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Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 Insider builds featuring a built-in network speed test, Emoji 16.0, shared audio controls, and stronger batch file security.
Windows 11 testers are getting another busy week.
Microsoft has pushed out new Insider Preview builds to both the Canary and Dev Channels, bringing everything from new emojis and recovery tools to tighter security for batch files and improved shared audio controls.
The updates continue the company’s steady push toward refining upcoming versions of the OS. Leading the charge in Build 28020.1673 (Canary) is a built-in network speed test and the arrival of Emoji 16.0, while the Dev Channel (Build 26300.7939) is focusing on making shared audio much less of a hassle.
The most convenient addition for the average user is tucked right into the system tray. You can now run a network speed test directly from your Wi-Fi or cellular icons. According to the Windows Blog, “The speed test opens in the default browser and measures Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, and cellular connections.”
Taskbar search is also getting a bit more informative. Instead of guessing how many files your search turned up, group headers now show the exact number of results. You can also hover over a result to see a “Preview” of the content without actually clicking into the file.
Beyond diagnostics and search, Microsoft has also integrated the Emoji 16.0 release, which the company describes as a “thoughtfully curated set of new emojis” across major categories, further aligning the OS with modern communication standards.
File Explorer fans who’ve been begging for better dark mode consistency can finally exhale. The Folder Options dialog now matches the rest of the system’s dark theme. Microsoft also fixed that weird quirk where “all File Explorer open windows and tabs might unexpectedly jump to Desktop or Home.”
For anyone who’s ever wanted to physically move their webcam’s view without touching the camera, the Settings app now lets you “control pan and tilt for supported cameras” under Bluetooth & Devices.
Quick Machine Recovery now turns on automatically for Windows 11 Pro devices that aren’t managed by an organization. Previously, this safety net was mostly for Home users. “For domain-joined devices, QMR stays off unless it is enabled by the organization,” Microsoft notes.
The backup experience is also getting smarter for business users. The “first sign-in restore experience” now works on Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices, Cloud PCs, and multi-user environments. It automatically restores settings and Microsoft Store apps when someone signs in for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Dev Channel build 26300.7939 focuses on refining features Microsoft previewed last year. The shared audio feature that lets two people listen to the same audio through two sets of Bluetooth LE Audio headphones now has individual volume sliders.
“Windows now provides individual sliders for each listener which adjusts their volume without affecting the other,” the Windows Insider Program Team explains. A new taskbar indicator also reminds you when you’re still sharing audio.
The list of supported devices is growing, too. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, Sony WF-1000XM6, and the Xbox Wireless Headset now work with the feature.
Microsoft is introducing a way to lock batch files during execution so they can’t be modified while running.
“Administrators may enable a more secure mode for processing batch files that ensures they do not change during execution” by adding a registry key, the company says. It also improves performance because signature validation only happens once instead of “per statement executed in the batch file.”
Narrator users get a new command — Narrator key + backslash — to read status bars in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In Excel, you can select cells and hear the sum or average without moving your focus.
The Start menu’s account section now includes a link to your Microsoft account benefits page. It’s a small addition, but it saves a few clicks if you’re the type who actually checks what perks come with your subscription.
And for anyone who’s ever been frustrated by Windows hanging onto old update files forever, Microsoft improved the reliability of removing those files through Settings > System > Storage.
Both builds come with the standard warnings. They’re pre-release software; they might be unstable, and the desktop watermark is normal. Canary Channel builds, in particular, “can be unstable and may be released with limited documentation.”
If you’re in the Canary Channel and want out, there’s no simple switch. Microsoft reminds Insiders that leaving requires “a clean install of Windows 11.” Many features roll out gradually, starting with a subset of users. So if you install the build and don’t see everything immediately, that’s by design. The company monitors feedback before pushing features to everyone.
The Dev Channel builds are now based on Windows 11 version 25H2 via an enablement package. Some features may never ship beyond the Insider program as Microsoft experiments with different concepts.
For more ways to flex your Windows admin skills, check out TechRepublic’s guide to 10 powerful tasks you can tackle with PowerShell.
Aminu Abdullahi is a B2C and B2B technology and finance writer with more than six years of experience covering enterprise IT, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, fintech, business software, and emerging technologies. His work has appeared in publications including TechRepublic, eWEEK, Channel Insider, Geekflare, Enterprise Networking Planet, eSecurity Planet, CIO Insight, and Webopedia. With a technical background in computer science, he specializes in translating complex technology topics into clear, accessible content for business leaders and decision-makers.
