Microsoft is moving several upcoming Windows 11 features another step closer to a wider rollout.
The company has released Windows 11 Release Preview builds 26100.9539 and 26200.9539 for versions 24H2 and 25H2. The update, distributed as KB5124010, brings a surprisingly large collection of new features and improvements, including changes to File Explorer, Emoji 17.0, Windows Recovery, touchpad gestures, accessibility and the Copilot key.
Because these changes are now appearing in the Release Preview channel, they are particularly interesting for users watching what Microsoft is preparing for the broader Windows 11 audience. However, Microsoft is using a gradual rollout for some features, so availability can still vary between devices.
File Explorer is getting a useful new preview option
One of the most practical changes is coming to File Explorer.
Windows 11 is changing how the Preview pane handles files downloaded from the web. For HTML files, users will see a new “Preview anyway” option that lets them acknowledge the security warning before opening the preview.
At the same time, non-HTML files such as PDFs can now be previewed automatically.
Microsoft is also improving File Explorer Home so it can remember whether sections were expanded or collapsed. This means Windows 11 can preserve your preferred layout instead of resetting it every time.
The Details pane is also being refined, with better thumbnail reliability for cloud files and a reorganized layout that makes file properties easier to find.
Emoji 17.0 is coming to Windows 11
Another visible addition is Emoji 17.0 support.
The update introduces new emoji, including the distorted face, fight cloud and hairy creature, while also refining the appearance of several existing emoji.
Users can access the emoji panel with Windows + Period (.).
This is a small change, but it shows Microsoft continuing to keep Windows 11’s built-in emoji experience aligned with newer Unicode standards.
A new Tips widget is coming
Windows 11 is also getting a new Tips widget designed to provide short guidance about Windows features.
Users will be able to add the widget to the Widgets board and, where supported, to the lock screen.
It could be particularly useful for discovering features that are already built into Windows but are easy to overlook.
Windows 11 gets a new accessibility option
Microsoft is introducing a new Open apps maximized setting under:
Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects
When enabled, apps will automatically open maximized.
While Microsoft is positioning this as an accessibility improvement, it could also appeal to users who simply prefer applications to consistently open in a full-screen workspace.
Magnifier gets a Windows 11 visual refresh
The Magnifier toolbar is also being modernized.
Microsoft is updating its icons to better match the current Windows 11 design language and adjusting spacing and padding for a cleaner interface.
Importantly, the underlying functionality remains unchanged. Views, zoom controls, keyboard shortcuts and Read Aloud continue to work as before.
More touchpad gestures are coming
Precision touchpads are getting additional gesture controls.
Windows 11 will support single-finger scrolling, allowing vertical scrolling from the left or right side of the touchpad.
There is also a new automatic scrolling option that lets users continue scrolling by moving their finger toward the edge of the touchpad without repeatedly lifting it.
These additions build on other touchpad gesture controls Microsoft introduced earlier in 2026.
The Copilot key is becoming more useful
Microsoft is also giving users more control over the dedicated Copilot key found on some Windows keyboards.
A new setting allows the key to be remapped as either Right Ctrl or the Context Menu key.
That could make the key more useful for people who don’t regularly use Copilot and would rather have a traditional keyboard shortcut available.
Camera Roll Backup gets closer to Windows 11 users
Another upcoming feature is Camera Roll Backup.
Eligible users can enable the feature through Windows 11 Settings and connect their mobile phone using a QR code. The feature is designed to help protect photos by backing them up through OneDrive.
Microsoft notes that availability depends on the device and market.
WinRE is getting a major recovery improvement
One of the more important changes is hidden away in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
Windows 11 can now automatically reuse eligible Wi-Fi profiles already saved on the PC, including supported certificate-based networks.
This means a computer entering recovery scenarios such as Quick Machine Recovery or Cloud Rebuild can potentially get online without requiring Wi-Fi credentials to be manually configured inside WinRE.
For troubleshooting and recovery, this could be a significant quality-of-life improvement.
Microsoft is also adding a recovery remote-management plug-in that can extend WinRE management capabilities for mobile device management providers.
Windows 11 is also improving personalization
The update contains several improvements for desktop backgrounds.
Microsoft is improving the reliability of the Personalization > Background page, adding support for DIB image files as desktop wallpapers and improving wallpaper previews.
Slideshow wallpapers are also getting better support across multiple virtual desktops, preventing Windows 11 from automatically switching back to a static Picture option.
There are additional fixes for wallpaper changes, portrait displays and slideshow transitions.
One feature is being removed
Not everything in this update is an addition.
Microsoft is removing PC-to-PC Migration from Windows Backup.
The feature had allowed users to transfer files and settings directly from an old PC during setup of a new Windows PC. Microsoft is instead directing users toward Windows Backup for backing up and restoring supported files, settings and other data.
What this means for Windows 11 users
The 26100.9539 and 26200.9539 Release Preview builds are important because they bring a broad collection of Windows 11 features into a channel that sits much closer to general availability than the earlier experimental and Beta channels.
The biggest changes include the improved File Explorer preview experience, Emoji 17.0, Tips widget, new accessibility controls, additional touchpad gestures, Copilot key remapping, Camera Roll Backup and smarter WinRE connectivity.
Microsoft is still rolling some of these features out gradually, so seeing them in Release Preview does not mean every Windows 11 PC will receive them immediately.
Still, the move is a strong indication that Microsoft is preparing these improvements for a much broader Windows 11 audience.
Windows 11 is becoming more polished in the small details, while some of the recovery and accessibility changes could have a much bigger impact on everyday users.
For the latest rollout updates and troubleshooting guides, follow our Windows 11 coverage as more details emerge.
