Microsoft released new Windows 11 Insider Preview builds across all channels today, continuing to expand the rollout of its restructured Windows Insider Program. The update is headlined by a set of new precision touchpad capabilities and a free upgrade path for K-12 education environments.
Today’s Build Numbers
- Beta Channel: Build 26220.8370
- Experimental (Dev Channel): Build 26300.8376
- Experimental (26H1 / Canary 28000 series): Build 28020.2075
- Experimental (Future Platforms / Canary 29500 series): Build 29585.1000
New Touchpad Gestures
The most user-facing addition this week is a set of new precision touchpad features landing in the Experimental channel. Microsoft is adding several gesturing options to Settings that should work across most applications.
Scroll and zoom speed can now be adjusted directly, giving users a baseline control that previously required third-party tools. Automatic scrolling lets content keep moving after you stop touching the pad, triggered either by approaching the edge of the trackpad or by pressing slightly harder while holding still. For long documents, accelerated scrolling builds speed as you scroll repeatedly, making it faster to move through pages. There’s also a new single-finger scroll option that lets you scroll vertically using one finger from the left or right edge of the touchpad.
Microsoft notes that WinUI3-based apps need updated WinAppSDK versions for full functionality, and those changes are still being rolled out to versions 1.8 and 2.0.
Free Windows 11 Pro Education Upgrade for K-12
Also landing in Experimental and Beta channels is a new free upgrade path from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro Education for K-12 schools. The feature lets educational organizations buy standard Windows 11 Home devices and upgrade them to Pro Education at no extra cost, then bring those devices under school management. It’s a meaningful change for IT departments trying to manage fleets of student devices without paying the Pro license premium.
WIP Restructuring Continues
Microsoft is still gradually migrating Insiders to its new channel structure. Canary 29500 series and Beta Channel users haven’t been moved to the new experience yet, though Microsoft says that’s coming in the next few weeks. Insiders in Beta who want to preserve feature continuity are being encouraged to move to the Dev Channel before the transition happens.