Windows 11 is evolving at a rapid pace, and the latest Insider Preview Build 26200.5722 from the 25H2 development channel brings another wave of features, improvements, hidden tweaks, and fixes. In this detailed breakdown, we’ll cover everything you need to know about what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s improved in this update.
Whether you’re a developer, power user, or simply an enthusiast curious about Windows updates, this guide is here to give you all the context.
🔍 Hidden Feature: Shared Audio Output in Quick Settings
Let’s start with something quietly slipped into the build but very useful: a new Shared Audio Quick Setting. Discovered by Phantom of Earth (via X.com), this hidden feature allows users to play audio through multiple output devices simultaneously. It’s ideal for users who want to listen through both headphones and speakers or stream to multiple audio zones.
🤖 Copilot+ AI Enhancements in Settings
Windows 11 continues its AI integration. Now, if you’re using a Copilot+ PC, when you search in the Settings app, the AI will intelligently suggest settings based on your typed description. It’s a subtle step toward a smarter OS that anticipates your needs.
Also introduced is a tutorial for the Click-to-Do experience that helps users understand this new AI-powered feature the first time they launch it.
🔧 Second-Chance Out-of-the-Box Experience (OOBE) Redesign
Microsoft has rolled out a new design for its so-called “second-chance” out-of-box experience. This screen pops up occasionally post-setup to guide users through missed or recommended settings. The new version is more streamlined and user-friendly.
📂 Taskbar & System Tray Improvements
Let’s move on to the taskbar. Microsoft has:
- Optimized how enterprise-pinned apps are pushed to user taskbars by IT admins.
- Reduced delay (now capped at 8 hours) between policy application and user visibility.
- Eliminated the need for File Explorer to restart to apply taskbar pinning changes.
Also, there’s a visual improvement to photo search from the taskbar. A new grid view helps you locate images more accurately when using search.
🌟 Lock Screen and Notification Enhancements
Microsoft now extends calendar and clock functionality to secondary monitors. You can:
- View your calendar on any monitor.
- Display a larger clock (with seconds) above the calendar.
- Click the date/time from any taskbar to open Notification Center.
This is a welcome quality-of-life update for users with multi-monitor setups.
📊 Task Manager Update
Task Manager now uses a standardized CPU utilization metric across all of its tabs—Process, Performance, and Users. This aligns Windows with industry tools like Resource Monitor and third-party system monitoring software for better consistency.
✅ Fixes and Bug Resolutions
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the fixes. Here’s a summary of what has been addressed:
Taskbar & Start Menu
- Fixed: Task View icon disappearing even when toggled on
- Fixed: Widget icon missing from taskbar
- Fixed: Touch navigation in the new Start menu (swipe gestures now work)
Login & Lock Screen
- Fixed: White text over light backgrounds for lock screen widgets
- Fixed: Taskbar loading slowly after sleep
- Fixed: Login fields not rendering after waking from sleep
File Explorer
- Fixed: File showing as blocked even after unblocking via Properties
Input and Language
- Fixed: Issues with Kangi input method
- Fixed: Broken support for phonetic keyboards (Hindi, Marathi)
Xbox App & Other Apps
- Fixed: Apps not launching when administrator protection enabled
- Fixed: Error 0xc0000142 for some apps
Settings
- Fixed: BitLocker link showing for unsupported drives and producing errors
Group Policy Editor
- Fixed: Error pop-ups with unexpected elements now resolved
BSOD and Installers
- Fixed: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL bug check on some Insider devices
- Fixed: ARM64 devices experiencing installation stalls
Graphics & Hardware
- Fixed: Thunderbolt-connected external GPUs not being recognized
🚫 Known Issues?
Interestingly, Microsoft hasn’t reported any new known issues in this build, which suggests a relatively stable update. That said, hidden bugs can always surface post-installation.
🚀 Final Thoughts
So far, we’ve done a great job exploring all the updates, and it’s clear that Windows 11 is steadily refining its features ahead of a broader 25H2 release.
From taskbar responsiveness to more intelligent settings powered by AI, and from visual enhancements in photo search to performance consistency in Task Manager—this build pushes the user experience forward while fixing long-standing bugs.
As always, if you’re an Insider, install this build to test and provide feedback. If you’re not on the Insider program, these features may or may not appear in the final stable release—but they give us a clear vision of where Windows 11 is headed.
Tags and Hashtags
Tags: Windows 11 25H2, Windows 11 Insider Preview, build 26200.5722, Windows hidden features, Windows AI settings, Windows update fixes, shared audio output, Windows taskbar changes, Windows notification center, Copilot+ PCs
Hashtags:
#Windows11 #InsiderPreview #WindowsUpdate #TaskbarFixes #CopilotPlus #HiddenFeatures #Windows11Build26200 #AIinWindows #TaskManagerUpdate #SecondaryMonitorSupport
