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Windows 11 Windows 11 Insider 26H2 Insider Preview, Experimental Channel
Windows Insider

Build 26300.8553

Build 26300.8553: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, May 2026. Start menu controls and substring search for files

In short

Experimental Channel Insiders get more Start menu customization, file search by part of a name or its contents, and taskbar changes, including a fix for visual issues in alternate positions.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Devices enrolled in the Experimental Channel. The notes also apply to the Dev Channel, formerly known as Experimental, though some Dev Channel Insiders may not yet have transitioned to the new channel name.

Build
26300.8553
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (1) Read note
  • Does it affect you? Experimental was formerly known as the Dev Channel. Some Insiders in Dev may not yet have transitioned to Experimental.

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

Start menu

Gradual rollout 5 items

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • The “Recommended” section is renamed “Recent” in Start and its Settings page.1
  • Separate controls let you show or hide Pinned, Recommended, and All sections.2
  • You can choose a small or large Start menu, alongside the existing Automatic setting.3
  • An option lets you hide your name and profile picture in Start.4
  • The Start menu settings page is redesigned.5

Search

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Search finds files when you type part of a compound name or content, such as “april” or “status.”6

Fixes 2 changes

Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using the taskbar in alternate positions

  • Visual polish issues with the taskbar in alternate positions are fixed.7

Reset PC

For: Insiders resetting their PC

  • The notes mark the issue where Reset this PC may get stuck as fixed. The notes say to choose Cloud download instead of local to complete the reset.8

New feature 1 change

Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using the taskbar in alternate positions

  • A touch swipe can bring up the taskbar when it is in an alternate position.9

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2026-05-29
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
26H2 26300.8553 Experimental Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (9)
  1. 1. Renamed "Recommended" section to "Recent" in Start and Settings page learn.microsoft.com
  2. 2. Section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recommended, and All. learn.microsoft.com
  3. 3. Choose between a small and large Start menu, in addition to "Automatic (default)" setting option that's already available today learn.microsoft.com
  4. 4. The option to hide your name and profile picture in Start learn.microsoft.com
  5. 5. Redesigned Start menu settings page learn.microsoft.com
  6. 6. Files with compound names or content (e.g., MeetingNotesApril, ProjectStatusReport) are now easily discoverable by typing “april” or “status”. learn.microsoft.com
  7. 7. Fixed a few small visual polish issues when using the taskbar in alternate positions. learn.microsoft.com
  8. 8. [Fixed] Resetting your PC may get stuck when using "Reset this PC." To complete the reset successfully, choose the cloud download option (Cloud PBR) instead of local. learn.microsoft.com
  9. 9. You can now use a touch swipe to invoke the taskbar when using alternate taskbar positions. learn.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 9 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 3/5, 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