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Windows 11 Windows 11 Insider 26H1 Insider Preview, Experimental Channel
Windows Insider

Build 28120.3272

Build 28120.3272: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, October 2026. Search controls and a new Pointer Indicator setting

In short

Build 28120.3272 is rolling out Search changes, Pointer Indicator, and other improvements to the Experimental Channel. It also fixes crashes in some apps and games.

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

Build
28120.3272

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 5 changes

Search

Gradual rollout 2 items

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Search home has less visual clutter and makes it easier to return to recent searches.1
  • Search results make it clearer whether they come from an app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion.2

Live Captions

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders who use Live Captions and screen readers

  • A new setting, off by default, keeps Live Captions from transcribing screen-reader audio, so captions focus on microphone and system audio.3
    The setting is named Include Screen Reader audio. Screen readers named in the notes include Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA.

Settings - Privacy & security

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • Camera, Microphone, and Location privacy controls are easier to find, and related usage information appears on the Privacy & security page.4

Family Safety

Gradual rollout

For: Families using age-restricted parental controls

  • Messages are improved when age-restricted parental controls block an application.5

New features 2 changes

Search

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental Channel

  • A new setting lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear with local results.6
    The setting is in Settings > Privacy & security > Search.

Pointer Indicator

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders with low vision

  • People with low vision can use Pointer Indicator to locate and use the cursor more easily.7
    Enable Pointer indicator in Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. When enabled, the feature can be toggled with Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + X.

Fix 1 change

Other

Gradual rollout
  • Some apps and games stop crashing because of an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll.8
    Fixes an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll that was leading to some apps and games crashing.

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2026-10-16
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
— 28120.3272 Experimental Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (8)
  1. 1. Search home has been simplified to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to get back to recent searches quickly. learn.microsoft.com
  2. 2. Search does a better job showing where a result comes from, whether it's an app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion, so it's easier to tell what you're looking at and where you'll go before you click. learn.microsoft.com
  3. 3. With the setting off, Live Captions won't transcribe audio from screen readers such as Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, keeping captions focused on microphone and system audio. learn.microsoft.com
  4. 4. The improved Privacy & security page in Windows Settings helps you find the Camera, Microphone, and Location privacy controls more easily. learn.microsoft.com
  5. 5. Improved family safety messaging when applications are blocked because of age-restricted parental controls. learn.microsoft.com
  6. 6. A new setting in Settings > Privacy & security > Search lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results. learn.microsoft.com
  7. 7. This feature enables Windows users with low vision to easily locate and use their cursor to increase productivity and efficiency when using a Windows device. learn.microsoft.com
  8. 8. Fixed an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll which was leading to some apps and games crashing recently. learn.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 8 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 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