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

Build 28120.3393

Build 28120.3393: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, October 2026. Windows Search adds phone actions and AutoPlay gets a new look

In short

Windows Search adds controls, phone actions, richer results, and filters; AutoPlay gets a refreshed dialog. These changes are rolling out gradually to Experimental Channel Insiders.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Windows Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) Channel running this build. Features are rolling out gradually to a subset of Insiders before wider availability.

Build
28120.3393
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (3) Read notes
  • What changes Search actions are more clearly labeled, and suggested actions help users discover other things they can do.
  • What changes The refreshed AutoPlay experience is more responsive to text scaling and display settings.
  • What to do Before the prompt-based flow retires, decrypt or migrate existing prompt-protected data.

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 11 changes

Windows Search

Gradual rollout 4 items

For: Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) Channel

  • Search can preview files and show details like their modified date, location, and author. It can also show web answers, apps, and games; you can turn Store app results on or off in Search settings.1
    Store app results can be toggled in Settings > Privacy & security > Search.
  • Search lets you scroll through more results and filter them by type, including files, folders, settings, and actions.2
  • You can rate Search results and suggestions, remove items from the first Search view, and see small visual changes based on feedback.3
  • The new Search opens at the bottom center of the screen. Support for other taskbar positions and Search from Start is still in progress.4

AutoPlay

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) Channel

  • The AutoPlay dialog has a refreshed look, supports dark mode and text scaling, and keeps its familiar actions. Its alerts now appear in the notification center.5
    The dialog is rebuilt with WinUI.

Security key sign-in

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using security keys

  • The security key PIN screen no longer shows the “other user” icon.6

File Explorer

Gradual rollout 4 items
  • File Explorer Home opens faster and responds better.7
  • You can scroll through the Recommended section on Home with touch.8
  • File sizes in Details view now use KB, MB, or GB units instead of showing every size in KB.9
  • Cloud file thumbnail previews in the Details pane are more reliable. The pane is also reorganized to make file properties easier to find.10

Windows design

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) Channel

  • Solid donut spinners are temporarily rolled back in Boot, Logon, Restart, Shutdown, and Update while work continues on a bug.11

New features 5 changes

Windows Search

Gradual rollout 2 items
  • Search results can show sliders to change volume, screen brightness, or cursor size.12
  • With a supported phone linked through Phone Link, Search can start calls, send texts, and access phone actions like Do Not Disturb. Android works now; iPhone support is planned for early next year.13

Data Protection API (DPAPI)

Gradual rollout

For: People or apps using prompt-based data protection

  • A warning appears before prompt-based data protection actions. It says this prompt-based flow will retire in April 2027.14
    The warning applies to prompt-based protect and unprotect operations. DPAPI operations that do not use prompts are not affected.

Gaming Task View

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using XBOX mode

  • In XBOX mode, a new navigation bar gives quicker access to Exit to Desktop and Power Options.15

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using File Explorer tabs

  • You can middle-click a folder in the Address Bar or on Home to open it in a new tab.16

Fix 1 change

File Explorer Address Bar

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders in the Experimental (26H1) Channel

  • The Address Bar keeps its contents when you enter edit mode by clicking near its right end.17

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2026-10-30
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
— 28120.3393 Experimental Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (17)
  1. 1. Richer results: Preview files and see details such as a file's last modified date, location, and author. Get web answers for weather, stocks, and facts, and discover apps and games from the Microsoft Store. learn.microsoft.com
  2. 2. Result filters: Scroll to see more results and filter by Files & Folders, Settings, Actions, and more. learn.microsoft.com
  3. 3. Feedback controls: Right-click a result or suggestion and choose thumbs up or thumbs down to tell us whether it was helpful. learn.microsoft.com
  4. 4. As noted in our blog post, the new Windows Search opens at the bottom center of the screen. Work is underway to have it adapt to different taskbar positions and when using search from the Start menu. learn.microsoft.com
  5. 5. Rebuilt with WinUI, the refreshed experience is more consistent with the rest of Windows, supports dark mode, and continues to provide the familiar AutoPlay actions you use today. learn.microsoft.com
  6. 6. We've updated the security key PIN entry experience, removing the "other user" icon for a clearer sign-in experience. learn.microsoft.com
  7. 7. Launching File Explorer Home is now faster and more responsive. learn.microsoft.com
  8. 8. The Recommended section on Home now supports touch scrolling, making it easier to browse files in the carousel. learn.microsoft.com
  9. 9. File sizes in the Details view now display appropriate units (KB, MB, GB) instead of KB-only, making them easier to understand at a glance. learn.microsoft.com
  10. 10. This update improves the reliability of thumbnail previews for cloud files in the Details pane. The pane has also been reorganized so file properties are easier to find and review at a glance. learn.microsoft.com
  11. 11. We are temporarily rolling back the solid (donut) spinners across some of the key Windows scenarios including Boot, Logon, Restart, Shutdown, and Update as we work on a bug. learn.microsoft.com
  12. 12. Inline actions: Adjust your volume, screen brightness, or cursor size with inline sliders. learn.microsoft.com
  13. 13. Phone actions: With a supported phone connected through Phone Link, you can now call or text a friend and access phone actions such as Do Not Disturb. Android support is available now with iPhone support coming early next year. learn.microsoft.com
  14. 14. This update adds a warning before prompt-based protect and unprotect operations. The warning explains that this prompt-based experience will be retired in April 2027. learn.microsoft.com
  15. 15. We're introducing a refreshed Gaming Task View experience in XBOX mode, featuring a new navigation bar that provides quick access to Exit to Desktop and Power Options. learn.microsoft.com
  16. 16. Middle-click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the Address Bar and the Home page for a more consistent and efficient tabbed navigation experience across File Explorer. learn.microsoft.com
  17. 17. This update addresses an issue that caused the Address Bar contents to be cleared when entering edit mode by clicking near the right end of the bar. 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 3/5. 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