Microsoft has released five new preview builds as part of the Windows Insider program ahead of the Windows and Surface event scheduled for October 7, revealing a range of improvements still under development in Windows 11. The releases include Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.9587, Experimental Preview Build 26340.9596, Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.3151, Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.3142, and Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Build 29680.1000.
The changes span recovery, file management, accessibility, and system settings, in addition to fixes for components such as Remote Desktop, audio, and the taskbar. This distribution indicates that Microsoft is testing small and medium-sized practical improvements across multiple channels rather than rolling out one unified feature to all Windows 11 devices.
Reinstalling Windows from the cloud
The most notable addition is Cloud rebuild, a new recovery option that reinstalls Windows 11 completely to a clean, known state even when the system cannot boot. Unlike the Reset this PC option, this process downloads the target Windows image and device drivers from Windows Update, eliminating the need for USB media or a custom image and not relying on the integrity of the currently installed operating system.
The process can be started from the Windows Recovery Environment by selecting Troubleshoot, then Recovery and uninstall, and then Cloud rebuild. The user needs a wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection, and the interface displays the Windows edition, version, and language before confirming the data-loss warning.
Other builds add an option to erase storage drives during the process. The user can choose Remove files to keep the device, or Remove & sanitize files before recycling it or handing it to someone else. The sanitization option uses the storage hardware's built-in erase capability and is irreversible. IT administrators can also configure and run Cloud rebuild remotely through the Recovery CSP, using either the installed version or a target version they specify.
Practical improvements in File Explorer and Magnifier
The File Explorer address bar supports the ~ symbol for quick access to the user's profile folder and its subfolders, such as ~\AppData. Handling has also been improved for paths that include double backslashes or quotation marks, and the suggestion box is now more reliable when closed after an item is selected.
The interface now better preserves folder-view preferences, such as sorting and icon size, across different access paths and applications. Issues related to renaming and previewing files downloaded from the internet have also been addressed; users can request previews of HTML files after acknowledging the warning, while non-HTML files, such as PDF files, are displayed automatically according to the preview build.
Windows Magnifier now allows users to enter a magnification percentage manually from the toolbar, in addition to preset percentages including 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200%, and 400%. This gives users more precise control than relying on fixed magnification steps.
Unicode compatibility and other fixes
The builds include support for Unicode 17.0, which adds 4,803 characters and supports four new writing systems: Beria Erfe, Sidetic, Tai Yo, and Tolong Siki. Microsoft has also improved the performance of the Settings home page and displays the version number of packaged apps directly on the Installed apps page in the future experimental builds.
Other fixes include pinning favorite apps in the Windows Share window, improving Family Safety messages when apps are blocked because of age restrictions, and addressing issues affecting some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, Remote Desktop, and the severe lag experienced by some participants after previous updates.
What changes in practice?
Cloud rebuild is particularly useful for users who need to recover a device that will not boot and for IT administrators managing remote reinstallations. However, the feature remains in the Insider channels, requires a network connection, and results in data loss, while the sanitization option is final and cannot be undone. The File Explorer, Magnifier, and Unicode improvements offer tangible everyday benefits, but they are still experimental and may change before reaching stable releases.