Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 26H1 Build 28000.2608 (KB5101681) as an optional non-security preview update. The release includes new experiences, reliability improvements, performance enhancements, and fixes across several Windows components.

File Explorer and Windows Shell

• Improves the overall reliability of explorer.exe.
• Addresses issues on the login and lock screens involving third-party credential providers.
• Reduces the likelihood of taskbar icons appearing as blank gray placeholders.
• Improves navigation to File Explorer Home while OneDrive is synchronizing.
• Improves explorer.exe reliability when switching between virtual desktops.
• Improves application launching when shell extensions are installed.
• Improves reliability when acrylic blur effects are used in Start, Settings, and the lock screen.

Performance Improvements

• Improves the shutdown time of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) when the PC is turned off.
• Improves graphics memory-management policies on systems with more than 32 GB of RAM, allowing larger local AI models to run more effectively.

Applications

• Fixes an issue where some installers and applications could display unexpected User Account Control (UAC) elevation prompts after installing KB5089549.

Remote Desktop

• Refreshes the dialog design shown when Remote Desktop is enabled through Settings > System > Remote Desktop.

SMB and Backup

• Fixes an issue that could prevent backups from working because Windows incorrectly reported an "invalid credentials" error when connecting to SMB shares.

Input Improvements

• Improves recognition of English characters when using Japanese handwriting input.

AI Components

• Updates Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model AI components to version 1.2608.856.0.

Servicing Stack

• Includes servicing stack update KB5101747 (Build 28000.2602), improving the reliability of the Windows update installation process.

Known Issues

Microsoft is not currently aware of any known issues affecting this update.