As April is coming to an end, it's now the right time to review the new changes and features that Microsoft made available for Windows 11 through the Windows Insider Program during the second half of the month.
In addition to the enhancements available during the first two weeks of April, the company made preview builds available to Insiders using the channel names Experimental and Beta for versions 25H2, 26H1, and Feature Platforms. However, since we are still in a transitional period, during this month, there were builds also available in the legacy Beta, Dev, and Canary Channels.
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Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in April 2026
These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since the last roundup.
Windows Update overhaul
Starting on build 26300.8289, Windows 11 is introducing significant changes to the Windows Update system to give users more control over system updates.
First, the company is adding a new calendar control for the "Pause updates" feature that allows you to pause updates for up to 35 days, but the big deal is that you can extend this schedule unlimited times. In other words, using this new control, you can turn off system updates indefinitely.
In addition, Microsoft is minimizing disruption by scheduling drivers, .NET, and firmware updates that require a restart to apply a monthly quality update, so your computer only needs to reboot once a month.
Finally, you'll also notice that updates will now be grouped on a single "Available updates" section in the Settings app, and drivers will include clearer labels, such as display, audio, or battery, to improve transparency.
Outside the Windows Update settings page, the company is updating the Power menu to include restart and shutdown options independently from the update options. The change aims to ensure you can perform power-cycle actions without having to apply updates when you don't have time.
The company also advertises that the ability to skip updates during initial setup is new to this release, but that's an option already available to everyone.
File Explorer improvements
When build 26300.8276 became available, Windows 11 introduced an updated version of File Explorer that improved the placement of the search box icons to make the interface more consistent across devices.
Settings app changes
Also, on Windows 11 builds 26300.8276 and 26220.8271, the system received an updated version of the Settings app that makes the "Default location" and "Allow location override" options unavailable when "Location services" is turned off in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location.
Finally, the navigation to the "Installed apps" page has also been improved.
Xbox mode feature
In builds 29570 and 28200.1873, Microsoft began rolling out Xbox mode, bringing an Xbox-like console experience to regular PCs.
This feature makes the Xbox app a full-screen experience that is easily controlled with the game controller, and this mode prioritizes the gaming experience by reducing background activity and other distractions.
Once the update is installed, you should be able to configure the feature from Settings > Gaming > Xbox mode.
It's worth noting that the company plans to bring this feature to everyone with the release of the May 2026 Security Update.
Debloat policy changes
Windows 11 Enterprise and Education editions already come with the "Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system" policy to allow administrators to create new accounts without many of the built-in apps.
Starting at Windows 11 build 29570 in the Canary Channel, Microsoft updated the policy to include a dynamic list option that allows administrators to uninstall additional MSIX and APPX programs.
We've seen this in previous builds, but in the Canary Channel, the company also updated the context menu so that when you right-click a specific file, such as .exe, .bat, or .cmd, the "Open" option in the menu will include the icon of the supported application that opens that file.
Touchpad right-click changes
Also, Microsoft has been updating the "Touchpad" settings page across channels to include an option to change the size of the right-click zone.
The setting includes options, including default, small, medium, and large. However, keep in mind that you'll only see this option on devices with pressable surfaces.
Pen settings improvements
The company has also updated the "Pen" settings page with a new "Same as Copilot key" option that lets you open the same app with a pen click using the same apps configured in the "Copilot" key.
Sound settings improvements
As part of the Sound settings improvements, starting with build 29576 for the Feature Platforms version, Microsoft has been rolling out a number of improvements.
First, on the "Sound" page, the development team is updating the volume slider design to visually indicate active audio playback.
On supported hardware, the option to enable hardware acceleration will be available in the "Advanced" section of the device's properties.
In addition, the Advanced section includes an option to configure exclusive mode for that specific audio device.
Microsoft is also bringing the ability to configure adaptive communication sound levels directly into the Settings app, so you no longer have to configure these settings in the Control Panel.
Finally, the company notes that the option to set an audio device as the default sound device is now available in the "Properties" page.
Point-in-time Recostore
The preview build 29576 also introduced Point-in-time Restore, a feature designed to help you roll back your device to an earlier point in time to recover from buggy updates, broken drivers, misconfiguration, malware, and more.
The feature sounds familiar because it's a modern version of System Restore. However, this is a modern take that is predictable and easier for users and network administrators to manage.
Point-in-time Restore uses Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to create restore points that include the entire state of the operating system, apps, configurations, passwords, secrets, credentials, and, more importantly, your data.
The feature is enabled by default on devices with at least 200GB of storage and running the Home and Pro editions of the operating system.
If you want to manage the feature, open Settings > Recovery > Point-in-time, and turn on the "Point-in-time Restore" toggle switch.
By default, the system creates restore points once a day and keeps them for three days. A configuration that should be optimal for most users.
Task Manager update for NPUs
Also, with the release of build 29576, you'll find an updated Task Manager that includes optional "NPU" and "NPU Engine" columns on the "Processes," "Users," and "Details" tabs.
The Details page also adds "NPU Dedicated Memory" and "NPU Shared Memory" columns to better understand how AI workloads use system resources.
Also, if your graphics card includes neural engines, these will now appear on the "Performance" page for viewing AI processing activity.
On the "Processes" and "Details" tabs, a new "Isolation" column makes it easier to identify apps using "AppContainer."
The new columns are available in the right-click menu in the Task Manager header.
Windows Central's Take
I feel like the preview builds in April are less about headline features and more about giving me better control and stability. It finally feels like Windows is catching up to what I have wanted for a while.
The Windows Update changes stand out the most for me. Being able to pause updates for as long as I want and having restarts fall into a predictable monthly cycle fixes one of the most frustrating parts of Windows 11. That alone makes the system feel much less intrusive in my daily use.
I am also seeing the Experimental track continue to surface features like Point in Time Restore, Xbox mode, and Task Manager improvements. A lot of these have already shown up in other Insider channels or even in stable builds, but it is good to see them moving forward in a more organized way.
Overall, April feels like groundwork. The improvements are not flashy, but they solve real usability problems and set things up for bigger changes that will matter more over time.
It's important to note that in addition to these improvements, in the last wave of previews, Windows 11 shipped with several hidden features, including the new Run dialog, storage settings tweaks, new loading animation for restart and shutdown, and an early preview of the next upgrade for the Taskbar with repositioning options.
What are your thoughts on the latest improvements coming to the operating system? Let me know in the comments.
More resources
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- Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
- Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know
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