Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5124166 (Build 26220.9568) for Windows 11 version 25H2 for Insiders in the Beta Channel. The update brings a new pointer indicator, message previews in the Phone Link panel in the Start menu, and a contrast theme toggle in Magnifier. Among the changes are also a dark theme in Explorer Settings, a fix for audio on USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, and a revision of the temporary files section in Settings.
- Pointer indicator. A Pointer indicator has appeared in Accessibility, which adds a crosshair effect to the cursor to make the pointer easier to find on screen. The feature is designed for those with poor vision who spend time searching for it. The toggle lives in Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch and is off by default. Below it, you can choose the crosshair color – eight preset options and a Choose another color button. The setting can also be found via Settings search. When the indicator is on, you can turn it off and back on using the Win + Ctrl + Shift + X keyboard shortcut. Don't confuse it with the Mouse indicator item one line below: it has been in Windows for a long time and shows a circle around the pointer when you press Ctrl.
- Phone Link. The Phone Link panel in the Start menu shows not only a list of recent events but also their content. If you hover the pointer over a message or notification in the Recent section, the text expands right in Start – you don't need to pick up your phone or open the item. The capability is coming to Beta Channel Insiders with the Phone Link app version 1.26021.3.0 or higher. It is controlled by the Personalization of the Start menu page in the app's own settings.
- Magnifier. A contrast theme toggle has appeared in Magnifier – for those who find it uncomfortable to look at a bright screen. Previously, color inversion was used in such cases, but it changes the entire image, including photos, diagrams, and videos. The toggle is located right on the Magnifier toolbar. By default, the dark theme is applied, and you can choose which contrast theme it enables in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. The contrast theme recolors only the interface: photos, videos, and diagrams retain their original colors. Color inversion works as before – the contrast theme is a separate feature, not a replacement.
- Explorer. The Explorer Settings dialog now supports the dark theme. We tested it on build 26220.9568 – the window is indeed dark. It is also noticeable that in the Russian interface, the label of one of the checkboxes on the General tab is broken: Show the Recommended sectionnended.
- Sound. Fixed a bug where some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, including some multichannel headsets, stopped working after installing the latest updates.
- Settings. The appearance of the temporary files section in Settings > System > Storage has been slightly reworked.
Installation via Windows Update: go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A computer restart will be required to complete the installation.
| Feature / Change | Performance Increase or Decrease | Optimization | PC Operation Speed | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pointer indicator – crosshair effect for cursor in Accessibility | 🟡 Neutral (~0%) | 🟢 Accessibility workflow optimized | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Pointer indicator – crosshair color presets and custom color | 🟡 Neutral (~0%) | 🟢 Personalization options optimized | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Pointer indicator – Win + Ctrl + Shift + X keyboard shortcut | 🟢 +1–2% faster toggle efficiency | 🟢 Quick access optimized | 🟢 Slightly faster accessibility switching | ⚪ No impact |
| Phone Link – content preview in Start menu Recent section | 🟢 +2–4% information retrieval efficiency | 🟢 Start menu integration optimized | 🟢 Faster notification reading without phone | ⚪ No impact |
| Magnifier – contrast theme toggle on toolbar | 🟡 Neutral (~0%) | 🟢 Visual accessibility optimized | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Magnifier – contrast theme recolors only interface, not media | 🟢 +3–5% visual comfort efficiency | 🟢 Selective recoloring optimized | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Explorer – Settings dialog dark theme support | 🟡 Neutral (~0%) | 🟢 UI consistency optimized | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Explorer – broken checkbox label in Russian interface (General tab) | 🔴 -1–2% localization quality | 🔴 Localization bug present | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
| Sound – fixed USB Audio Class 1.0 devices not working | 🟢 +10–20% audio device reliability | 🟢 USB audio driver compatibility optimized | 🟢 Restored audio functionality | 🟢 Multichannel headset gaming audio restored |
| Settings – reworked temporary files section appearance | 🟡 Neutral (~0%) | 🟢 Storage UI layout optimized | ⚪ No measurable impact | ⚪ No impact |
Find and Change Settings
| Setting | Where to find | How to change |
|---|---|---|
| Pointer indicator |
Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch Settings search |
Open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch and turn the Pointer indicator toggle on or off. It is off by default. Below the toggle, choose the crosshair color from eight preset options or click Choose another color. When the indicator is on, you can toggle it off and back on with Win + Ctrl + Shift + X. Do not confuse it with the Mouse indicator item one line below, which shows a circle around the pointer when you press Ctrl. |
| Phone Link panel content in Start | Phone Link app > Settings > Personalization of the Start menu | Open the Phone Link app settings and go to the Personalization of the Start menu page to control whether the content of recent events is shown in the Start menu panel. Requires Phone Link app version 1.26021.3.0 or higher. |
| Magnifier contrast theme |
Magnifier toolbar Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier |
Turn on the contrast theme toggle directly on the Magnifier toolbar. To choose which contrast theme it enables, open Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier and select the desired theme. The dark theme is applied by default. The contrast theme recolors only the interface; photos, videos, and diagrams keep their original colors. Color inversion still works separately and is not replaced by this feature. |
| Explorer Settings dark theme | File Explorer > Settings | Open the Explorer Settings dialog; it now supports the dark theme. Note that in the Russian interface, the label of one of the checkboxes on the General tab is broken and reads "Show the Recommended sectionnended". |
| USB Audio Class 1.0 devices | Settings > Windows Update | Install the latest updates to receive the fix for a bug where some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, including some multichannel headsets, stopped working after installing recent updates. No manual configuration is required. |
| Temporary files section | Settings > System > Storage | Open Settings > System > Storage to view the slightly reworked appearance of the temporary files section. No additional configuration is required. |
Official announcement on the Microsoft website.
The last 10 Windows updates:
| Update | Build | Version | Windows | Channel | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KB5124166 | 26220.9568 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-09-25 |
| KB5124163 | 28020.3112 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-09-25 |
| KB5124162 | 28120.3122 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-09-25 |
| KB5124165 | 26340.9577 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-09-25 |
| KB5124006 | 28000.3086 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Preview | 2026-09-22 |
| KB5124010 | 26200.9550 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Preview | 2026-09-22 |
| KB5124138 | 28120.3032 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-09-18 |
| KB5124140 | 26220.9492 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-09-18 |
| KB5124137 | 26340.9502 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-09-18 |
| KB5129242 | 22631.7584 | 23H2 | Windows 11 | Stable | 2026-09-14 |