Windows 11 August 2026 Update: Voice Isolation, Smarter File Explorer, and More Arrives Now

Status: Released
Affected Versions: Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2
KB Article: KB5121003
OS Builds: 26200.9165 and 26100.9165

Microsoft has officially rolled out the Windows 11 August 2026 update, delivering a substantial package of quality-of-life improvements, accessibility enhancements, and reliability fixes to users worldwide. Rather than introducing a single headline-grabbing feature, this month’s Patch Tuesday release focuses on refining core system behaviors, smoothing out long-standing frustrations, and expanding accessibility options for a wider range of hardware configurations.

The update ships as KB5121003, pushing eligible devices to OS build 26200.9165 for Windows 11 version 25H2 and 26100.9165 for version 24H2. It effectively merges the July 28 optional preview changes from KB5101684 into the mandatory security release, ensuring that all previously tested refinements land in the hands of the broader user base. As with recent monthly releases, Microsoft continues to deploy features through its Controlled Feature Rollout system, meaning some improvements may appear gradually over the following days even after installation completes.

Among the most notable additions is a major overhaul for Voice Access, bringing Voice Isolation and Korean language support to the table. File Explorer finally corrects a decades-old quirk by displaying file sizes in appropriate units rather than defaulting to kilobytes. Windows Hello now extends its Enhanced Sign-in Security to external fingerprint readers, and touchpad users gain access to accelerated scrolling. Below, we break down every change, fix, and refinement included in this release.

#1 Voice Access Gets Voice Isolation and Korean Support

The standout feature in this month’s release is a significant upgrade to Voice Access, Microsoft’s built-in accessibility tool that allows users to control their PCs entirely through speech. The August update introduces Voice Isolation, a new speech recognition mode designed to filter out background noise and other speakers, making it far more effective in shared or noisy environments.

Under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition, users can now choose between three distinct modes. Voice Isolation requires a one-time voice setup to calibrate the system to your specific vocal patterns before it can effectively suppress external audio. The second option, Remove background noise only, automatically cuts out non-speech sounds like typing or closing doors without requiring any additional configuration. The third, No filtering, retains the default microphone input for users who prefer unprocessed audio.

In practical testing, Voice Isolation demonstrated a noticeable improvement over the previous default mode. When a podcast was playing in the background, the system successfully ignored the audio, preventing unwanted commands from being triggered. This addresses a long-standing pain point for users who rely on Voice Access in public spaces or busy households.

Additionally, Voice Access now supports the Korean language, expanding its accessibility reach for non-English speakers. Microsoft has also improved the reliability of the startup process, reducing instances where the tool would fail to initialize properly. These changes align with Windows chief Pavan Davuluri’s July statement on the Windows Insider Blog, which highlighted voice technology as a priority focus area for the team since March 2026.

#2 File Explorer Shows File Sizes in Appropriate Units

For years, Windows users have navigated File Explorer with a persistent annoyance: every file size, regardless of its actual magnitude, was displayed in kilobytes. A 10-gigabyte video file would show as 10,485,760 KB, forcing users to perform mental conversions just to understand how much storage they were using.

The Windows 11 August 2026 update finally corrects this behavior. File Explorer’s Details view now automatically formats file sizes using the most appropriate unit: kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB). A 10-megabyte document will now correctly display as 10 MB rather than 10,240 KB, making storage management significantly more intuitive at a glance.

This change also improves address bar navigation. Middle-clicking a folder from either the address bar or the File Explorer Home page now opens it in a new tab, aligning with the tabbed browsing behavior already present in other Windows applications. Additionally, Microsoft has fixed a grey flash that occasionally appeared during File Explorer load times, resolved unexpected scrolling to the top of the Home page, and sharpened file thumbnails in the Recommended section for better visual clarity.

Because this feature is being deployed through the Controlled Feature Rollout system, users may not see the updated file size formatting immediately after installation. Microsoft is gradually enabling the change across eligible devices to ensure stability before a full rollout.

#3 Windows Search Handles Typos and Partial Names Better

App search has received a meaningful boost in typo tolerance and partial name recognition. The August update improves how Windows Search processes misspelled app names, dropped letters, extra characters, and incomplete queries. If you type a partially correct name, the system is now significantly more likely to surface the application you intended to find.

This improvement extends to Windows Settings search as well, meaning relevant configuration options should appear higher in the results list even when queries contain minor errors. The underlying algorithm has been refined to prioritize contextual relevance over exact string matching, reducing the frustration of searching for a setting only to be told it does not exist.

Users who followed the Windows Insider program will recognize this behavior, as typo-tolerant search was first introduced in an Insider Experimental build back in June. Seeing it arrive in the general release confirms that Microsoft has validated the changes and is rolling them out to the broader Windows 11 population.

Windows Hello’s Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) previously required a built-in fingerprint sensor, limiting its availability to laptops and all-in-one PCs. The August update removes this restriction, allowing ESS to work with external, plug-in fingerprint readers. This change is particularly significant for desktop users and certain Copilot+ PC configurations that lack integrated biometric hardware.

To set up the feature, users must connect a supported ESS fingerprint reader, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, and follow the on-screen enrollment prompts. Once configured, the external reader provides the same high-security authentication standards as a built-in sensor, including protection against spoofing and replay attacks.

Microsoft first disclosed this capability through KB5074105 back in January 2026, but it has only now begun rolling out to the general public. This expansion ensures that users who rely on peripheral hardware for biometric authentication can take advantage of Windows 11’s most secure sign-in method without needing to replace their existing setup.

