Windows 11 Build 26120.3073 (Dev & Beta) improves Search and Settings

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073 (KB5050090) is coming to the Dev and Beta Channel. This update introduces a preview of an enhanced Windows Search feature, allowing you to locate files stored in your OneDrive - specifically for Windows Insiders using Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. There is a new home page in Settings for customer PCs, and dozens of fixes.

Windows 11 24H2 comes to the Beta channel

It is important to note that today Microsoft starts rolling out Dev Channel updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. Initially, these updates will be optional, so if you are currently in the Beta Channel, you can choose to upgrade whenever you feel ready.

Later this year, Microsoft plans to make these updates recommended, meaning that if you remain in the Beta Channel, your system will eventually be upgraded to the 24H2-based updates automatically. Until then, the Beta Channel will continue to receive updates from both Windows 11, version 24H2, and Windows 11, version 23H2 (though not always simultaneously). Please be aware that if you decide to upgrade to the 24H2-based updates in the Beta Channel, you may lose access to some feature rollouts.

In summary, while the updates are optional for now, transitioning to the 24H2 updates may impact certain features, so consider this before upgrading.

What's new in Windows 11 Build 26120.3073

Copilot+ PCs

A few weeks ago, Microsoft began previewing an enhanced Windows Search feature for Copilot+ PCs, combining semantic and lexical indexing to find locally saved files. Now, they have expanded this capability to include searching for photos stored in the cloud. Users can describe their photos using natural language (e.g., "European castles" or "summer picnics") in the File Explorer search box, and both local and cloud-stored photos will appear in the results. Additionally, exact keyword matches within the text of cloud files will also be displayed.

This feature currently works within File Explorer but will soon be available from the Windows search box on the taskbar. It is accessible with personal OneDrive accounts when signed in with a Microsoft account and connected to the internet. For work or school accounts (Entra ID), only text-based file content will be searchable, not photos. Third-party cloud providers will eventually support this feature as well, with documentation forthcoming.

Microsoft plans to continue improving these search capabilities over time, gradually rolling them out to more devices, including AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. The feature is currently being tested by Windows Insiders on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, so availability may vary. More details are available for those interested in learning about future updates.

Changes for Insiders with the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle enabled

Changes and improvements

Settings

The new Settings home page has begun rolling out to corporate PCs managed by an IT administrator. The page will display some existing cards, such as Recommended settings and Bluetooth devices, as well as two new cards with device information and enterprise-specific accessibility settings. For commercial customers who also use their Microsoft account on a managed PC, a new account card will appear that indicates whether they have both a work/school and personal Microsoft account.
The feature is being rolled out in phases, with the first to appear for customers on managed corporate PCs who have both a work/school and personal Microsoft account.

Fixes

Taskbar and system tray

• • Fixed an issue where taskbar window thumbnails would sometimes not appear when hovering over open apps on the taskbar.

File Explorer

• • Made some changes to fix an issue where File Explorer could freeze when viewing a folder with a large number of items.
  • Fixed an issue where the File Explorer window might not display correctly when restored from a minimized state.

Improved Windows Search

• • Fixed an issue where some results would sometimes not appear when searching in Outlook offline.

Live Captions

• • Fixed an issue where after disconnecting a second monitor, the Live Captions icon might appear in the taskbar but the subtitles window would not appear on the screen.

Remote Desktop

• • Fixed an issue where serious rendering issues were observed when using Remote Desktop to connect to certain computers.

Settings

• • Fixed an issue where Settings would sometimes crash when interacting with the Bluetooth & Devices page.

Other

• • Fixed an issue where using GDI+ to reduce the image size could cause colors to become distorted.
  • Fixed an issue where system shutdown on some devices could be noticeably slower than usual when a controller was connected.
  • Fixed an underlying issue where the Windows Security pop-up that appears when connecting to certain Wi-Fi networks would not respond to user interaction. This issue could also impact the ability to interact with dialog boxes for some other settings in the Settings app.
  • Fixed an issue where the description of virtual network adapters in  ncpa.cpl displayed garbled characters.

Changes for all insiders

Fixes

General

• • Fixed an issue where booting into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) on Arm64-based PCs would result in error 0xc0e90001.

Other

• • Fixed an issue where a memory leak occurred when displaying text suggestions as you type.
  • Fixed a major issue where colors in some games could appear oversaturated when using Auto HDR.
  • Fixed an issue where errors or unsigned connections occur when connecting to Windows 11 workstations. This occurs when using device redirection.
  • Fixed an issue where the error "This device cannot start. (Code 10) Not enough system resources exist to complete the API call" would occur when connected to some external audio control devices.

Known issues

General

• • After resetting the system settings in Settings > System > Recovery, the build number may change to 26100 instead of 26120. This will not affect receiving future updates on the Dev channel, which will fix the issue.
  • [New] We are investigating an issue that sometimes causes DCOM to use excessive CPU when opening the Performance section of Task Manager.

Recall

• • Recall can be enabled or disabled in the "Turn Windows features on or off" section. At the moment, Recall files remain on the disk even after the feature is disabled. In future updates, these files will be completely removed from the system.
  • If you see the message "Make sure Recall is saving snapshots" even though snapshot saving is enabled in Settings, restart your device.
  • Be sure to update your Microsoft 365 apps to the latest version so you can get back to certain documents.

Click to Do

• • Sometimes intelligent text actions based on Phi Silica can provide unnecessary context.
  • Intelligent text actions use the secure Microsoft cloud to improve the quality of results, ensuring the safety and appropriateness of suggestions and answers. This data is automatically deleted. In the future, we plan to introduce local moderation of suggestions and answers, which will replace the current cloud solution.
  • If some actions with objects in images are not displayed, check for updates to the Photos and Paint apps in the Microsoft Store.

Live Captions and real-time translation

• • Some Insiders may experience a crash when launching Live Captions for the first time. If you encounter this issue, simply restart Live Captions. The issue should not reoccur.
  • If audio is playing or the microphone is on, switching languages ​​will cause live subtitles to stop working. Stop playing audio when changing languages ​​to resume subtitles or translations.

Improved Windows Search

• • [New] The highlighting and underlining animation for the search box in File Explorer is missing, even if your Copilot+ PC-labeled device uses AI-powered, improved Windows Search. If your search results are indeed powered by AI-powered, improved Windows Search, you'll see a message at the bottom of File Explorer that says "Search uses AI to produce results" and prompts you to leave feedback.
  • In this build, the search box on the taskbar does not receive the underlined UI and new icon like the File Explorer search box. This will be implemented in future builds.
  • Sometimes the enhanced search features may not be available and may require a restart of your computer to enable them.
  • Sometimes, the File Explorer search may become unresponsive. Restarting your computer may resolve the issue.
  • A tip about new search improvements appears every time you set focus to the search field in File Explorer, not just the first time.

File Explorer

• • Engineers are investigating an issue where File Explorer closes very slowly for some Insiders when they click the X button in the title bar. This issue may also affect other buttons in the title bar.

Power and battery

• • [New] The new battery icon is displayed with incorrect colors if Custom mode is selected with certain settings in Personalization > Colors.

Settings

• • [New]  Home page may cause the Settings app to crash. If you encounter this issue, you can still directly open individual system settings pages by searching for them in the taskbar.

Source