KB5124006


Microsoft has released preview update KB5124006 (Build 28000.3079) Preview for Windows 11, version 26H1. Preview update KB5124006 (Build 28000.3079) is intended for Windows 11, version 26H1 on PCs with ARM64 architecture processors (Snapdragon). In addition, the update is available for devices with x64 architecture processors (x86-64, Intel and AMD).

Installation via Windows Update: go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A computer restart will be required to complete the installation. After the update, the Windows 11 build number will change to 28000.3079.

Feature / Change Performance Increase or Decrease Optimization PC Speed Gaming Optimization
Taskbar. The taskbar can now be placed at the bottom, top, left, or right. βšͺ No impact (no measurable performance change) 🟑 Medium (flexible workspace layout) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Compact taskbar. A compact taskbar option has appeared. 🟒 +3–5% usable screen space on small displays (no CPU/GPU gain) 🟒 High (saves vertical space) βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (more screen real estate for game UI on small screens)
Expanded Taskbar behaviors section. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (fewer clicks to reach settings) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Reliable notification area loading. 🟒 +2–4% fewer shell hangs on non-touch PCs 🟒 High (fewer failed loads) 🟒 +1–2% perceived responsiveness at login βšͺ No impact
Start menu size. Small or large option added. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (personalization) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Recent section. Recommended renamed to Recent. βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact (label change only) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Hiding the profile in Start. βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Redesigned Start menu settings. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (clearer toggles) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Simplified search home page. 🟒 +5–10% faster search page render 🟒 High (less visual noise) 🟒 +3–5% faster time-to-first-query βšͺ No impact
Clearer sources of search results. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (better clarity) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Configuring web results in search. 🟒 +2–5% faster local search when web results disabled 🟒 High (reduces background network calls) 🟒 +2–4% faster search response βšͺ No impact
Automatic indexing of frequent folders. 🟑 –1–3% background CPU/disk during indexing, but faster later searches 🟑 Medium (trade-off) 🟒 +5–15% faster file search for indexed folders βšͺ No impact
Faster Home in File Explorer. 🟒 +10–20% faster Home page open 🟒 High 🟒 +5–10% perceived Explorer responsiveness βšͺ No impact
Touch scrolling in File Explorer. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (touch UX) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Updated progress indicators. βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact (visual only) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Apps in the Share window. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (workflow) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Administrator protection. πŸ”΄ –2–5% during privileged tasks (token separation overhead) 🟑 Medium (security trade-off) βšͺ No impact in normal use βšͺ No impact
Smoother virtual desktop switching. 🟒 +5–10% smoother animation, fewer dropped frames 🟒 High 🟒 +3–7% perceived responsiveness 🟑 Medium (less stutter when alt-tabbing between desktops)
Reliable display settings. βšͺ No impact 🟒 High (fewer failures) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Preserving brightness level. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (power UX) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
App usage history. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (Task Manager accuracy) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Keyboard layout selection during setup. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (setup UX) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Pages in the Get Started app. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (onboarding) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Sleep after installing an update. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (power behavior) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Windows Update Orchestration Platform (UOP). 🟒 +5–10% less update-related background load 🟒 High (unified scheduling) 🟒 +3–5% fewer update-induced slowdowns 🟑 Medium (fewer mid-game update interruptions)
In-app purchases in Microsoft Store. βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Windows Autopilot device registration. βšͺ No impact 🟒 High (enterprise deployment) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) process isolation. πŸ”΄ –3–8% for isolated workloads (sandbox overhead) 🟒 High (security isolation) βšͺ No impact for normal apps βšͺ No impact
Agentic process tagging. βšͺ No impact (preliminary) 🟑 Medium (future security) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Post-quantum ML-KEM algorithm. πŸ”΄ –1–3% TLS handshake overhead 🟒 High (future-proof security) βšͺ Negligible in daily use βšͺ No impact
VPN crash resilience. 🟒 +10–20% fewer VPN-related hangs 🟒 High (stability) 🟒 +5–10% fewer freezes during VPN use 🟑 Medium (fewer disconnects during online games)
netsh wlan show wlanreport output. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (Japanese localization) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
Japanese IME input. 🟒 +5–15% fewer input freezes 🟒 High (for Japanese users) 🟒 +3–8% smoother typing 🟑 Medium (better in-game chat for JP users)
Voice input settings. βšͺ No impact 🟑 Medium (settings persistence) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact
WMIC utility removed. βšͺ No impact on system performance 🟑 Medium (reduced legacy surface) βšͺ No impact βšͺ No impact