#5 Touchpad Gestures Gain Accelerated Scrolling and Adjustable Speed

Precision touchpad users now have more control over their scrolling and zooming experience. The August update introduces adjustable scroll and zoom speed settings, found under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Users can set a baseline speed for these gestures, tailoring the responsiveness to their personal preference.

Perhaps more useful is the addition of accelerated scrolling. This feature increases the scroll speed the longer you maintain a two-finger gesture, allowing users to navigate long documents, web pages, or code files much faster without repetitive motion. It is a subtle addition that quickly becomes indispensable once integrated into your workflow.

These gesture refinements reflect Microsoft’s ongoing effort to make touch input feel more natural and efficient, particularly on devices where touchpads serve as the primary pointing device. The settings are immediately available after installation, though gradual rollout may delay access for some users.

#6 You Can Remove the Image Generation AI Component on Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft is continuing its push to make AI features more optional rather than mandatory. Supported Copilot+ PCs can now uninstall the Image Generation AI component, reclaiming disk space for users who do not utilize the feature. This addresses growing user feedback regarding bloatware and unwanted defaults that consume storage without providing value.

The removal process is straightforward and does not impact other Copilot+ capabilities. Users who prefer a cleaner system installation can now strip out components they do not need, aligning with Microsoft’s broader strategy of giving users more control over what runs on their devices. This change is part of a larger trend where Microsoft is stepping back from forcing AI integrations and instead allowing customization based on user preference.

The taskbar notification badges for Widgets have shifted from red to match your Windows accent color, providing a more cohesive visual experience. This change aligns with earlier updates that disabled the MSN feed and ads in Widgets by default, further streamlining the taskbar interface.

New users will notice a simplified Lock screen that displays only the Weather widget by default, reducing visual clutter. Start menu view preferences are now retained more reliably, preventing spontaneous layout resets that have frustrated users in previous builds. Keyboard navigation within the Start menu also improves when focus is set to the apps list, making it easier to browse and launch applications using only the keyboard.

Additionally, the Start menu’s account control flyout has received a design refresh. It now displays a badge indicating your subscription status, accessible by selecting your account picture in the lower-left corner. This feature is limited to users signed in with a Microsoft account and may vary in availability depending on the device and region.

#8 Accessibility, Input, and Windowing Improvements

Magnifier on touch-enabled devices has been updated to address an issue where horizontal and vertical touch bars obstructed magnified content. These bars are now disabled by default, though users who rely on touch panning can re-enable them in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.

Fluid dictation for Voice Typing is now turned off by default for new users, with a teaching tip appearing the first time the feature is accessed. This allows users to make an informed decision about whether to enable it rather than having it active immediately. Mouse cursor size now persists more reliably between sessions, and system dialogs open at the appropriate size on small tablets, improving usability for compact form factors.

#9 Power, Windows Update, and Networking Reliability Fixes

Power and battery settings now apply more consistently across all power plans. Changes made in Settings for display, sleep, hibernate, power button behavior, and lid-close actions will no longer be restricted to the active plan, ensuring that your preferences are honored regardless of the selected power profile.

Microsoft has also restored the ability to set a threshold for when Energy Saver turns on, located under Settings > System > Power & Battery. This gives users finer control over battery conservation without having to manually toggle the feature.

Windows Update receives two minor but important fixes. The update progress calculation in Windows Update Settings is now more accurate, and the update clean-up logic has been adjusted to improve system performance immediately after an installation completes. On the networking front, DHCP renewal reliability has been improved, particularly in scenarios where a device receives a NACK from the DHCP server or when using Modern Standby. Print performance for IPPS printers has also been optimized, and clipboard reliability in Remote Desktop and Azure Virtual Desktop environments has been enhanced.

#10 Secure Boot Certificate Rollout Continues

Unlike most changes in this release, Secure Boot certificate updates ship in the normal rollout phase, meaning they apply immediately upon installation. The update expands the pool of devices eligible to automatically receive the 2023 Secure Boot certificates by adding more high-confidence device targeting data. Certificate deployment through Windows Update will continue across supported PCs and non-managed business devices over the coming months.

Microsoft has emphasized that devices still waiting on the new certificates are not at immediate risk. Standard Windows updates will continue to install normally, and the certificates will arrive automatically once a device demonstrates enough successful update signals. Users can check their current status by opening Windows Security > Device Security and looking under Secure Boot for a green checkmark, yellow warning, or red alert.

What This Means for You

The Windows 11 August 2026 update is a textbook example of Microsoft focusing on incremental improvements rather than flashy new features. For everyday users, the most impactful changes are the Voice Isolation mode, which makes voice control viable in noisy environments, and the File Explorer file size formatting, which eliminates a long-standing usability annoyance. Windows Hello users with external readers will appreciate the expanded security options, while touchpad users will find the accelerated scrolling genuinely useful.

IT administrators should note that the Secure Boot certificate rollout continues, and devices not yet updated may require monitoring to ensure compliance. The gradual rollout system means that not all changes will appear instantly, so patience may be required for certain features to become available.

How to Get It

To install the update, open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Your PC will move to build 26200.9165 if you are on Windows 11 25H2, or 26100.9165 on 24H2. Enabling the Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available toggle can help the update appear sooner. Given the gradual nature of certain features, do not be surprised if some changes take a few days to fully deploy after installation.

Source: Windows Latest

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