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Windows 11 Windows 11 Insider 25H2 Insider Preview, Beta Channel
Windows Insider

Build 26220.9739

Build 26220.9739: Windows Insider Beta Channel, October 2026. Independent Magnifier views and easier gaming controls

In short

Adds independent Magnifier zoom and screen locking, refreshes Gaming Task View controls, and includes changes to Settings, File Explorer, family safety, and shutdown reliability.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Devices enrolled in the Beta Channel. The build is based on Windows 11, version 25H2, and uses an enablement package.

Build
26220.9739
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (1) Read note
  • What changes The expansion to additional markets is for Windows Insiders signed in with a Microsoft account. The notes separately mention a preview on Settings Home for IT-managed PCs signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID.

The official sources are linked at the end of the page.

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

Improvements 4 changes

Gaming

For: Insiders using XBOX mode

  • Gaming Task View in XBOX mode has a new navigation bar for quick access to Exit to Desktop and Power Options.1

File Explorer

For: People searching in File Explorer

  • File name, location, and date appear in a consistent layout on the search results page, making results easier to scan.2

Family Safety

For: Families using age-restricted parental controls

  • Messages are improved when parental controls block an age-restricted app.3

Shutdown

For: Windows Insiders

  • Shutdown is more reliable, reducing the chance of a hang in certain cases.4

New features 3 changes

Magnifier

2 items

For: People using Magnifier with multiple displays

  • Each display can have its own zoom level, and the magnified view stays within that display.5
    Per-monitor zoom is on by default. Turn it off in the Magnifier toolbar or Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier to restore a single zoom spanning all displays.
  • You can lock a display's magnified view in place while continuing to interact with that screen.6
    Press Ctrl + Windows key + K with the pointer on the display to lock or unlock its view. Press Windows key + Esc to release all locks. The shortcut can be changed to Ctrl + Alt + P in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.

Settings - Home

For: Windows Insiders using Settings Home, including Microsoft-account users and people on IT-managed PCs signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID

  • The Device Info Card is expanding to additional markets globally. The notes also mention its preview on Settings Home for IT-managed PCs signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID.7
    The card provides a snapshot of key PC specifications and usage and links to Settings > System > About for more information.

Fix 1 change

System messages

For: Windows Insiders

  • Dialogs for some system messages, such as low battery and permissions, should use the expected modern design again.8

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2026-10-16
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
— 26220.9739 Beta Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (8)
  1. 1. We're introducing a refreshed Gaming Task View experience in XBOX mode, featuring a new navigation bar that provides quick access to Exit to Desktop and Power Options. learn.microsoft.com
  2. 2. Key file information, such as name, location, and date, now appears in a consistent layout on the File Explorer search results page, making search results easier to scan. learn.microsoft.com
  3. 3. Improved family safety messaging when applications are blocked because of age-restricted parental controls. learn.microsoft.com
  4. 4. Improved shutdown reliability, reducing the chance of a hang on shutdown in certain cases. learn.microsoft.com
  5. 5. With this update, each monitor's boundary is respected, and each monitor can have its own zoom percentage. learn.microsoft.com
  6. 6. The locked screen stays fully live and interactive, so you can glance back, click, or copy from it whenever you need to, and its view stays put until you release it. learn.microsoft.com
  7. 7. We're beginning to expand the new Device Info Card experience for Settings Home to additional markets globally. learn.microsoft.com
  8. 8. The dialog for certain system messages, like low battery and permissions, should use the expected modern design again. learn.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 8 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 4/5, clarity 4/5, completeness 5/5. 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