Spell-check underlines that previously stuck around after clearing are now fixed. A crash triggered by pasting content from Visual Studio is resolved, and Spanish/Portuguese keyboard users no longer experience conflicts with the Ctrl+A select-all shortcut. This update is also rolling out to Beta and Release Preview channels.
#7 Photos: AI watermarking controls
The Photos app (version 2026.11060.2004.0) introduces settings for AI watermarking on images generated or edited with Copilot. Users can choose to never, always, or ask every time before applying watermarks. Navigation within images containing text is improved via keyboard shortcuts.
Small images, such as 16×16 pixel art, now zoom in further without becoming blurry, aiding inspection of icons and small graphics. A crash during text recognition has been fixed, and keyboard focus in the navigation bar requires fewer Tab presses to skip hidden controls.
#8 Sound Recorder: Waveform and memory fixes
Sound Recorder (version 11.2605.1.0) fixes the live waveform display when recording with a Bluetooth microphone, which previously showed nothing. A non-functional horizontal scrollbar has been removed, and the Mark button no longer appears grayed out on first launch.
Markers are automatically disabled for WAV recordings since the format cannot store them. Rapidly deleting multiple recordings no longer triggers false “file doesn’t exist” errors, and a memory leak that occurred at the start of each recording has been resolved.
What this means for you
If you are on the Windows Insider Experimental (26H1) channel, these updates are available now. For general users, these features will eventually trickle down to the Stable channel via Microsoft Store updates. The changes focus on making built-in apps more reliable and functional rather than adding flashy new interfaces.
Source: Windows Latest
Over to you: Which of these built-in app updates do you use most frequently, and did you notice the previous bugs before they were fixed?
