Microsoft shipped Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28120.2374 to the Experimental 26H1 channel on June 26, 2026. The update delivers a raft of enhancements that blur the line between PC and mobile, tighten enterprise recovery controls, and inject more expression into everyday communication. For Windows Insiders who opted into the Experimental branch, this build is a clear signal of where the 26H1 release is headed.
Mobile Device Settings Get a Permanent Home in Windows
The most visible change in Build 28120.2374 is a dedicated mobile-device management pane inside Windows Settings. Until now, linking an Android phone or iPhone to a Windows 11 PC meant relying on the standalone Phone Link app or buried Bluetooth menus. The new approach surfaces a unified “Mobile devices” page under Settings > Bluetooth & devices, giving users one place to add, remove, and configure connected handsets.
Microsoft describes the feature as a step toward “seamless cross-device experiences.” Early screenshots indicate that the page shows device name, connection status, battery level, and quick toggles for notifications, calls, and photo sync. The integration also supports multiple devices, something power users with a personal and work phone have long requested.
The underpinnings of this feature are still tied to the Phone Link framework, but the Settings entry point makes it feel native. For the 26H1 release, Microsoft is clearly investing in making the PC the hub of a multi-device life, and this revamp is a cornerstone of that strategy.
WinRE MDM Plugin Empowers IT Administrators
Buried in the build is a new Mobile Device Management plug-in for the Windows Recovery Environment. Enterprise administrators can now push configuration policies directly to WinRE, enabling remote-triggered system resets, automated recovery flows, and secure decommissioning of managed endpoints.
In practice, an IT pro can push a command via Microsoft Intune or another MDM platform that forces a remote PC to boot into WinRE and perform a factory reset—without physical access. This is critical for stolen or compromised devices and for large-scale fleet refreshes. The plugin communicates with the MDM service even before the full OS loads, ensuring that recovery actions can be authenticated and logged.
Microsoft has documented that the WinRE MDM plugin runs inside a minimal Windows Preinstallation Environment context, using a TPM-backed identity to verify the device’s management state. While the feature will primarily benefit organizations, it also lays groundwork for more advanced consumer recovery tools in future builds.
GIPHY GIFs Land in the Emoji and GIF Picker
An unexpected but welcome addition is the integration of GIPHY into the built-in emoji and GIF picker. Pressing Win + . or Win + ; now surfaces a dedicated GIF tab powered by GIPHY’s library, alongside the standard kaomoji and symbols. Users can search for trending reaction GIFs, browse categories, or insert them directly into any text field.
The GIF picker respects content ratings: by default, it restricts to “General” rated GIFs, but Insiders can adjust the rating in Settings > Personalization > Text input. Microsoft has also added a small “Powered by GIPHY” attribution at the bottom of the panel, similar to what you’d find in Teams or Outlook.
The feature is not merely a reskin—Microsoft worked with GIPHY to preload popular GIFs and optimize loading times. Emoji picker performance has been tuned as well, with smoother scrolling and faster skin tone selection. The change puts Windows on par with mobile operating systems that have long offered native GIF search, and it’s a clear reaction to user feedback requesting richer inline expression.
Additional Changes and Improvements
Build 28120.2374 isn’t just about headlining features. Several smaller but meaningful tweaks are included:
- Live captions now support more languages and can be repositioned anywhere on the screen, not just the top or bottom.
- Widgets board gets a new profile page for managing interests and notifications without opening the full news app.
- Voice access improvements allow more natural dictation in third-party apps like Slack and Discord.
- The Start menu recommendations section can now be turned off more granularly—users can choose to hide only file recommendations while keeping recently installed apps visible.
There’s also a subtle visual polish: acrylic materials throughout the Shell have higher blur strength on capable hardware, making flyouts and context menus feel more modern.
Known Issues
Every Insider build carries caveats, and 28120.2374 is no exception. Microsoft flagged several problems in its release notes:
- The new Mobile devices settings page may not populate correctly after first reboot; a manual Bluetooth re-pair sometimes resolves it.
- GIPHY GIF search requires a working internet connection and may show a blank panel if the network is metered or behind a strict firewall.
- The WinRE MDM plugin is disabled by default and requires a provisioning package to activate—Insiders testing it should be comfortable with advanced PowerShell scripts.
- Some users on Surface devices may experience battery drain during standby when the mobile-device sync is active in the background.
- Widgets may sign out randomly, requiring re-authentication of the Microsoft account.
These issues are consistent with an Experimental build, and Microsoft recommends not installing on a daily-driver machine unless you’re prepared for instability.
How to Install and What Channel to Choose
Build 28120.2374 is exclusive to the Experimental 26H1 channel. That channel was introduced earlier this year as a bleeding-edge branch for features that may or may not ship in the next major Windows release. To get it:
- Enroll your PC in the Windows Insider Program via Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
- Choose the “Experimental 26H1” channel when prompted (you may need to toggle on “Show experimental channels” if it isn’t visible).
- Reboot and check for updates.
The build will download and install automatically. Because this is a preview channel, rollbacks are supported for a limited time via Settings > Recovery.
Analysis: What Build 28120.2374 Tells Us About 26H1
Microsoft is using the Experimental channel as a testbed for features that were originally planned for Windows 12 but have since been restructured into a 26H1 update to Windows 11. The inclusion of a dedicated mobile settings pane suggests that the long-rumored “Windows Phone integration” isn’t a separate app but rather a deeper OS-level blending.
The WinRE MDM plugin underscores Microsoft’s focus on the enterprise, where endpoint security and remote management remain top priorities. Giving IT admins a direct line to recovery tools means fewer deskside visits and faster incident response—a trend accelerated by the hybrid-work era.
On the consumer side, GIPHY GIFs are a low-risk, high-delight feature that makes Windows feel more contemporary. The fact that Microsoft went beyond just lifting the Teams GIF API and built a native, privacy-aware integration shows attention to detail.
Put together, Build 28120.2374 is a snapshot of a Windows that’s more connected, more manageable, and more expressive. While not everything here will survive to the final 26H1 release, Insiders are getting a front-row seat to the operating system’s evolution.
We’ll continue tracking the Insider builds as they roll out. For now, those enrolled in the Experimental 26H1 channel can dive in and start testing these features—and, as always, file feedback through the Feedback Hub to shape the final product.