Windows 11 26H1 Release Preview Adds Voice Typing and Touchpad Upgrades

Windows 11 26H1 Insider Release Preview Build 28000.2597 is now available with improvements for File Explorer, networking, voice typing, graphics, printing, and overall system reliability.

Microsoft is rolling out these changes gradually, so some features may not appear immediately on every eligible PC.

Voice Access and Voice Typing Gain Language Improvements

The update enhances Voice Access and Voice Typing support for French, German, and Spanish. Dictation can now automatically refine grammar, punctuation, speech recognition, and clarity, helping users produce cleaner text with fewer manual corrections.

File Explorer and Taskbar Reliability Improvements

Microsoft has improved explorer.exe reliability and reduced instances where blank gray icons appear on the taskbar. The update also enhances File Explorer Home reliability during OneDrive synchronization.

Opening Start from the left edge of the taskbar should now work more consistently when taskbar icons are left-aligned. Additional reliability improvements affect desktop switching, application launches, and acrylic blur effects.

Networking and VPN Compatibility Get Better

Windows 11 26H1 Build 28000.2597 improves virtual machine networking and SR-IOV performance.

It also reduces Wi-Fi-related crashes, improves cellular connectivity, enhances IPv6 VPN compatibility, strengthens support for third-party VPN services, and better preserves network adapter settings during OS upgrades.

Windows Subsystem for Linux users should also experience more reliable mirrored networking when connected through a VPN.

New Printers Use IPP by Default

Windows 11 will now use Internet Printing Protocol by default when a newly installed printer supports it.

This change is intended to simplify printer setup and improve communication reliability without relying on older connection methods.

Touchpad Right-Click Zones Become Customizable

A new touchpad setting allows users to adjust the size of the right-click zone, with options ranging from Default to Small, Medium, and Large. The update also improves English character recognition when using Japanese handwriting input.

Display and Color Profile Reliability Improvements

Microsoft has addressed rendering issues that could occur while scrolling in applications stretched across multiple monitors.

Color profiles should now remain active more consistently, reducing cases where customized display settings disappear or fail to apply.

PCs With More RAM Can Run Larger Local AI Models

The graphics kernel now includes improved memory management for computers with more than 32 GB of RAM.

This enhancement allows supported PCs to run larger local AI models by making better use of available system memory.

Additional Windows 11 Reliability Fixes

Build 28000.2597 includes several other improvements, including better reliability for the built-in HD Audio driver, faster shutdown of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and improved reliability for Search-related group policies. It also fixes unexpected UAC prompts affecting some apps and installers.

The update also refreshes the Remote Desktop enablement dialog in Settings, grays out location options when Location Services is disabled, and improves app launching and overall system responsiveness in various scenarios.

Windows 11 26H1 Beta Build Is Also Available

Users who want to test additional upcoming Windows 11 features can also install the latest Windows 11 26H1 Insider Beta build.

Because Microsoft is delivering Release Preview features gradually, availability may vary depending on the device, configuration, and rollout stage.