Microsoft has rolled out Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.8925 to the Beta Channel, delivering a substantial set of user-facing improvements across the touchpad, Start menu, and accessibility subsystems. This release arrives as part of a coordinated push to realign flight schedules after a recent series of misaligned updates missed the traditional Friday release window. Alongside this Beta release, Microsoft simultaneously distributed updates to the Experimental, Release Preview, and other Beta tracks, including Build 26300.8935, Build 28020.2539, Release Preview Builds 26100.8942 and 26200.8942, and Build 28000.2597.
#1 Touchpad Scroll Speed and Accelerated Scrolling
Microsoft is introducing two new precision touchpad controls directly within the Settings app. The first allows users to adjust the baseline scroll and zoom speed, setting a comfortable starting point for gesture input. The second enables accelerated scrolling, which dynamically increases scroll velocity when gestures are repeated, making it significantly easier to navigate long documents or web pages without constant hand movement.
These features are engineered to function across most applications without requiring per-app configuration. However, WinUI3-based interfaces will rely on newer versions of the WinAppSDK for full functionality. Microsoft is actively updating the WinAppSDK to versions 1.8 and 2.0 to ensure broader compatibility. In practice, this means early adopters might see inconsistent behavior in certain third-party WinUI3 apps until developers integrate the updated SDK.
#2 Start Menu Section Toggles and Layout Changes
Building on the roadmap outlined in Microsoft’s “Making Taskbar and Start more personal” initiative, the Start menu now includes granular section-level visibility toggles. Users can independently show or hide the Pinned, Recent, and All sections. The Recommended section has been officially renamed to Recent across both the Start menu interface and the corresponding Settings page.
Additional customization options include switching between small and large Start menu sizes, hiding your name and profile picture from the interface, and a fully redesigned Start settings page. The section-level toggles directly address a long-standing community request, allowing users to completely remove the Recent section without relying on registry edits or third-party modification tools.
#3 File Explorer and Accessibility Improvements
File Explorer now displays file sizes in contextually appropriate units, such as KB, MB, and GB, rather than defaulting exclusively to kilobytes. Users can also middle-click to open a folder in a new tab from both the address bar and the Home page, streamlining multi-folder workflows. Screen reader announcements during file move and copy conflict resolution have been refined for better clarity.
On the accessibility front, Narrator now supports refreshable braille displays adhering to the HID standard. Compatible devices, including the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40, can connect via USB without additional drivers. Bluetooth HID displays can be paired through Settings > Bluetooth & devices. Notably, HID braille displays now function during the initial Windows setup over USB, enabling deaf-blind users to complete device provisioning independently from the first boot.
#4 Account Control and Bug Fixes
The Windows 11 Account Control flyout has been redesigned to feature a subscription badge that clearly displays account status, current plan details, and available upgrade paths. Microsoft also resolved a critical installation failure that previously caused recent Insider builds to fail with error 0xc0000409. Additionally, the persistence of the mouse cursor size setting has been improved to ensure it remains consistent across reboots.
What This Means for You
For everyday users, this build translates to a more personalized and efficient desktop environment. The Start menu toggles eliminate the need for risky registry tweaks, while the touchpad enhancements provide native performance tuning. The HID braille support represents a meaningful step forward for accessibility, removing previous hardware barriers for deaf-blind users and simplifying the initial device setup process.
How to Get It
To access these features, your device must be enrolled in the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider Program. Navigate to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad for scroll controls, Settings > Personalization > Start for menu toggles, or Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille to configure HID displays. Please note that features in Insider builds remain subject to modification or removal before reaching the general public.
Source: Windows News: Updates, Security Patches, Microsoft OS Changes – gHacks
Build details:
- 26H1
Over to you: Are you switching to the Beta Channel to test the new Start menu toggles, or waiting for the stable release?
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