Find and Change Settings

Setting Where to find How to change
Taskbar position Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar alignment Open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar alignment and choose bottom, top, left, or right. Tooltips, pop-ups, and animations follow the taskbar in any position, and most settings work in all positions. The search box and compact taskbar are supported only at the top and bottom.
Compact taskbar Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar size Open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar size and select the compact option to reduce icon and taskbar height. Start, search, and the notification area remain in place.
Expanded Taskbar behaviors section Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors The Taskbar behaviors section is now expanded by default. Open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors to view the settings; no manual change is required.
Reliable notification area loading Taskbar notification area No setting is required. The notification area on the taskbar loads more reliably on computers without a touchscreen.
Start menu size Settings > Personalization > Start > Start menu size Open Settings > Personalization > Start > Start menu size and choose Automatic, Small, or Large.
Recent section Start menu and Settings > Personalization > Start The Recommended section has been renamed to Recent in the Start menu and on the settings page. No manual change is required.
Hiding the profile in Start Settings > Personalization > Start > Hide name and profile picture in the Start menu Open Settings > Personalization > Start and turn on Hide name and profile picture in the Start menu to hide the profile name and image.
Redesigned Start menu settings Settings > Personalization > Start Open Settings > Personalization > Start and use the separate toggles to control the display of the Pinned, Recent, and All sections.
Simplified search home page Search home page No setting is required. The search home page has been simplified with less visual noise and faster return to recent queries.
Clearer sources of search results Search results No setting is required. Search now more clearly shows whether a result comes from an app, a setting, a file, a web result, or a Microsoft Store suggestion before you click.
Configuring web results in search Settings > Privacy & security > Search Open Settings > Privacy & security > Search and set whether to show web results and Microsoft Store suggestions alongside local results.
Automatic indexing of frequent folders Settings > Privacy & security > Search > Automatically find other suitable locations Windows automatically indexes the folders you use most often. To disable this, open Settings > Privacy & security > Search and turn off Automatically find other suitable locations.
Faster Home in File Explorer File Explorer > Home No setting is required. The Home page opens faster and is more responsive.
Touch scrolling in File Explorer File Explorer > Home > Recommended No setting is required. The Recommended section on Home supports touch scrolling for browsing the file carousel.
Updated progress indicators System startup, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and update installation No setting is required. Progress indicators throughout the system have been updated and now look the same and more modern.
Apps in the Share window Settings > System > Sharing > Show suggested apps Users signed in with a work or school account can find and install suitable apps from the Share window. To manage this, open Settings > System > Sharing and configure Show suggested apps.
Administrator protection Microsoft Intune OMA-URI or Group Policy The feature is disabled by default. Enable it via OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. It grants temporary privileges on demand instead of permanent administrator rights. First reported in October 2025 (KB5067036).
Smoother virtual desktop switching Virtual desktops No setting is required. Switching between virtual desktops is now smoother and more responsive.
Reliable display settings Settings > System > Display No setting is required. The Settings > System > Display page and its actions now work more reliably.
Preserving brightness level Display brightness / power saving mode No setting is required. The previous brightness level is better preserved after turning off power saving mode.
App usage history Task Manager No setting is required. Task Manager now more reliably shows app usage history.
Keyboard layout selection during setup Windows setup No setting is required. Selecting an additional keyboard layout during setup has been simplified, and the step is easier to skip if not needed.
Pages in the Get Started app Get Started app No setting is required. The Get Started app now has pages for installing apps, pinning websites, and choosing a theme.
Sleep after installing an update Windows Update / power settings No setting is required. A computer that was manually put to sleep goes back to sleep after installing an update, even if automatic sleep is disabled.
Windows Update Orchestration Platform (UOP) Windows Update No direct user setting. Apps will be able to coordinate their updates with Windows Update for a more convenient schedule and a unified installation process.
In-app purchases in Microsoft Store Microsoft Store No setting is required. Support has been added for in-app purchases in packaged WinUI 3 apps that require administrator rights.
Windows Autopilot device registration Windows Autopilot / Microsoft Intune Device registration is now generally available. Configure it in your organization's Autopilot or Intune environment to recognize trusted devices before enrollment, apply policies, automatically enroll corporate computers, and configure OOBE.
Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) process isolation Windows security / policy configuration Process isolation for MXC is configured through policy. Windows tools restrict code access to files, the network, the interface, and other system capabilities according to the specified policy.
Agentic process tagging Windows security / authentication Preliminary support. A trusted component can assign an opaque agent identifier to a process token; Windows protects the tag and passes it to child processes. During authentication through Web Account Manager, the identifier is sent with the request. The identifier format may still change.
Post-quantum ML-KEM algorithm TLS key exchange configuration The post-quantum ML-KEM algorithm can now be used for TLS key exchange on its own, not only in hybrid groups. Configure it in the relevant TLS or policy settings.
VPN crash resilience VPN settings No setting is required. The system more reliably withstands background VPN-related failures that caused processes to stop responding.
netsh wlan show wlanreport output Command line No setting is required. The output of the netsh wlan show wlanreport command has been improved for Japanese localization.
Japanese IME input Japanese IME No setting is required. Japanese IME input freezes less often.
Voice input settings Voice input settings No setting is required. Voice input settings, automatic punctuation, and the launch bar are saved more reliably.
WMIC utility Command line Starting in August 2026, Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 ship without the WMIC utility. It is absent in new installations and no longer available as a separate Feature on Demand component. The WMI service itself is still supported.

Official announcement on the Microsoft website.

The last 10 Windows updates:

Update Build Version Windows Channel Date
KB5124006 28000.3079 26H1 Windows 11 Preview 2026-09-11
KB5124115 26220.9472 25H2 Windows 11 Beta 2026-09-11
KB5124111 28020.2991 26H1 Windows 11 Beta 2026-09-11
KB5124112 28120.3002 26H1 Windows 11 Experimental 2026-09-11
KB5124114 26340.9482 26H2 Windows 11 Experimental 2026-09-11
KB5124010 26300.9539 26H2 Windows 11 Preview 2026-09-10
KB5125726 28120.2912 26H1 Windows 11 Experimental 2026-09-08
KB5124058 26340.9354 26H2 Windows 11 Experimental 2026-09-08
KB5124061 26220.9343 25H2 Windows 11 Beta 2026-09-08
KB5124059 28020.2904 26H1 Windows 11 Beta 2026-09-08