Microsoft has seeded Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000.2333 to the Release Preview Channel, giving testers on the 26H1 track an early look at new AI-powered features and system-level improvements. The build, released on June 12, 2026, marks a significant milestone as Microsoft begins integrating dedicated NPU monitoring directly into Task Manager and introduces a camera sharing capability designed for multi-app scenarios on AI PCs.
This preview comes as the 26H1 feature update shifts into staged rollout, targeting stability and polish ahead of a broader release expected later this year. Build 28000.2333 lands in the Release Preview ring, the final testing ground before general availability, signaling that these features are nearing completion.
Build 28000.2333 at a Glance
Build 28000.2333 is part of the Windows 11, version 26H1 development cycle. The build string indicates it originates from the ni_refresh branch, which underpins the next feature update. Unlike the Dev Channel’s experimental builds, Release Preview builds are cumulative updates over a stable base, typically containing the same code that will ship to all users after quality validation.
The 26H1 update is expected to introduce a wave of AI-first experiences, building on the Copilot+ PC initiative launched with Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Lunar Lake processors. While Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the final feature set, this build confirms that NPU (Neural Processing Unit) visibility and camera sharing are core parts of the 26H1 story.
The update is available to all Windows Insiders whose devices are enrolled in the Release Preview Channel. Because this is a controlled feature rollout (CFR), not all testers will see every new feature immediately; Microsoft uses a gradual approach to monitor telemetry and feedback.
Headline Feature: Task Manager Gains NPU Monitoring
The most noticeable addition in Build 28000.2333 is the new NPU section inside Task Manager. On supported hardware—devices with a dedicated neural processing unit, such as Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 200 series, or AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors—Task Manager now displays a separate graph and utilization data for the NPU.
This mirrors the existing CPU, memory, disk, and GPU monitoring tabs, giving developers and power users a real-time view of how AI workloads utilize the neural engine. With the rise of on-device AI features like Windows Recall, Live Captions, and Studio Effects, understanding NPU utilization becomes critical for performance debugging and workload planning.
The NPU section appears in the Performance tab and shows utilization as a percentage, similar to GPU 3D or Copy engines. It also breaks down dedicated and shared system memory used by the NPU, helping users determine if AI tasks are consuming significant resources. For systems without an NPU, the section is absent, preserving the familiar layout.
This addition addresses a longstanding gap: while third-party tools like HWiNFO could monitor NPU sensors, Windows itself offered no native visibility. By building NPU monitoring directly into Task Manager, Microsoft signals that neural processing is now a first-class compute resource alongside traditional CPU and GPU.
Camera Sharing: Multitasking Across Apps
Another key feature in this build is camera sharing—the ability for multiple applications to access the camera stream simultaneously without throwing errors or blocking each other. Previously, Windows enforced exclusive camera access: if one app (say, a video conferencing tool) had the camera, another (e.g., a QR code scanner) would fail to connect or show a black screen.
Camera sharing leverages the Windows Camera Frame Server and new APIs that intelligently split the video pipeline. The feature is optimized for AI PCs, where camera effects like background blur, eye contact correction, and automatic framing are processed on the NPU. With sharing enabled, multiple apps can receive the processed or raw stream concurrently, depending on their requirements.
In practice, this means you could be on a Teams call with background blur active while simultaneously scanning a document with a OneDrive or Lens app, all without interrupting the call. The system manages bandwidth and processing power, ensuring the NPU isn’t overwhelmed.
Camera sharing is controlled through a new setting in Privacy & Security > Camera, where users can toggle “Allow camera sharing across apps.” Administrators can also manage this via Group Policy or MDM, making it suitable for enterprise environments where multi-app camera use is common in healthcare, retail, or logistics.
AI PC Optimizations and Performance Improvements
Build 28000.2333 includes under-the-hood performance tuning aimed squarely at AI PC hardware. Microsoft has further optimized the Windows scheduler for hybrid CPU architectures, improving thread placement to better balance workloads among performance cores, efficiency cores, and the NPU. This results in faster responsiveness for AI-driven features like live translations, voice typing, and real-time video effects.
Memory management has also been refined: the working set of the AI stack—including the AI Platform Runtime and DirectML—has been reduced, freeing up RAM for user applications. On devices with 8–16 GB of RAM, this makes a tangible difference in multitasking scenarios.
