Build 26220.8491: Windows Insider Beta Channel, May 2026. Voice Isolation and screen tint come to accessibility settings

Beta Channel Insiders get Voice Isolation in Voice Access and a screen tint setting, alongside fixes for Explorer crashes, duplicate Energy Saver controls, and unexpected muting.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Devices enrolled in the Windows Insider Program in the Beta Channel.

This is a test build for people in the Windows Insider Program. Features in it can change, be removed, or never reach regular Windows releases.

What changes

Fixes 4 changes

explorer.exe

A cyclical crash that could make the screen or taskbar blink and repeatedly refresh should be resolved.¹

Energy Saver

For: Some Beta Channel Insiders

The Energy Saver quick setting no longer appears twice for some Insiders.²

Audio

Audio is no longer unexpectedly muted on certain devices.³

Reset this PC

For: Beta Channel Insiders resetting their PC

The PC reset issue is marked fixed. If a reset gets stuck, the notes recommend choosing cloud download instead of local reset.⁴

New features 2 changes

Voice Access

For: Voice Access users in the Beta Channel

Voice Isolation filters nearby speakers and background noise so Voice Access can better understand you. Setup takes about a minute, and your voice data stays on your device.⁵
Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition now offers Voice Isolation, Remove background noise only, and No filtering.

Accessibility

For: Beta Channel Insiders who want to reduce screen intensity

Screen tint applies a color overlay across the display to reduce its intensity. You can choose a preset or custom color and adjust its strength; screen tint and color filters cannot be on at the same time.⁶
Find screen tint in Settings > Accessibility > Vision, or press Win + U. It can be used alongside Night light.

Technical details

Data sheet · Security · Downloads · Components Click to collapse or expand

Data sheet

Released: 2026-05-22
Type: Windows Insider build

Version	Build	Channel
—	26220.8491	Beta Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Windows Insider release notes

Updated Oct 26, 2026

Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (6)

1. If you were experiencing a cyclical explorer.exe crash after the previous flight (which may have looked like the screen or taskbar was blinking and repeatedly refreshing), that should be resolved after updating to this build. learn.microsoft.com
2. Fixed an issue causing the Energy Saver quick setting to show twice for some Insiders in recent flights. learn.microsoft.com
3. Fixed an issue resulting in the audio volume being unexpectedly muted on certain devices in recent flights. learn.microsoft.com
4. [Fixed] Resetting your PC may get stuck when using "Reset this PC." To complete the reset successfully, choose the cloud download option learn.microsoft.com
5. We're introducing Voice Isolation, a new option in Voice Access that helps it focus on your voice, even when others are speaking nearby. learn.microsoft.com
6. We're introducing screen tint, a new accessibility setting that applies a color overlay across your entire display, softening its intensity so it's easier on your eyes throughout the day. learn.microsoft.com

Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 6 quoted passages

Quotes found in the official pages: passed
Numbers found in the sources: passed
Vulnerabilities from the dossier only: passed
Links to allowed domains only: passed
Every official change covered: passed
Readable plain text: passed
Changes confirmed by the file list: passed
Sources agree: passed

A second AI read the text against the sources: correctness 5/5, clarity 5/5, completeness 4/5. How we work

Published by The Update Bureau. Written with AI from Microsoft's own documents, checked by rules and a second AI. How we work · Report a mistake