Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8935 Adds Better Desktop Background Persistence and Animated Widgets

Microsoft has released another set of improvements in Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8935, focusing on desktop personalization and the Widgets experience. While the update doesn’t introduce major new features, it delivers useful refinements that make Windows 11 feel more polished and responsive.

The latest build improves the reliability of desktop backgrounds across multiple desktops, refreshes parts of the Background settings page, and expands support for animated content on the Widgets taskbar entry point.

What’s New in Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8935?

Better Desktop Background Persistence

Microsoft has improved how desktop backgrounds are retained across several scenarios, including when users work with multiple virtual desktops.

These changes should provide a more consistent personalization experience, ensuring wallpapers remain intact when switching desktops or after certain system events.

Refined Background Settings

The company has also introduced small cosmetic improvements to the Settings > Personalization > Background page.

Although these are visual refinements rather than new features, they contribute to a cleaner and more modern settings experience.

More Animated Widgets on the Taskbar

Microsoft is expanding support for animated icons on the Widgets taskbar entry point.

Beyond the existing animated experiences available for Insiders who have dashboard notifications enabled, users may now begin seeing a wider variety of dynamically updated animated content from supported widget providers.

The goal is to make important content updates more noticeable at a glance without opening the Widgets board.

Full List of Changes

• Improved desktop background persistence across multiple scenarios.
• Better wallpaper consistency when using multiple virtual desktops.
• Minor visual improvements to Settings > Personalization > Background.
• Expanded support for animated icons on the Widgets taskbar button.
• More dynamic updates from supported widget providers.

A Continued Focus on Windows 11 Polish

Rather than introducing major features, Build 26300.8935 continues Microsoft’s effort to refine the Windows 11 experience through stability, visual polish, and usability improvements.

The enhancements to desktop personalization and Widgets should be especially welcome for users who rely on virtual desktops or frequently use the Widgets panel to stay informed.

Final Thoughts

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8935 delivers another collection of thoughtful refinements. Better desktop background persistence, cleaner personalization settings, and expanded animated Widgets help make Windows 11 more reliable and engaging for Insider users.

As testing continues, these improvements are expected to make their way into future Windows 11 preview builds before reaching the stable release.