Windows 11 KB5077241 Preview Update Rolls Out With Build Number Changes

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Builds 26100.7921 and 26200.7921 under the same KB5077241 package. Both updates appear to deliver identical features, with only the build numbers changed.

Keen-eyed users noticed that while the KB number remains the same, the build numbers have changed. The update previously appeared as Builds 26100.7918 and 26200.7918, but Microsoft has now bumped them to 26100.7921 and 26200.7921 without altering the feature set, leaving it unclear whether the change was intentional or simply an internal publishing adjustment.

KB5077241 Comes With Same Features, Different Build Numbers

Microsoft did not highlight any functional differences between the two, suggesting this is effectively the same update deployed across separate branches.

As for the changes, both builds include the same improvements. Here’s a quick recap of what’s new:

User Experience & Interface

• Emoji 16.0 support adds a curated set of new emojis to the emoji panel.
• Widget Settings now opens as a full-page interface instead of a dialog window.
• Users can set .webp files as desktop backgrounds via Personalization or File Explorer.
• The Task Manager search process icon now displays a magnifying glass.
• A new Start menu account entry links directly to the Microsoft account benefits page.

Backup, Recovery & Deployment

• Windows Backup for Organizations introduces a first sign-in restore experience for Entra hybrid joined devices, Cloud PCs, and multi-user environments.
• Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) now automatically enables on non-domain joined Windows Pro devices that are not enterprise managed.

Taskbar, Search & Networking

• A built-in network speed test is accessible from the taskbar through Quick Settings or the system tray network icon.
• Taskbar overflow behavior improves when using uncombined taskbar mode with multiple app windows.

Security, Identity & System Monitoring

• Windows now supports Microsoft Entra ID group and role SID resolution for clearer permission visibility.
• Sysmon functionality integrates directly into Windows for enhanced system event logging and threat detection, though it remains disabled by default.

Camera, Devices & Sharing

• New camera settings allow pan and tilt control for supported devices inside the Settings app.
• Nearby Sharing reliability improves for large file transfers.
• Projecting reliability improves when opening the projection pane with Windows + P.

Settings & System Improvements

• Storage Settings dialogs have been modernized.
• Temporary file scanning performance improves.
• Windows Update Settings responsiveness improves.
• Login and lock screen reliability enhancements have been implemented.

File Explorer Improvements

• File Explorer adds an “Extract all” option in the command bar for non-ZIP archive folders.
• Shift-clicking or middle-clicking the File Explorer taskbar icon now correctly opens new instances.
• Network device display reliability in File Explorer improves.

Performance, Display & Printing

• Display performance improvements reduce resume-from-sleep time on heavily loaded systems.
• Laptop reliability improves when resuming from sleep while docked with the lid closed.
• Printing performance improves to prevent slowdowns during heavy workloads.

Miscellaneous Fixes

• Minor visual issues were addressed, including autohide taskbar behavior.
• Windows Security credential prompts received reliability fixes.
• The print dialog received stability improvements.

While the feature set focuses on refinements and reliability upgrades rather than major additions, the unusual use of the same KB number across two build versions has sparked curiosity. For now, both builds appear functionally identical despite their differing version numbers.