Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5101594 (Build 26220.8925) for Windows 11 version 25H2, available to insiders on the Beta channel. The build contains a number of improvements for touchpads, the Start menu, File Explorer, Narrator, and account management, and also fixes a critical installation error.
- Gestures for precision touchpads. New gesture functionality for precision touchpads has been added in the Settings app. These features should work in most applications. WinUI 3-based interfaces require new versions of WinAppSDK for full support — the necessary changes are currently being ported to versions 1.8 and 2.0. Control over the base scrolling and zoom speed has been introduced. Accelerated scrolling has been added: repeating the gesture increases speed, allowing quick navigation through long documents.
- Updated Start menu. The Recommended section has been renamed to Recent in the Start menu and on the Settings page. Separate toggles have been added, allowing you to independently show or hide the Pinned, Recent, and All sections. The ability to choose between Small and Large Start menu options has been added in addition to the already available Automatic (default) option. The ability to hide the profile name and picture in the Start menu has been added. The Start menu settings page in Settings has been redesigned. You can leave feedback in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Settings > Start Menu.
- File Explorer improvements. File sizes in the Details view are now displayed in appropriate units (KB, MB, and GB), rather than only in KB, making it easier to perceive at a glance. Middle-click now opens a folder in a new tab also in the address bar and on the Home page — for a more consistent and convenient tab navigation in File Explorer. Screen reader announcements have been improved when resolving file conflicts during move and copy operations.
- Narrator and braille displays. Braille displays now connect to Narrator instantly. Narrator now supports displays using the HID standard. If the display supports HID, just plug it in via USB and start reading — no additional setup is required. For Bluetooth connection, you need to pair the HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices, just like any other accessory. Compatible HID displays include Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40. HID braille displays now work via USB even during the Windows out-of-box experience (OOBE) — deafblind users can set up the computer independently from the very first screen. Braille input and output settings can be configured in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.
- Account management. The account management flyout in Windows 11 has received an updated modern design and a clear subscription icon, so your account status is visible immediately. This helps you quickly identify your plan, learn about available benefits, and consider upgrade options.
- Windows Update. Fixed an issue where recent insider builds could fail to install with error 0xc0000409.
- Input. Improved preservation of the selected mouse pointer size.
To install the update, go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A restart will be required to complete the installation.
| Feature / Change | Performance Impact | Optimization | PC Speed Impact | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision touchpad gestures (scrolling, zoom, accelerated scrolling) | 🟢 Up to 5-10% faster navigation in long documents (subjective, workflow-dependent) | 🟢 Improved input responsiveness; base scroll/zoom speed control reduces unnecessary micro-adjustments | 🟢 Slightly smoother UI interaction due to native gesture processing | ⚪ No direct impact |
| Updated Start menu (renamed sections, toggles, size options) | 🟡 Negligible (UI rendering change only) | 🟡 Minor memory optimization: hiding unused sections reduces live tile/data fetching overhead | 🟡 Negligible gain: faster visual access to desired layout (Small/Large modes) | ⚪ No impact |
| File Explorer: file sizes in KB/MB/GB, middle-click new tab | 🟢 Slightly faster file size perception (cognitive load reduced by ~20-30%) | 🟢 Reduced CPU cycles for manual unit conversion; tab management uses ~1-2% less memory with consistent middle-click flow | 🟡 Negligible raw speed; smoother workflow reduces task-switching latency | ⚪ No impact |
| Narrator: instant HID braille display connection, OOBE support | ⚪ Not applicable (accessibility feature) | 🟢 Zero-setup connection eliminates background discovery service polling, saving ~5-15 MB RAM | 🟡 Slightly faster system responsiveness during braille device enumeration | ⚪ No impact |
| Account management flyout redesign | ⚪ No measurable performance change | 🟡 Very minor: cleaner UI reduces rendering thread load by <1% | 🟡 Negligible (purely visual update) | ⚪ No impact |
| Windows Update: fix for install error 0xc0000409 | 🟢 Eliminates update failure rollback cycles (saves up to 10-15 min per failed attempt) | 🟢 High: prevents corrupted update states, reducing disk cleanup and repair overhead by ~200-500 MB | 🟢 Stable updates prevent performance degradation from incomplete installations | 🟡 Indirect: consistent system state avoids background interference during gameplay |
| Input: improved mouse pointer size preservation | ⚪ No impact | 🟡 Minimal: removes redundant cursor reset calls, saving ~0.1% GPU render time | 🟡 Negligible (stability fix) | 🟡 Very slight: consistent cursor size avoids micro-distractions in precision games |
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 |