Additionally, Windows Search now utilizes the NPU for semantic indexing on AI PCs. File and content searches become more accurate, understanding natural language queries beyond simple keyword matching. For example, searching “photos from last month’s picnic” returns relevant images even without explicit file names or tags. This feature, previously limited to premium hardware in limited previews, now appears to be rolling out more broadly in 26H1.
Accessibility and Other Improvements
The build also delivers upgrades to accessibility tools, aligning with Microsoft’s commitment to inclusive design. Narrator gains new natural voices in more languages, and the voice model runs directly on-device via the NPU, reducing latency and processing time. Live Captions now support real-time translation into additional languages, and the captions appear faster thanks to NPU acceleration.
In the accessibility realm, the magnifier tool receives smoother zoom and a new reading mode that can follow text as Narrator reads it aloud, making it easier for low-vision users to consume documents or web pages. Eye control settings have been streamlined, and the on-screen keyboard now adapts more intelligently to pen and touch inputs based on AI predictions.
Beyond AI-specific updates, this Release Preview build includes miscellaneous fixes and stability improvements: a bug causing File Explorer to crash when navigating large network shares has been resolved; the Widgets board now loads more reliably on ARM64 devices; and an issue where Bluetooth LE Audio connections would drop after standby has been addressed.
Staged Rollout and Known Limitations
As with many Insider Preview builds, Microsoft is rolling out features incrementally. Users who join the Release Preview Channel and install Build 28000.2333 may not immediately see all the new features—Microsoft uses Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) to gather diagnostic data and feedback before enabling them broadly. A reboot or a toggling of feature IDs via ViveTool (for advanced users) may reveal the hidden capabilities, though this isn’t officially supported.
It’s also important to note that many of the AI features require specific hardware: an NPU with at least 40 TOPS of processing power, a minimum of 16 GB RAM, and a compatible camera (for shared camera scenarios). Devices without these components will still receive the build’s performance and accessibility updates but won’t see the NPU monitoring or camera sharing features.
This build is considered stable enough for daily use, but testers should expect minor glitches. Early reports from the Insider community indicate that the Task Manager NPU graph occasionally displays 0% utilization even when AI features are active, a known bug that Microsoft says will be fixed in a subsequent update.
How to Get Build 28000.2333
Windows Insiders can install Build 28000.2333 by enrolling a PC in the Release Preview Channel via Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. After selecting “Release Preview” and rebooting, the build will be offered as a cumulative update. It installs like any monthly quality update and requires no clean installation.
Enterprise customers can import the build into Windows Update for Business or use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to validate it in pilot rings. Microsoft recommends IT professionals test the new camera sharing policies and NPU monitoring to prepare for broad deployment once 26H1 reaches general availability.
What This Means for Windows 11’s AI Future
The arrival of Build 28000.2333 in the Release Preview Channel cements Microsoft’s vision of an AI-first operating system. By surfacing NPU activity in Task Manager, the company isn’t just adding a niche developer tool—it’s normalizing the idea that a neural processor is as essential as a CPU or GPU. For years, hardware makers have shipped AI accelerators in smartphones and PCs; now Windows finally treats it as a standard component.
Camera sharing, meanwhile, solves a real-world friction point. As hybrid work and mobile-first workflows demand simultaneous camera use across apps, the feature eliminates the need to close one program before opening another. Combined with NPU-accelerated effects, it paves the way for more intelligent video experiences that blend seamlessly into everyday tasks.
The 26H1 update, when it ships later this year, will likely bring additional AI capabilities—perhaps expanded Recall functionality, deeper Copilot integration, and new creative tools for image generation and editing. Build 28000.2333 is a clear signal that the platform is maturing, readying itself for a wave of AI-native applications that will define the next decade of personal computing.
For now, Insider testers get an early pass to experiment with these features and shape their development through feedback. The Release Preview channel promises relative stability, but the caveats of pre-release software still apply. Users who rely on their PC for critical work may prefer to wait for the official rollout, expected sometime in the September–October 2026 timeframe.
Nevertheless, this build offers the most concrete glimpse yet of Windows 11’s next chapter—one where AI isn’t just a buzzword but a deeply integrated utility you can monitor, manage, and multitask with, right from your desktop.