Windows 11 version 26H2 has entered the Release Preview channel, bringing Microsoft closer to a wider rollout of its next major Windows 11 update.
The preview is available to eligible Windows Insider Program members running Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2. Build 26300.9278 enables a broader collection of interface changes, including updates to the Start menu, Taskbar, Search, File Explorer and the right click menu.
Some of these features have already appeared gradually in earlier Windows 11 releases, but version 26H2 brings them together for a wider range of supported PCs, including certain enterprise configurations where features may previously have remained disabled.
| Windows 11 26H2 area | Main change |
|---|---|
| Release status | Release Preview |
| Eligible versions | Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 |
| Build | 26300.9278 |
| Taskbar | Can be repositioned |
| Start menu | Redesigned with more customization |
| Search | Results can be customized and ads removed |
| File Explorer | Performance and interface improvements |
| Right click menu | Better organization and reduced stutter |
| Availability | Windows Insider Program |
Taskbar and Start menu gain more customization
One of the most visible changes in Windows 11 26H2 is the updated Taskbar and Start menu.
The Taskbar can now be repositioned, giving you more control over where it appears on the desktop. Microsoft has also expanded customization options for Start and other Taskbar elements.
This is notable because Windows 11 originally removed several customization options that were available in older Windows releases.
The 26H2 update continues Microsoft's recent effort to restore flexibility while refining the overall Windows interface.
Windows Search can hide ads
Search is also getting additional controls.
Windows 11 26H2 allows Search results to be customized so you can focus on the content you want to see. The update also introduces the ability to remove advertising from Search.
That should make the interface cleaner for people who primarily use Windows Search to find local apps, settings and files.
Microsoft has been gradually adjusting Search as part of a broader effort to reduce interface clutter and improve the responsiveness of Windows 11.
File Explorer and right click menu receive performance work
The update also includes changes intended to improve File Explorer and the context menu.
Microsoft's focus is not limited to appearance. The company has been working to reduce visible stuttering and delays when navigating the Windows interface.
Right click menu extensions installed by third party applications can also be reorganized, giving you more control over how those options appear.
The changes address a common complaint with Windows 11, where context menus and File Explorer interactions can occasionally feel slower or less responsive than expected.
Release Preview suggests wider rollout is getting closer
Release Preview is typically one of the final stages before a Windows update moves toward general availability.
That does not mean every PC should install Windows 11 26H2 immediately. It remains part of the Windows Insider Program, so unexpected bugs can still appear.
Microsoft is making the build available to both regular Windows Insiders and Windows Insider Program for Business participants. Eligible hardware must meet Windows 11 requirements before the update can be installed.
If you choose to test it, keeping a recent backup and recovery option remains sensible.
The arrival of Windows 11 26H2 in Release Preview indicates that development is now at an advanced stage. Its most noticeable changes focus on restoring Taskbar flexibility, improving Start and Search customization, and continuing Microsoft's work on reducing interface delays across Windows 11.
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