KB5124038

Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5124038 (Build 26340.9212) for Windows 11 version 26H2, intended for insiders on the Experimental channel. This build contains a number of notable changes aimed at improving the user interface, increasing the stability of system components, and introducing new features. The main focus is on refining File Explorer, expanding personalization functionality, updating the emoji set to version 17.0, and removing the legacy WMIC utility. Additionally, the build includes fixes that improve the reliability of input methods and system components on devices with Arm64 architecture.

• Updated File Explorer context menu. A phased rollout of the redesigned context menu has begun. It should work faster, look neater, and better match user habits. Microsoft has reduced the number of top-level items, kept frequently used actions visible, and added a separate settings page for customizing the menu composition. The feature continues to be refined based on feedback from Windows Insider Program participants.
• Image preview in File Explorer. Fixed an issue from the previous build where a wide band could appear across an image during preview. Feedback can be submitted via the Feedback Hub (Win + F keyboard shortcut) under "Files, Folders, and Online Storage" > "File Explorer".
• Phone photo backup. New elements have appeared on the "Settings > Home" and "Accounts" pages for configuring automatic upload of photos and videos from a mobile device to OneDrive.
• Removal of WMIC. The Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line utility (WMIC) has been removed from this build. This is another step in the gradual deprecation and complete removal of WMIC from the system. Microsoft announced plans to retire WMIC in September 2025, recommending the use of PowerShell instead.
• Emoji 17.0 support. The set includes new symbols, including "distorted face," "fight cloud," and "hairy creature." To insert them, you can open the emoji panel with the Win + . (period) keyboard shortcut. Additionally, the appearance of some existing emojis has been slightly updated to better match the design on other platforms. Changes affected "saluting face," "face with peeking eye," "goose," "lotus," and "kissing cat."
• New pages in the "Get Started" app. New pages have appeared that help set up the device and learn about system features. Among them are installing apps, pinning websites, and choosing a theme. The available set of pages depends on the device. Setup can be interrupted at any time and continued later by reopening the app.
• Updated Magnifier toolbar. The toolbar has received an updated design. The icons on the toolbar now match the visual style of Windows 11. Microsoft has aligned the padding and spacing between elements so that the toolbar looks neater and more consistent. The functionality of Magnifier remains the same: viewing modes, zoom control, keyboard shortcuts, and the "Read Aloud" feature work as before.
• Removal of the "Drag Tray" feature. Based on feedback from Windows Insider Program participants, Microsoft has removed the "Drag Tray" feature from this build. The company continues to work on improvements in this area and promises to announce a future replacement in one of the upcoming updates.
• Input fixes. Fixed an issue where some third-party input methods, including certain Chinese IMEs, could incorrectly display the status window when typing in File Explorer and other parts of the system. Improved the stability of the Japanese IME — freezes and deadlocks should now occur less frequently.
• Changes to the personalized Start menu. Microsoft has changed the set of devices on which the personalized Start menu is being tested, so new features may temporarily disappear for some Insider Program participants. If features are unavailable in this build, they can be re-enabled using feature flags.
• Improvements to the Run dialog. For participants who have access to the new dialog, the reliability of the first launch has been improved, and the verbosity of element narration when using screen readers has been adjusted.
• Desktop personalization improvements. A rollout of several improvements related to the desktop background has begun: improved reliability of the "Personalization > Background" page in Settings; added the ability to use DIB format images as a background; improved reliability of changing images in slideshow mode for recently created accounts; increased thumbnail resolution when selecting an image; improved display of background preview on portrait-oriented monitors; improved reliability when changing the background several times in a row; added support for slideshow as a background when using multiple desktops — Windows should no longer automatically switch to a single image.
• Fix in the Settings app. Fixed an issue from the previous build where the Settings app could crash when interacting with elements on the "Date & Time" page.
• Fix for Arm64 processors. Fixed a crash in xtajit64.dll that could cause problems with some applications on PCs with Arm64 processors in recent builds.

To install update KB5124038 (Build 26340.9212), you need to go to Settings > Windows Update and click the Check for updates button. After the download and installation are complete, a computer restart will be required.

It is also worth noting that this update is intended exclusively for participants of the Windows Insider Program on the Experimental channel. To work with the new File Explorer features and the personalized Start menu, you may need to use feature flags if the capabilities are temporarily unavailable on a specific device.

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