Windows 11 build 26120.2992 (KB5050083) outs with new AI features in Dev Channel

Microsoft is now rolling out improvements for Windows Search, Click To Do, File Explorer, Magnifier, and more with the release of Windows 11 build 26120.2992 (KB5050083) in the Dev Channel.

In addition, the company is also making available Windows 11 build 22635.4800 (KB5050085) in the Beta Channel and is officially introducing top cards for the About settings page to show key technical specifications, such as processor, memory, storage, and graphics. Also, this release comes with changes for Widgets, Taskbar, and Windows Backup.

Furthermore, the software giant recently released Windows 11 build 27774 in the Canary Channel with the new Administrator Protection feature, new Windows Setup partition warnings, and more.

Windows 11 build 26120.2992 (Dev Channel)

These are the most interesting that Microsoft is officially rolling out in the Dev Channel with the update KB5050083.

Windows Search with semantic indexing

Starting with this release, Microsoft is updating the Windows Search feature with semantic indexing. Semantic indexing means that now the system uses AI to help you find files, settings, and apps using natural language anywhere in the system, including in the search box for File Explorer, Taskbar, Start menu, or Search (home).

For example, instead of remembering the document name, you can simply describe it (for example, “Brazil trip budget”).

If you’re in the Settings app, you search for the configuration you want to make rather than searching for the actual setting’s name (for example, “how to change background”).

Microsoft also recommends enabling the “Enhanced” index option in Settings > Privacy & Security> Searching Windows for the best search experience. Currently, this feature works for local files, but in the future, it will work for other storage providers, including OneDrive.

The improvements for search are supported in Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Supported file formats include .txt, .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf, .pptx, .ppt, .xls, .xlsx for documents and .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .ico for images.

Click to Do with Refine

Build 26120.2992 is also introducing a new option known as “Refine” for the Click to Do AI feature under the “Rewrite” menu for Copilot+ PCs.

This option will allow you to proofread and refine the selected text while in Click to Do.

File Explorer context menu update

Microsoft is also making available an updated version of File Explorer that adds a “New” entry to create new folders when right-clicking items from the left pane.

Magnifier new zoom options

This preview also adds the reset zoom to fit the screen and reset the zoom to the last modification buttons to the Magnifier interface.

Windows Backup improvements

Finally, starting with this release, the system will restore a standard Taskbar when selecting to restore the computer from a previous backup through the Out-of-box Experience.

Windows 11 build 22635.4800 (Beta Channel)

These are the most interesting that Microsoft is officially rolling out in the Beta Channel with the update KB5050085.

About settings page with top cards

Microsoft is now officially introducing a top cards view at the top of the page to highlight some of the key hardware specifications, such as storage, graphics card, installed memory, and processor details.

Settings home with recommendations

As part of build 22635.4800, Microsoft is also rolling out dynamic cards on the Home page of the Settings app for commercial customers. These cards include “Recommended settings” and “Bluetooth devices.” The company is also pushing a new account card for those work, school, and Microsoft account types.

Widgets with third-party widgets

In this release, developers can now build dynamic and interactive widgets for the “Widgets” dashboard.

Windows Backup improvements

Finally, starting with this release, the system will restore a standard Taskbar when selecting to restore the computer from a previous backup through the Out-of-box Experience.

Windows Search

As part of the changes for the update KB5050085, users in the European Union can change the web search providers, meaning that they can now change Bing for another search engine to search the web within Windows 11.

Installation process

To download and install these Windows 11 builds, enroll your device in the Dev or Canary Channel through the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Update & Security” section. Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download the build from the “Windows Update” settings by turning on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option and clicking the “Check for Updates” button.

Alongside these improvements, both preview builds on Windows 11 ships with various known issues for Recall, Click to Do, Live Captions, File Explorer, Search, and more.