Microsoft today issued the Week D preview updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, giving us a peek at what to expect in the November Patch Tuesday updates.
In both cases, you are downloading Preview Update KB5067036, which will upgrade Windows 11 version 25H2 to build 26200.7019 and version 24H2 to build 26100.7019. This is a big update. Key new features and changes include:
All Windows 11 PCs
New Start menu. The newly redesigned Start menu has a scrollable All section with category and grid views, a responsive layout that adapts to the size of your display, and Phone Link integration with an expandable and collapsible side panel via a new mobile device button next to the search box.
Taskbar improvements. The battery icon has been updated with colors that indicate whether the battery is charging and in good health (green), in battery saver mode (yellow), or is critically low (red). And you can now display the battery life percentage.
File Explorer improvements. File Explorer Home now displays recommended files if you sign in with an MSA (which can be disabled if you don’t like it). And third-party cloud storage providers can now integrate with File Explorer Home.
Lock screen improvements. The new battery icons from the Taskbar now appear in the lower-right corner of the lock screen too.
Settings improvements. The Email & accounts page in Settings > Accounts has been renamed to Your accounts.
Administrator Protection. This disruptive new security control is available in preview and can be enabled in Windows Security (in Account protection) or via Microsoft Intune or Group Policy.
Quality updates. This update also includes dozens of bug and security fixes across the system, plus new versions of four on-device AI models for Copilot+ PCs and a servicing stack update.
Copilot+ PCs
Click to Do improvements. The prompt box has been streamlined to interact with Copilot more seamlessly, you can translate on-screen text, you can convert units (length, area, volume, height, temperature, and speed), you can select objects on-screen with Freeform selection and Rectangle selection (or just Ctrl + Click), you can interact with Live Persona cards from Microsoft 365, and you can see visual cues for key items (email, tables, and more). And you can now open Click to Do by pressing and holding two fingers on a touchscreen.
File Explorer improvements. When you hover the mouse cursor over a file in the Home view, quick action commands like “Open file location” and “Ask Copilot” now appear if you’re signed in with a Microsoft account (MSA). (Support for Work and school actions is coming in a future update.)
Voice access improvements. Voice action now supports Fluid Dictation to help with grammar, punctuation, and filler words in real time. You can configure a delay before a voice command is executed. And Voice access now supports Japanese.
Agent in Settings improvements. Agent in Settings now supports French.
Windows Search improvements. The improved Windows Search (semantic search) is now available on all Copilot+ PCs.
Note that all the new features and changes listed above are on what Microsoft calls a Controlled Feature Release (CFR), meaning that they will appear gradually and randomly on your PC and not right away.
