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Build 26090

Build 26090: Windows Insider Dev Channel, March 2024. Widgets navigation and SMB connection auditing

In short

Build 26090 for the Canary and Dev Channels restarts the Widgets navigation rollout, adds SMB client controls and auditing, and fixes several reliability issues.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels receive Build 26090. The Build 26090.112 servicing update is rolling out to Dev Channel Insiders.

Build
26090
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (2) Read notes
  • Known issues Microsoft is investigating reports that some Canary and Dev Insiders are stuck on Build 26040 or 23620, and some Insiders report shutdown still does not work after Build 26085. In the updated Copilot experience that can act as a normal app, voice access does not work reliably, Windows Ink does not work, Copilot may not fill a wide docked panel, and keyboard users may not be able to focus the “…” or refresh buttons.
  • In detail In the updated Copilot experience that can act as a normal app, voice access does not work reliably and Windows Ink does not work.

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 6 changes

Servicing pipeline

Gradual rollout
  • Build 26090.112 is rolling out to Dev Channel Insiders as a servicing-pipeline test; it adds nothing new.1
    Cumulative Update Build 26090.112 (KB5037477).

Insider channels

For: Canary Channel Insiders considering a switch to Dev

  • While Canary and Dev are on the same build, Canary Insiders can switch to Dev. This is temporary; the window closes when Canary moves to higher builds.2

Widgets board

Gradual rollout

For: Canary Channel Insiders

  • A new navigation bar on the left lets you switch between My Widgets and other dashboards, such as Discover.3

Desktop watermark

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • The build watermark is absent from the desktop in this build and is expected to return in future Insider Preview builds.4
    The post says this is part of preparing Windows 11, version 24H2, for release and does not mean development is complete.

Copilot in Windows

For: Insiders using Copilot in Windows with a local account

  • With a local account, you can ask Copilot for help ten times after signing in. After that, you must sign in with a Microsoft account or Microsoft Entra ID; some Copilot features might not work if you do not.5
    Applies to Copilot in Windows (in preview).

Delivery Optimization settings

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • The Delivery Optimization settings page has returned to its previous design; the redesigned page is planned to return in a future build after bugs are fixed.6
    Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization.

Fixes 6 changes

Video playback and games

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • Video stutters in some apps are fixed, which might also improve FPS in some games.7

Taskbar and system tray

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • The taskbar is more reliable after a crash that affected it is fixed.8
    Fixes an explorer.exe crash affecting taskbar reliability.

File Explorer

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • Some Insiders no longer see File Explorer unexpectedly switch to its previous design without tabs.9

Task Manager

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • Processes stop when you close their apps, even if Task Manager has been open.10
    Fixes Task Manager sometimes holding onto process handles.

Windowing

2 items

For: Canary and Dev Channel Insiders

  • The bottom half of secondary monitors is usable again when maximizing app windows.11
  • Dragging windows no longer causes the recent crash for some Insiders.12
    Fixes an explorer.exe crash.

New features 4 changes

SMB over QUIC

2 items
  • Administrators can disable the SMB over QUIC client using Group Policy or PowerShell.13
    PowerShell: Set-SmbClientConfiguration -EnableSMBQUIC $false. Group Policy setting: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Lanman Workstation\Enable SMB over QUIC.
  • Successful SMB over QUIC client connections are now recorded in the event log, including the QUIC transport.14
    SMBClient\Connectivity events are available in Event Viewer as Event ID 30832.

SMB signing and encryption

  • Administrators can audit whether SMB clients or servers support signing and encryption.15
    Group Policy settings cover auditing when a server does not support encryption or signing, and when a client does not support encryption or signing. PowerShell: Set-SmbClientConfiguration -AuditServerDoesNotSupportEncryption $true; Set-SmbClientConfiguration -AuditServerDoesNotSupportSigning $true; Set-SmbServerConfiguration -AuditClientDoesNotSupportEncryption $true; Set-SmbServerConfiguration -AuditClientDoesNotSupportSigning $true. Events: SMBClient\Audit IDs 31998 and 31999; SMBServer\Audit IDs 3021 and 3022.

Windows SDK

For: Developers

  • SDK NuGet packages are available for more targeted access to Windows SDK components and integration in CI/CD pipelines.16
    Packages include .NET TFM, C++, and BuildTools packages. SDK flights are published for both Canary and Dev Channels.

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2024-03-28
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
— 26090 Dev Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (16)
  1. 1. UPDATE 3/29: We are starting to roll out Cumulative Update Build 26090.112 (KB5037477) to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. This update does not include anything new and is designed to test our servicing pipeline. blogs.windows.com
  2. 2. During the times in which the Canary and Dev Channels are on the same builds (e.g. Build 26090), the window is open for Insiders in the Canary Channel to switch to the Dev Channel. blogs.windows.com
  3. 3. Those improvements include introducing a new navigation bar on the left allowing you to switch between a dedicated widgets dashboard and other integrated dashboards like Discover. blogs.windows.com
  4. 4. The build watermark at the lower right-hand corner of the desktop is not present in this build and will return in future Insider Preview builds. blogs.windows.com
  5. 5. You can ask Copilot in Windows (in preview) for help ten times when you sign in to Windows using a local account. blogs.windows.com
  6. 6. The redesigned version of the Delivery Optimization settings page under Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization that was first introduced in Build 25987 has been reverted to the previous design starting with Build 26085. blogs.windows.com
  7. 7. Fixed an issue which was causing video stutters in some apps (and possibly impacting FPS in some games) in the previous flight. blogs.windows.com
  8. 8. Fixed an explorer.exe crash that was impacting taskbar reliability. blogs.windows.com
  9. 9. Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see File Explorer unexpectedly using the previous design and have no tabs in the latest builds. blogs.windows.com
  10. 10. Fixed an issue where Task Manager was holding onto process handles sometimes, leading to processes not stopping when you closed apps if you’d had Task Manager open. blogs.windows.com
  11. 11. Fixed an underlying issue which was causing the bottom half of secondary monitors to be unusable sometimes in recent builds (app windows wouldn’t maximize to that area). blogs.windows.com
  12. 12. Fixed an explorer.exe crash which was happening for some Insiders recently when dragging windows. blogs.windows.com
  13. 13. Administrators can now disable the SMB over QUIC client with Group Policy and PowerShell. blogs.windows.com
  14. 14. Successful SMB over QUIC client connection events are now written to the event log to include the QUIC transport. blogs.windows.com
  15. 15. Administrators can now enable auditing of the SMB server and client for support of SMB signing and encryption. blogs.windows.com
  16. 16. These NuGet packages provide more granular access to the SDK and better integration in CI/CD pipelines. blogs.windows.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 16 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 3/5. 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