This week’s Windows 11 Insider Preview builds deliver the Start menu changes Microsoft has been promising since May, plus a useful improvement to Windows Search, and an important heads-up for Insiders who opted into the 26H1 branch. If you’re in that group, there’s a decision to make before June 5.
Build Numbers
- Beta: Build 26220.8544
- Experimental: Build 26300.8553
- Experimental (26H1): Build 28020.2207
- Experimental (Future Platforms / Canary 29500 series): Build 29599.1000 (note: withheld from AMD machines with System Guard support due to a crash bug, expected fixed next flight)
Start Menu Overhaul Lands
The Start menu changes we flagged as coming soon in the May 15 Insider blog are now actually shipping in the Experimental channel. The full list of what’s new:
- The “Recommended” section is renamed to “Recent” in both Start and Settings
- Section-level toggles let you independently show or hide Pinned, Recent, and All Apps
- New Start menu size options: small, large, or automatic (the existing default)
- Option to hide your name and profile picture in Start
- Redesigned Start menu settings page to accommodate all the new controls
The section toggles are the most useful addition here. Previously, turning off Recommended also broke jump lists and recent files in File Explorer. That side effect is now fixed with the new independent toggle.
Smarter Search
Windows Search is picking up substring matching in both Experimental and Beta channels. If you have a file called MeetingNotesApril or ProjectStatusReport, searching for “april” or “status” will now find it. Compound filenames have always been a weak spot for Windows Search, so this is a practical fix for anyone with a messy Documents folder.
Important: 26H1 Insiders Need to Decide by June 5
If you opted into the 26H1 branch under Advanced options, pay attention: Microsoft begins rolling out Windows 11 version 26H1 to those devices on June 5. Here’s the catch: 26H1 is built on a different Windows core than 24H2 and 25H2, targeting new hardware like Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 devices. Devices that take the 26H1 update will not be able to update to the next annual Windows feature update. Getting back to the standard branch after that requires a complete reinstall.
If you opted into 26H1 but have changed your mind, Microsoft says you need to reselect version 25H2 in your Windows Insider Program settings before June 5. After that date, the window closes.