Skip to the content
The Update Bureau
Windows 11 Windows 11 Insider 25H2 Insider Preview, Dev Channel
Windows Insider

Build 26200.5603

Build 26200.5603: Windows Insider Dev Channel, May 2025. File Explorer AI actions and taskbar search updates

In short

Adds AI actions in File Explorer and changes to Advanced settings, widgets, search, and power use. It also fixes several crashes and other problems.

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

Build
26200.5603
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (2) Read notes
  • In detail For improved Windows Search on Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft recommends plugging in the PC while initial search indexing completes. You can check indexing status under Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows.
  • In detail When Virtualization Based Security is enabled, virtualization-dependent apps such as VMware Workstation cannot run unless the Windows Hypervisor Platform optional component is installed.

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 9 changes

Taskbar & System Tray

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • The Accessibility flyout in quick settings adds text descriptions for assistive technologies such as Narrator and Voice access.1

Search on the Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Taskbar search can tell you when results may be incomplete because Windows is still indexing, and link to indexing status. It also shows whether files and folders are available online or on your device.2

Voice access

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Chinese support in Voice access is temporarily disabled while Microsoft addresses issues; it is planned to return in a future flight.3

Power & Battery

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • After you leave your PC inactive for a while, Windows applies power-saving policies and restores full performance when you return. Actual savings depend on device segment, power mode, and whether the PC is plugged in or running on battery.4
    User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management uses manufacturer-defined Processor Power Management (PPM) settings.

Windows Share

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • When sharing images, you can choose High, Medium, or Low Quality instead of selecting a compression level on a 0–100 scale.5

Windows Backup

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • The Windows Backup app is testing different versions of its landing page.6

Snipping Tool

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Win + Shift + T opens text extractor directly, so you can copy text without first taking a screenshot.7
    Requires Snipping Tool version 11.2503.29.0 or higher.

Settings

Gradual rollout 2 items

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Settings > Apps > Default apps adds more file and link types to the “Set Default” button.8
  • Browser settings add a button to make your default browser the default app for PDF files.9
    Available in Settings > Apps > Default apps.

Fixes 6 changes

General

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • File Explorer, Start, and other core Windows surfaces load in safe mode again.10

Start menu

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • The Start menu no longer appears blank for some Insiders.11

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Opening a new tab while File Explorer is maximized no longer restores the window to a smaller size.12

Settings

Gradual rollout 3 items

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Bluetooth information can load without causing Settings or Quick Settings to crash.13
  • You can switch active hours from manual to automatic in Windows Update settings again.14
  • Settings > Personalization > Lock screen no longer crashes for some Insiders.15

New features 3 changes

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on; Microsoft 365 subscribers meeting the stated requirements for Microsoft 365 actions

  • Right-click a supported file to choose AI actions, including image editing and web search. AI actions for Microsoft 365 files can summarize documents or create FAQs, subject to the stated Microsoft 365 and Insider requirements.16
    Image actions support .jpg, .jpeg, and .png. Summarize supports .docx, .doc, .pptx, .ppt, .xlsx, .xls, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, and .loop. Create an FAQ supports .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .aspx, .htm, and .html. Microsoft 365 actions require Microsoft 365 Insider enrollment and a Beta Channel update channel; subscription requirements differ by action.

Advanced settings

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • Settings > System > Advanced replaces the For Developers page and adds options for long paths, virtual workspaces, and Git information in File Explorer.17
    File Explorer + version control can display repository branch, diff count, and last commit message.

Widgets

Gradual rollout

For: Dev Channel Insiders with the latest-updates toggle on

  • The widgets board is testing a more organized, personalized feed with Copilot-curated stories that combine summaries, videos, and images. Some features, including pinning and hiding, are still in development.18
    You can return to the previous experience using the ‘Copilot Discover (Preview)’ toggle in Personalize MSN settings.

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2025-05-19
Type
Windows Insider build
VersionBuildChannel
25H2 26200.5603 Dev Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (18)
  1. 1. we are adding text descriptions for the assistive technologies like Narrator, Voice access, etc. for easy identification and learning by the users. blogs.windows.com
  2. 2. When showing search results, we will provide a notice that your search results may be incomplete if Windows is still indexing your PC with a link to check your indexing status. blogs.windows.com
  3. 3. We have temporarily disabled Chinese support in voice access to address some issues. blogs.windows.com
  4. 4. After a period of inactivity on your PC, Windows now conserve power by automatically applying efficient power management policies. blogs.windows.com
  5. 5. we have adjusted the UI so that now you can now select their compression scale from High, Medium, or Low Quality, instead of choosing from an entire scale ranging from 0-100. blogs.windows.com
  6. 6. We’re trying out different variations of the landing page when you launch the Windows Backup app. blogs.windows.com
  7. 7. With this Windows update, we’re making it easier to jump directly into text extractor via Win + Shift + T. blogs.windows.com
  8. 8. For Add new link/file types of ‘Set Default’ button, we have added additional types for the “Set Default” button. blogs.windows.com
  9. 9. For one-click button of PDF for browser sets, we have added a new button for making your default browser also the default app for PDF files. blogs.windows.com
  10. 10. Fixed an issue where core Windows surfaces were not able to load in safe mode (File Explorer, Start menu, and others) after latest flights. blogs.windows.com
  11. 11. Fixed an issue causing Start menu to be blank for some Insiders in the previous flight. blogs.windows.com
  12. 12. Fixed an issue where if File Explorer was maximized and you clicked the new tab button it would unmaximize the window. blogs.windows.com
  13. 13. Fixed an issue related to loading Bluetooth information which could lead to Settings and Quick Settings crashes. blogs.windows.com
  14. 14. Fixed an issue where you couldn’t switch active hours from manually to automatic in Settings > Windows Update. blogs.windows.com
  15. 15. Fixed an issue which was causing Settings > Personalization > Lock screen to crash for some Insiders. blogs.windows.com
  16. 16. With AI actions in File Explorer, you can interact more deeply with your files by right-clicking to quickly take actions like editing images or summarizing documents. blogs.windows.com
  17. 17. With the redesign of this page, we’ve added additional settings: Enable long paths, Virtual workspaces, and File Explorer + version control. blogs.windows.com
  18. 18. We’re trying out a new visual experience for the widgets board, with a more organized, personalized, and engaging feed. blogs.windows.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 18 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