Windows 11 Release Preview Update Brings Major Bluetooth and Voice Improvements

Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel can now test two new Windows 11 builds. Microsoft has released Build 26100.8728 for Windows 11 version 24H2 and Build 26200.8728 for Windows 11 version 25H2.

Alongside numerous reliability fixes, these builds add new features, including Point-in-Time Restore for easier PC recovery and Screen Tint controls for display customization and accessibility. Microsoft also includes improvements to system recovery, device management, and overall user experience.

As with many recent Insider releases, all new features are being delivered through a gradual rollout. This means some users may receive the changes sooner than others, depending on their device and rollout schedule.

Major Bluetooth Improvements

One of the biggest areas of improvement in these Release Preview builds is Bluetooth connectivity.

Microsoft has synchronized the microphone mute status between the Windows audio mixer and Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile devices. This should provide more consistent mute behavior for headphones and headsets that include dedicated mute controls or status indicators.

The company has also improved compatibility with several popular Bluetooth audio products. AirPods should now appear more quickly while in pairing mode, while microphone reliability has been improved for Beats Studio Pro headphones.

Microsoft also adjusted Phone Link audio handling. When users place a call from a connected phone, audio remains on the phone during ringing and transfers to the PC only after the call is answered from Windows. Incoming calls will also respect Windows Do Not Disturb settings and no longer ring on the PC when the feature is enabled.

Voice Access and Voice Typing Enhancements

Copilot+ PC users are receiving expanded voice capabilities.

Voice access and voice typing now support French, German, and Spanish. Microsoft says the updated speech recognition system can improve dictated text in real time by correcting grammar, punctuation, and recognition mistakes as users speak.

The feature can also improve transcription quality in environments with background noise, making voice input more accurate and easier to use.

Networking Reliability Improvements

Microsoft continues to invest heavily in networking reliability across both consumer and enterprise environments.

Confidential Virtual Machines now use SR-IOV hardware acceleration by default, helping improve network throughput and performance in supported environments.

The update also fixes a nested Hyper-V virtualization networking configuration issue that previously affected reliable virtual machine provisioning.

Other networking improvements include enhanced reliability across the Windows networking stack, fewer blue screen errors related to Wi-Fi power management, improved cellular WWAN connectivity, better IPv6 VPN support over cellular networks, increased compatibility with third-party VPN software, more reliable SR-IOV configurations on server hardware, and preservation of network adapter settings and bindings during operating system upgrades.

Printing Changes and Additional Fixes

Microsoft is also introducing changes designed to simplify printer setup.

New printer installations will now use Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) by default when supported. The company says this change aligns with its broader Windows Ready Print initiative and should improve setup reliability.

The updates focus primarily on reliability improvements rather than major new features, with Bluetooth connectivity, networking performance, voice recognition, and printing receiving the most attention. Since these changes are rolling out gradually, some users may not see every feature immediately after installing the update.

For users interested in testing newer and more experimental features, Microsoft is also offering separate Windows 11 Beta Channel builds.