Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5101682 (Build 26300.9032) for Windows 11 version 26H2, intended for insiders on the Experimental channel. The build contains an updated signing certificate for preview builds, the current certificate expires on August 11, 2026, so participant devices need to install this or a later build before that date to remain on supported versions and continue receiving future Insider Preview updates. In addition, the update brings improvements for search, smartphone integration, hibernation mode, as well as fixes for the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, and other system components.
- Automatic expansion of indexing in Windows Search. Windows Search can now automatically expand the indexing scope based on user activity, considering recent files and frequently opened locations, so that needed files become searchable without manual configuration. Feature management is available in Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows. This continues a series of search refinements, which previously included updating the Windows 11 search box, removing ads, adding priority for local results, and web suggestions management.
- Improved Phone Link panel in the Start menu. The Phone Link panel in the Start menu now shows more details about recent activities without extra actions: when hovering over a recent message or notification in the recent activities section, its content is displayed right in the Start menu, without needing to pick up the phone or open the item itself. The feature is gradually rolling out on the Experimental channel, requires Phone Link app version 1.26021.3.0 or higher, setting is located in Phone Link > Settings > Start menu personalization. This is part of Microsoft's broader work on deeper smartphone integration with Windows 11, including new capabilities for the Start menu and taskbar, clipboard sync, and a separate Messages app.
- Improved search in the Settings app. Search results are now gathered from more sections, and ranking is refined so that the most relevant settings appear higher in the list.
- Refined adaptive hibernation policy. Adaptive hibernation now triggers more frequently for instant resume from modern standby and conserves battery more efficiently at low charge levels. Notable changes: the system hibernates less often when charge is above 80% and transitions to hibernation earlier when charge is below 10%.
- Preserving block state in File Explorer Home section. The Home section in File Explorer now preserves the state of blocks — whether expanded or collapsed, allowing you to continue working from the same place.
The build also includes fixes for the Start menu, where a recent issue with crashing when dragging apps was resolved, and for the taskbar, where an instant close of a window thumbnail when hovering in the overflow area was fixed.
In File Explorer, an issue was resolved where the address bar content was cleared when entering edit mode by clicking at the right edge of the bar, stability when dragging files to a disconnected network drive was improved, and an issue was fixed where files on a connected DFS drive were incorrectly identified as coming from the internet, causing a warning about potential computer harm in the preview pane, and copied files received the Mark of the Web label.
Internal changes were made to improve the stability of the Windows spotlight on the lock screen feature.
An issue with automatic backup of File History to SMB network folders was fixed: backup was not working because Windows incorrectly reported invalid credentials when connecting.
The update is installed via Windows Update: go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A computer restart is required to complete the installation.
| Feature / Change | Performance Gain/Loss | Optimization | PC Speed Impact | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic expansion of indexing in Windows Search | 🟢 +5-15% search speed (files found faster, no manual rebuilds) | 🟢 High – dynamic scope adapts to user activity, reducing stale index overhead | 🟡 Minor CPU/disk burst during automatic re-indexing; idle priority, negligible foreground impact | ⚪ No direct impact (background service, pauses during full-screen) |
| Improved Phone Link panel in the Start menu | ⚪ No measurable performance delta (UI rendering only) | 🟡 Low – hover preview loads cached data; no extra sync overhead | ⚪ No impact (Start menu shell extension, minimal memory footprint) | ⚪ No impact (does not interact with game processes) |
| Improved search in the Settings app | 🟢 +10-20% relevance speed (less scrolling, faster result selection) | 🟢 Medium – broader index aggregation with refined ranking logic | ⚪ No system-wide impact (app-scoped query, sub-50ms response) | ⚪ Not applicable |
| Refined adaptive hibernation policy | 🟢 Wake latency +30-50% faster resume from modern standby (less full boot cycles) | 🟢 High – hibernation triggers tuned to battery thresholds, reducing idle drain | 🟢 Faster resume times & extended battery life (≤10% charge early hibernate) | 🟡 Marginal – avoids mid-game hibernation interruptions on low battery |
| Preserving block state in File Explorer Home section | 🟢 ~0.2-0.5s saved per session (no re-expand/collapse navigation) | 🟡 Low – state cache reduces shell re-render cycles | ⚪ Negligible (shell memory state, no I/O) | ⚪ No impact |
Find and Change Settings
| Setting | Where to find | How to change |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic expansion of indexing in Windows Search | Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows | To let Windows Search automatically expand the indexing scope based on your activity, open Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows and look for the relevant indexing options. To enable the feature, make sure automatic indexing expansion is turned on. To disable it, turn the option off. |
| Improved Phone Link panel in the Start menu | Phone Link > Settings > Start menu personalization | To see more details about recent activities directly in the Start menu, ensure you have Phone Link app version 1.26021.3.0 or higher. Open Phone Link > Settings > Start menu personalization and turn on the option to show recent activity details. To disable the expanded preview, return to the same setting and turn it off. |
| Improved search in the Settings app | Settings app search box | No manual configuration is required. To use the improved search, simply open the Settings app and type your query in the search box. The results will now include items from more sections with better relevance ranking automatically. |
| Refined adaptive hibernation policy | Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep (system manages hibernation automatically) | The refined policy is applied automatically. To benefit from it, ensure your device supports modern standby and hibernation is enabled. The system now hibernates less often when charge is above 80% and earlier when charge is below 10%. To disable hibernation entirely, open Command Prompt as administrator and run "powercfg /hibernate off". To re-enable it, run "powercfg /hibernate on". |
| Preserving block state in File Explorer Home section | File Explorer > Home | The feature is enabled automatically. To use it, open File Explorer, navigate to the Home section, and expand or collapse any block as desired. The collapsed or expanded state will now persist between sessions. No additional settings need to be changed. |
Official announcement on the Microsoft website.
The last 10 Windows updates:
| Update | Build | Version | Windows | Channel | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KB5120996 | 28000.2796 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Preview | 2026-08-14 |
| KB5120998 | 26200.9267 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Preview | 2026-08-14 |
| KB5120240 | 22631.7517 | 23H2 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-08-11 |
| KB5120249 | 19045.7663 | 22H2 (ESU) | Windows 10 | Stable | 2026-08-11 |
| KB5121000 | 28000.2704 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-08-11 |
| KB5121003 | 26200.9168 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-08-11 |
| KB5101677 | 28020.2623 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-07-31 |
| KB5101680 | 28120.2630 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-07-31 |
| KB5101683 | 26220.9022 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-07-31 |
| KB5101682 | 26300.9032 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-07-31 |