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Windows Insider

Build 26340.9616

Build 26340.9616: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, October 2026. Windows Search actions and a battery status widget

In short

Adds inline actions to Windows Search and a battery widget, and fixes several crashes and taskbar lag. These changes are for Windows Insiders, not everyday devices.

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

Build
26340.9616

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 Search

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Search is getting better at finding what you mean when you make a typo or use a synonym.1

Kerberos enhancements

Gradual rollout

For: Windows clients in the Experimental Channel

  • Windows authentication can work in situations where a direct connection to a domain controller is unavailable, reducing reliance on NTLM.2
    IAKerb, a Kerberos extension, is now enabled by default for Windows client.

Task Manager

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • An app’s resource use is easier to understand when its separate background processes appear together.3
    Process grouping can combine otherwise separate background processes into one category instead of relying only on parent-child trees. Microsoft Defender is the first app to use this capability.

Security

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using security key sign-in

  • The security key PIN screen has a clearer sign-in layout without the “other user” icon.4

New features 4 changes

Windows Search

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Search is getting a new layout with actions for tasks such as turning on Bluetooth, changing brightness, muting the device, or arranging windows.5
    The new experience is built on WinUI 3. English is the only supported language for this initial release. Restart the device after upgrading before the New Windows Search Experience feature flag is visible.

Battery status widget

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders on newer builds

  • A new widget shows battery levels for your PC and connected devices in one place.6
    Add it from Widgets board > Add widgets > Battery Status.

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • You can preview and install fonts from File Explorer and desktop context menus.7

Widgets

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Windows can alert you when an app installation makes a new widget available. Selecting the alert opens Widgets Board and highlights the widget so you can add it.8

Fixes 3 changes

Windows Update

Gradual rollout
  • Some Insiders with Windows Sandbox enabled can install the latest updates without error 0x80073712.9

Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: Some Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Taskbar app window previews no longer become slower and noticeably lag over time for some Insiders.10

Other

Gradual rollout
  • Some apps and games no longer crash because of an issue with an audio decoder.11
    Fixes an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll that caused some apps and games to crash.

Removal 1 change

Settings

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • The Settings icon no longer has a backplate when User Account Control is invoked from within Settings.12
    The backplate is removed from the Settings icon when UAC is invoked from within Settings.

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2026-10-07
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
— 26340.9616 Experimental Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (12)
  1. 1. We're improving how Windows Search understands what you're looking for, including better matching for typos and synonyms. learn.microsoft.com
  2. 2. IAKerb is now enabled by default for Windows client. IAKerb is a Kerberos extension that allows Windows authentication to succeed in scenarios where traditional Kerberos can't be used because a direct connection to a domain controller is unavailable. learn.microsoft.com
  3. 3. Task Manager is expanding process grouping to allow apps to combine otherwise separate background processes into a single unified category rather than relying solely on traditional parent-child trees. learn.microsoft.com
  4. 4. We've updated the security key PIN entry experience, removing the "other user" icon for a clearer sign-in experience. learn.microsoft.com
  5. 5. We're beginning to roll out a new Windows Search experience built on WinUI 3 that is faster, more efficient, and features a streamlined design that makes results easier to scan. We're also introducing inline actions learn.microsoft.com
  6. 6. This widget provides a unified view of battery levels for your PC and peripheral devices learn.microsoft.com
  7. 7. Added support for font preview and installation in the File Explorer and desktop context menus. learn.microsoft.com
  8. 8. Windows can now notify you when a new widget becomes available following app installation, making it easier to discover and add widgets to your Widgets Board. learn.microsoft.com
  9. 9. Fixed the issue causing some Insiders with Windows Sandbox enabled to get error 0x80073712 when attempting to install the latest updates. learn.microsoft.com
  10. 10. Fixed an issue impacting some Insiders recently, which was causing the taskbar app window previews to become slower and noticeably lag over time. learn.microsoft.com
  11. 11. Fixed an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll which was leading to some apps and games crashing recently. learn.microsoft.com
  12. 12. Removed the backplate from the Settings icon when UAC is invoked from within Settings. learn.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 12 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 4/5, 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