Windows 11 Insider roundup: Taskbar moves, NP...

Microsoft is undergoing a significant restructuring of the Windows Insider Program while simultaneously pushing out dozens of preview builds across multiple channels. If you are enrolled in the program, you may notice your channel name changing soon. The Dev Channel is becoming the Experimental Channel, and the Canary Channel is splitting into two distinct paths: one for 26H1 development and another for future platforms.

Alongside these structural changes, Insiders are receiving updates that range from quality-of-life improvements like movable taskbars to deep system-level fixes for virtualization errors. Here is a breakdown of the most notable changes in recent builds.

#1 Channel restructuring and new names

Microsoft announced sweeping changes to how Insider channels are organized. The transition is gradual, starting with the Dev Channel. Going forward, the hierarchy looks like this:

Beta Channel becomes Beta
Beta Channel (for devices on Windows 11 version 26H1) becomes Beta (26H1)
Dev Channel becomes Experimental
Canary Channel (28000 series) becomes Experimental (26H1)
Canary Channel (29500 series) becomes Experimental (Future Platforms)
Release Preview Channel becomes Release Preview 24H2/25H2

This rebranding aims to clarify which builds are stable enough for broader testing versus those that are strictly for platform development. Users can select specific feature flags to test individual components rather than taking on the entire build’s risk profile.

Long-time Windows users have been waiting for the ability to move the taskbar from the bottom of the screen. In Build 26300.8493 (Experimental Channel), Microsoft introduced a setting in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors that allows you to place the taskbar on the top, left, or right side of the display.

Additionally, recent builds in the Experimental Channel (Build 26300.8553) have revamped the Start menu. The “Recommended” section is now labeled “Recent,” and users can independently toggle visibility for Pinned, Recent, and All apps. You can also choose between small and large Start menu sizes or hide your profile picture entirely.

A close-up view of a computer screen displaying Task Manager with new columns highlighted for NPU usage and dedicated me — New metrics in Task Manager provide visibility into Neural Processing Unit activity for AI workloads.

#3 NPU monitoring in Task Manager

With the rise of AI PCs, visibility into Neural Processing Unit (NPU) usage is becoming critical. Builds 28000.2333 and 26200.8514 introduce new columns in Task Manager for NPU monitoring. On the Processes, Users, and Details pages, you can now add optional columns for NPU and NPU Engine. The Details page also includes NPU Dedicated Memory and NPU Shared Memory metrics.

If your system has neural engines integrated into the GPU, they will now appear on the Performance page. This gives developers and power users a clearer picture of how AI workloads are consuming resources.

#4 Virtualization and stability fixes

Several recent builds address critical stability issues. Build 26220.8690 (Beta Channel) and Build 26300.8697 (Experimental Channel) fix a virtualization bug that caused blue screens of death (BSOD) with error codes HYPERVISOR_ERROR (0x20001) and KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (0x1E). These crashes occurred during system restarts, VM operations, or while gaming.

Networking reliability has also seen improvements. Release Preview Builds 26100.8728 and 26200.8728 reduce Wi-Fi power-related bug checks and improve cellular (WWAN) connectivity, including better support for IPv6 VPNs. Network adapter settings and bindings are now preserved across OS upgrades.

Microsoft is attempting to make the Widgets experience less intrusive. Build 26220.8680 introduces default settings that disable “Open on hover” and turn off taskbar badging for widgets. It also limits the number of daily alerts and restricts notifications until you actively engage with the Widgets panel.

Audio fixes are also present across multiple channels. Build 28020.2308 improves the reliability of the inbox HD Audio driver, while Build 29613.1000 updates the Settings > System > Sounds page to allow easier default device changes.

What this means for you

If you are a Windows Insider, check your channel settings soon as the names will change. For everyday users waiting for these features to hit the stable release, expect better control over taskbar placement and Start menu customization in future major updates. The NPU monitoring tools suggest Microsoft is preparing Windows for deeper AI integration, which will likely become standard in upcoming hardware cycles.

Source: Computerworld

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