Microsoft released cumulative update KB5089569 (26300.8553) for Windows 11, version 25H2 for Insiders on the Dev Channel (Experimental). The Experimental Channel includes the latest preview builds of Windows 11 with new features. Builds may have low stability and some issues.
- Start menu. This update includes a number of improvements for the Start menu, first described in the blog post Making Taskbar and Start more personal Insider. In particular: the Recommended section has been renamed to Recent in Start and on the settings page; section-level toggles have been added to independently show or hide Pinned, Recent, and All apps; the ability to choose between a small and large Start menu in addition to the already available Automatic (default) setting; an option to hide your name and profile picture in Start; and a completely redesigned Start menu settings page.
- Search. Substring search: files with complex names or content (e.g., MeetingNotesApril, ProjectStatusReport) are now easily found by typing April or status.
- Taskbar. Fixed several minor visual issues when using the taskbar in alternative positions. Thanks to the Insiders who shared feedback on this topic. Also, you can now use a swipe touch gesture to invoke the taskbar when using alternative taskbar positions.
Known issues:
Reset PC. Resetting your PC may hang when using Reset this PC. To complete the reset successfully, choose the cloud download option (Cloud PBR) instead of local. This issue is fixed in this update.
Installation via Windows Update: go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A reboot is required to complete the installation. To update Windows 11, version 25H2 to build 26300.8553, you can also download update KB5089569 and install it manually using the links above.
| Feature / Change | Performance Increase or Decrease | Optimization | PC Speed | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start menu: Recommended renamed to Recent, section toggles added | ⚪ No impact (UI change only) | 🟢 Improved UI navigation efficiency | ⚪ No measurable speed change | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Start menu: Small/Large size option | ⚪ No impact | 🟡 Minor screen space optimization | ⚪ No measurable speed change | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Start menu: Hide name & profile picture option | ⚪ No impact | 🟡 Minor privacy-focused UI decluttering | ⚪ No measurable speed change | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Start menu: Redesigned settings page | ⚪ No impact | 🟢 Streamlined settings navigation | ⚪ No measurable speed change | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Search: Substring search for complex filenames | ⚪ No impact | 🟢 High – significantly faster file discovery | 🟡 Perceived speed increase in finding files | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Taskbar: Visual fixes for alternative positions | ⚪ No impact | 🟡 Minor rendering cleanup | ⚪ No measurable speed change | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Taskbar: Swipe touch gesture for alternative positions | ⚪ No impact | 🟡 Improved touch input responsiveness | 🟡 Perceived fluidity increase on touch devices | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Reset PC: Hang fix (Cloud PBR now stable) | 🟢 Prevents system freeze during reset | 🟢 Critical reliability optimization | 🟢 Eliminates reset bottleneck (indirect speed preservation) | ⚪ Not applicable |
Official announcement on the Microsoft website.
The last 10 Windows updates:
| Update | Build | Version | Windows | Channel | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KB5126657 | 19045.7807 | 22H2 (ESU) | Windows 10 | Stable | 2026-10-13 |
| KB5126653 | 22631.7652 | 23H2 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-10-13 |
| KB5127646 | 28000.3231 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-10-13 |
| KB5127648 | 26300.9711 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-10-13 |
| KB5127757 | 28120.3181 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-10-07 |
| KB5127758 | 26220.9606 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-10-07 |
| KB5127754 | 28020.3172 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-10-07 |
| KB5127753 | 26340.9616 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-10-07 |
| KB5124192 | 28120.3151 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-10-02 |
| KB5124196 | 28020.3142 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-10-02 |