Windows 11 26200 build reimagines the operating system without its iconic loading circle

Microsoft released the Preview Build 26200 for Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary Channel, and the Redmond-based tech giant brought some important widget improvements to the operating system.

Every time someone gets a notification on Windows 11, the widget will display it with an animation letting users know that they have unread notifications. As the new enhancement can be disruptive to the Windows 11 experience, the Redmond-based tech giant allows users to enable/disable it at will.

However, the 26200 build plagues Windows 11 with another disruptive bug: the iconic Windows loading circle does not appear when booting the operating system.

Spotted by Windows Insider, @XenoPanther, it seems that the bug is widespread, with many other insiders claiming that their system would boot up without showing the Windows 11 loading circle.

yes. and it skips and boots faster than 26100.

X user

When booting to the new Windows 11 version in the Canary channel, the bug causes the operating system to skip the loading circle moment altogether, and open Windows 11 lock screen. Some users were clearly distressed by the new bug, which reimagines the OS without one of its defining moments.

While this is a bug that will most likely get fixed with next week’s Insider build, it does show up something interesting: Microsoft should never deprecate the iconic loading screen, as many Windows users are already so used to it, the whole experience with the operating system just doesn’t feel as complete.

It’s good to know that these builds are experimental so they’re prone to a lot of issues, errors, and malfunctions, but Microsoft hasn’t officially stated anywhere that it’s retiring the famous icon. So, for now, Windows 11 is safe.

But can you imagine a Windows version where this icon won’t be here anymore? That’s quite depressing, in a way. Let’s hope Microsoft keeps the loading circle around.