Dev Channel
The latest Dev Channel coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Windows 11 Dev Channel Syncs with Beta: Build 26220.7653 Signals Testing Shift
Microsoft has quietly delivered an unusual update to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel this week, pushing build 26220.7653 (KB5074157) that is identical to the package released to the Beta Channel...
Windows 11 Build 26220.6972: File Explorer and Mobile Device Enhancements
Microsoft continues to refine the Windows 11 experience with the latest Dev Channel release, Build 26220.6972 (KB5067106), bringing targeted improvements to File Explorer and mobile device...
Windows 11 Insider Builds 26220.6690 and 26120.6690: Copilot Invades the Taskbar and a New Account Hub Arrives
Microsoft dropped a new Insider preview on September 19, pushing KB5065786 to the Dev Channel as Build 26220.6690 and to the Beta Channel as Build 26120.6690. The update concentrates on three fronts:...
Windows 11 Dev Build 26220.6690: AI Translation Arrives, But Hardware Hiccups Linger
On September 19, Microsoft shipped Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6690 (KB5065786) to the Dev Channel, packing two new Copilot-driven features and a handful of urgent fixes. The most notable...
Free Local AI Comes to Notepad on Copilot+ PCs in Latest Windows Insider Build
Microsoft has given Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels a triple treat this week: new generative AI features inside Notepad that can run entirely on-device, a native project file...
Paint Update: .paint Project Files and Opacity Slider Now in Insider Testing
Microsoft is giving Windows 11’s built-in Paint app its most significant workflow upgrade in years. Starting this week, Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels can save layered compositions...
Xbox Controllers on Windows 11 Gain Task View With a Long Press in New Preview Build
A new Windows 11 preview build is giving Xbox controllers a long-press shortcut to Task View, addressing a key gap in gamepad navigation as Microsoft gears up for a wave of handheld gaming PCs. Build...
Windows 11 Build 26052: Copilot Taskbar Icon Now Animates on Copy, Accepts Drag-and-Drop Images
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26052 to the Canary and Dev channels, bringing a set of Copilot enhancements that make the AI assistant more deeply integrated into daily...
Microsoft Plants a Bing Speed Test Shortcut in the Taskbar and Teases AI Oversight in New Insider Builds
A quiet update this week to Windows 11 Insider Preview builds plants a one-click internet speed test directly into the taskbar network flyout, but it’s not the native diagnostic tool power users...
Windows 11 Insider Builds Surface Long-Awaited Keyboard Repeat Controls and Haptic Touchpad Overhaul
Microsoft’s methodical chipping away at the legacy Control Panel has unearthed two fresh treasures for input customization: a live keyboard repeat tester and a revamped haptic touchpad tuning page,...
Microsoft Repurposes Xbox Button for Multitasking: Long Press Opens Task View in Windows 11 Insider
Microsoft has quietly changed how the Xbox button works on Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, giving gamepad users a faster way to manage open windows. A long press of the Xbox button now opens Task...
Windows 11 Insider Builds Add Full-Screen Subscription Reminder, Sparking Adware Concerns
Microsoft is testing a full-screen renewal prompt in Windows 11 that appears when a Microsoft 365 subscription lapses, and early reactions from Insiders are far from welcoming. The new...