Skip to the content
The Update Bureau
Windows 11 Windows 11 Insider Future platforms Insider Preview, Experimental Channel
Windows Insider

Build 29708.1001

Build 29708.1001: Windows Insider Experimental Channel, November 2026. Cloud rebuild reinstalls Windows even when a PC will not boot

In short

Cloud rebuild can reinstall Windows even when a PC will not boot, and personal Windows Hello PIN setup changes. These changes are rolling out to Insiders in the Experimental Channel.

Does it affect you? Applies to: Devices enrolled in the Experimental Channel. The listed changes are rolling out gradually.

Build
29708.1001
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (1) Read note
  • What changes The Windows Hello PIN setup experience is also updated for work accounts, but their PIN requirements remain unchanged.

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

New features 3 changes

Remote Lock

Gradual rollout

For: IT admins managing Windows devices

  • IT can lock a lost, stolen, or compromised Windows device remotely without erasing it. The user can resume after an admin unlocks it.1
    Admins can use Microsoft Intune to lock the device. Windows signs out active sessions, hides sign-in options, and shows a Device Locked screen. The device stays enrolled and managed, BitLocker stays on, and user data stays in place.

Windows Recovery

Gradual rollout

For: Windows users recovering a PC

  • Cloud rebuild reinstalls Windows to a clean state, even if the PC will not start.2
    Cloud rebuild downloads the target Windows image and device drivers from Windows Update. It does not need USB media, a custom image, or a working installed OS.

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: People managing WebP files in File Explorer

  • You can add tags and other metadata to WebP files.3

Fixes 2 changes

Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: Insiders using app preview windows

  • App preview windows no longer get slower to use over time.4

General reliability

Gradual rollout
  • Some Insiders see fewer green screens with a specific error.5
    Fixes an issue causing increased bug checks with error DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

Improvements 2 changes

Windows Hello

Gradual rollout

For: People setting up Windows Hello PINs

  • Personal Windows Hello PINs have updated setup rules. Work-account requirements stay the same.6
    Personal-account PINs require at least six digits, with an option to use four. Prohibited number sequences, letters, and special characters are not required. Work-account requirements are unchanged.

Unicode

Gradual rollout

For: People using languages and writing systems with newly encoded characters

  • Windows can display and shape newly encoded characters and scripts in Unicode 17.0.7
    Unicode 17.0 adds 4,803 characters, including four scripts: Beria Erfe, Sidetic, Tai Yo, and Tolong Siki.

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2026-11-13
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
— 29708.1001 Experimental Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (7)
  1. 1. Remote Lock lets IT lock a lost, stolen or compromised Windows device from Microsoft Intune without wiping it. learn.microsoft.com
  2. 2. We're introducing Cloud rebuild, a new recovery option that restores a Windows 11 PC to a clean, known-good state by performing a full OS reinstall, even when Windows won't boot. learn.microsoft.com
  3. 3. Added the ability to add tags and other metadata to WebP files. learn.microsoft.com
  4. 4. Fixed a recent issue where interacting with the app preview windows would get slower and slower over time. learn.microsoft.com
  5. 5. Fixed an issue which was causing some Insiders to see an increase in bug checks (green screens) with error DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. learn.microsoft.com
  6. 6. For personal accounts, PINs now require a minimum of six digits, with an option to use four digits, and no longer require additional complexity such as prohibited number sequences, letters, or special characters. learn.microsoft.com
  7. 7. This update provides Windows text shaping support for Unicode 17.0, helping Windows correctly display and shape newly encoded characters and scripts. learn.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 7 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 5/5, 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