Build 26300.8289: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, April 2026. More Windows Update controls and better taskbar-edge Start detection

Dev Channel Insiders transitioning to Experimental get new Windows Update controls, changes to Start menu detection, and several fixes and improvements.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Dev Channel Insiders receiving build 26300.8289 as the channel transitions to Experimental.

Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (2) Read notes

In detail Windows Update provides always-available options to shut down or restart with updating.
What changes Windows Update provides always-available options to shut down or restart with updating.

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

Windows Insider Program channel movement

Gradual rollout

Dev Channel Insiders are moving to the new Experimental channel in phases.¹
Insiders who do not see the new experience can enable it under Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags.

Print Drivers

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders

The Internet Protocol Print driver gets new hardware IDs ahead of changes to printer driver ranking.²
The driver is prnms012; the new hardware IDs prepare for upcoming changes in printer driver ranking order.

Start menu

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders

Clicking the taskbar’s left edge is more reliably detected to open Start when the taskbar icons are aligned left.³

Times New Roman

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders

Times New Roman better supports combining diacritical marks in Greek and Cyrillic text.⁴
The update improves support across the Greek and Cyrillic Unicode ranges.

New features 4 changes

Windows Update

Gradual rollout 4 items

For: Dev Channel Insiders

You can skip updates immediately during the out-of-box experience.⁵
You can extend update pauses as many times as needed.⁵
Options to shut down or restart while updating are always available.⁵
You can see more information about available updates before deciding whether to install them.⁵

Fix 1 change

Group Policy Editor

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders

The unexpected error that appeared when opening Group Policy Editor in recent Insider builds is gone.⁶

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released: 2026-04-24
Type: Windows Insider build

Version	Build	Channel
26H2	26300.8289	Experimental 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. This will be a phased roll out and Insiders who do not see the new experience on their device but want to, can enable the experience under Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags. learn.microsoft.com
2. The Internet Protocol Print driver (prnms012) has new hardware IDs (HWIDs) in preparation for upcoming changes in printer driver ranking order. learn.microsoft.com
3. Improved detection of clicks at the leftmost edge of the taskbar to invoke start menu when the taskbar icons are set to left aligned. learn.microsoft.com
4. We’re updated Times New Roman to improve support for combining diacritical marks across the Greek and Cyrillic Unicode ranges. learn.microsoft.com
5. - Ability to skip updates immediately during the out of box experience (OOBE) - Extend update pauses as many times as you need - Always available options to shutdown and restart with updating - More insight on available updates to make more informed installation decisions learn.microsoft.com
6. Removed unexpected error that was showing when opening Group Policy Editor in the last couple Insider flights. 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 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