Build 28120.2824: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, August 2026. Desktop wallpaper improvements and automatic Wi-Fi in recovery

Adds saved Wi-Fi support in Windows Recovery Environment and improves desktop backgrounds, File Explorer Home, Magnifier, and emoji.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Devices running this build in the Experimental (26H1) Channel of the Windows Insider Program.

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 12 changes

Personalization > Background

Gradual rollout 5 items

The Background page in Settings works more reliably.¹
Desktop slideshow transitions work more reliably on newly created accounts.²
Background previews show more detail when you choose a desktop background.³
The desktop background preview in Settings displays better on portrait-mode monitors.⁴
Desktop wallpaper changes are processed more reliably when they happen in quick succession.⁵

Print Management

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using Print Management

The modernized Print Management experience is temporarily unavailable in Insider builds while it is refined. Existing Print Management tools remain available.⁶

File Explorer Home

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using File Explorer Home

File Explorer Home remembers whether its sections are expanded or collapsed, so you can return to the same layout.⁷

Magnifier

Gradual rollout 2 items

For: Insiders using Magnifier

Magnifier’s toolbar has updated icons that match the Windows 11 visual design.⁸
Magnifier’s toolbar has more consistent spacing and padding.⁹

Emoji

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using the emoji panel

The designs of some existing emoji are adjusted, including the saluting face, face with peeking eye, goose, lotus, and kissing cat.¹⁰

Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using the taskbar

The system tray area of the taskbar loads more reliably.¹¹

Run

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using the modern Run dialog

The modern Run dialog is more reliable the first time you open it.¹²

New features 4 changes

Personalization > Background

Gradual rollout 2 items

You can use DIB image files as desktop backgrounds.¹³
Adds support for DIB image files as desktop backgrounds.
Slideshow wallpapers work across multiple desktops without automatically switching back to Picture.¹⁴

Windows Recovery Environment

Gradual rollout

For: Devices that need network access during recovery

During a recovery workflow that needs internet access, Windows Recovery Environment can automatically use eligible Wi-Fi profiles already saved in Windows.¹⁵
Supports eligible saved Wi-Fi profiles, including supported certificate-based Wi-Fi networks. The capability is enabled by default; IT administrators can disable it.

Emoji

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using the emoji panel

Emoji 17.0 adds new emoji, including a distorted face, fight cloud, and hairy creature.¹⁶

Fix 1 change

Personalization > Background

Gradual rollout

Some Insiders no longer see their wallpaper turn black after every reboot.¹⁷

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released: 2026-08-31
Type: Windows Insider build

Version	Build	Channel
—	28120.2824	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 (17)

1. Improved reliability of the Personalization > Background page in Settings. learn.microsoft.com
2. Improved reliability of desktop slideshow transitions on newly created accounts. learn.microsoft.com
3. Improved the resolution of previews when selecting a desktop background in Personalization > Background. learn.microsoft.com
4. Improved the desktop background preview display in Settings for users with portrait mode monitors. learn.microsoft.com
5. Improved reliability of processing desktop wallpaper changes when they happen in quick succession. learn.microsoft.com
6. The existing Print Management tools remain available and are unaffected. learn.microsoft.com
7. File Explorer Home now preserves the state of sections (expanded or collapsed), so you can pick up where you left off. learn.microsoft.com
8. We've updated Magnifier's toolbar icons to align with Windows 11 visual design learn.microsoft.com
9. We've adjusted the padding and spacing across the toolbar for a more polished, consistent layout. learn.microsoft.com
10. This includes the saluting face, face with peeking eye, goose, lotus, and kissing cat emoji. learn.microsoft.com
11. Improved reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar. learn.microsoft.com
12. We’ve improved first launch reliability for Insiders using the modern Run dialog. learn.microsoft.com
13. Added support for using DIB image files as desktop backgrounds. learn.microsoft.com
14. Added support for using slideshow wallpapers with multiple desktops so that it won't automatically switch you back to Picture. learn.microsoft.com
15. WinRE can use saved Wi-Fi profile information when a recovery workflow requires connectivity learn.microsoft.com
16. This includes new emoji such as distorted face, fight cloud, and hairy creature. learn.microsoft.com
17. Fixed an issue that caused some Insiders to see their wallpaper go black after every reboot in the previous flight. learn.microsoft.com

Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 17 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