Windows 10: Microsoft Releases Windows 11 KB5101684 Preview Update With 42 Fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5101684 optional preview cumulative update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, containing 42 bug fixes along with new features, according to Microsoft's release notes. The update raises 24H2 systems to build 26100.8973 and 25H2 systems to build 26200.8973.

As an optional non-security preview update, it is not installed automatically unless the user has enabled the latest-updates option, and it previews changes coming to the August Patch Tuesday release.

Microsoft states there are currently no known issues with the update.

Immediate Fixes and Gradual Rollout


Several fixes are available to all users immediately.

A File Explorer fix addresses an issue where files stored on a DFS mapped drive could be incorrectly treated as originating from the internet after a device started while disconnected from the network and later reconnected. This could cause the Preview Pane to display a warning that the file could harm the computer, or apply an unexpected Mark of the Web to copied files.

A mobile device management fix addresses an issue affecting newly provisioned or recovered Windows devices running versions released on or after July 14, 2026 (KB5101650). After enrollment in an MDM service such as Microsoft Intune, affected devices could remain in an incorrect noncompliant state and be unable to access corporate resources.

A storage fix resolves File History automatic backups to network shares over SMB failing with a false "invalid credentials" error. The update also includes additional Secure Boot device targeting data and improves the stability of Office applications in virtualized environments.

Several features will become available gradually after installation.

Voice Access adds Voice Isolation, which reduces interference from other speakers and background noise. Three modes are available under Voice Access settings, then Improve speech recognition:

• Voice Isolation, which filters other speakers and background noise and requires a one-time voice setup;
• Remove background noise only, which filters non-speech sounds without setup;
• No filtering, which uses default microphone input.

The update also adds Korean language support for Voice Access and improves the reliability of starting the feature.

Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors, extending the secure sign-in option beyond devices with built-in sensors to desktops and other Windows 11 PCs, including Copilot+ PCs.

Users plug in a supported ESS fingerprint reader and enroll through Settings, then Accounts, then Sign-in options. Microsoft notes this feature was previously disclosed in January 2026 (KB5074105) and is now beginning to roll out.

The update also allows users to remove the Image Generation AI component from supported Copilot+ PCs where it is installed.

File Explorer, Search, and Interface Changes


In File Explorer's Details view, file sizes now display in appropriate units (KB, MB, GB) rather than kilobytes only. Middle-click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the address bar and Home page. The update eliminates a gray flash on load and unexpected scrolling to the top on the Home page, and improves thumbnail quality in the Recommended section.

Windows Search better handles typos and partial app names, and surfaces more relevant Settings results higher. New precision touchpad gesture controls in Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Touchpad, allow adjustment of scroll and zoom speed and enable accelerated scrolling.

Other interface changes include Taskbar notification badges using the Windows accent color instead of red, Weather set as the only default Lock screen widget for new users, a redesigned Start menu Account Control with a subscription status badge, Fluid Dictation off by default in Voice Typing, and a parental controls notice added during Windows Setup.

The update improves power settings reliability by applying display, sleep, hibernate, power button, sleep button, and lid-close changes to all power plans, and restores the Energy Saver threshold setting under Settings, then System, then Power & Battery.

It improves Windows Update progress calculation and post-update cleanup, system sounds in dark mode, and daylight saving time accuracy for Beirut, Casablanca, Jerusalem, and Nuuk time zones.

Additional fixes cover DHCP renewal reliability, IPPS print performance, clipboard reliability in Remote Desktop and Azure Virtual Desktop scenarios, and general explorer.exe reliability.

How to Install KB5101684


As this is an optional preview update, you must select it manually unless automatic installation is enabled:

1. Open Settings, select Windows Update, and click "Check for Updates."
2. Under KB5101684, click "Download and install" to begin, unless the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option is enabled, which installs it automatically.
3. Alternatively, download the standalone package from the Microsoft Update Catalog for manual installation.
4. Restart when prompted to complete the update to build 26100.8973 (24H2) or 26200.8973 (25H2).

KB5101684 is now available as an optional preview for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. Some features are available immediately, while others will be enabled gradually through a staged rollout.

Not all changes will appear on your device right after installation. As an optional non-security update, you may skip it; all included fixes and features are expected to be released to all users in the August Patch Tuesday cumulative update.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft Releases Windows 11 KB5101684 Preview Update With 42 Fixes appeared first on gHacks.

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Windows 11 22H2 not showing in Release Preview.

Latest preview builds for Release Preview channel are:

-Build 22000.829 which is released for all users

Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.829 to the Release Preview Channel | Windows Insider Blog

- Build 22621.xxx is for business insiders and optional for some home users as 'seekers experience'

Releasing Windows 11, version 22H2 to the Release Preview Channel | Windows Insider Blog

Now it seem that update to this build using 'seekers experience' isn't available anymore.

As told in build 22000.829 build release announcement:

We provided the option for eligible devices to update to a newer Windows 11 version during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) when you first sign in.

Is your device fully compatible with Windows 11?

You can download ISO for build 22621 and try use it for in-place update.

Using ISOs - Windows Insider Program | Microsoft Docs

 

Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows 8 Release Preview

Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview, the next milestone of the highly anticipated Windows 8 operating system. Available for download today in 14 languages at here, the Windows 8 Release Preview delivers a fast and fluid experience, along with a new user interface that responds equally well to touch as it does to keyboard and mouse. Since the February release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which was downloaded more than 1 million times in the first 24 hours, Windows 8 has become the most tested Microsoft operating system of all time, and with today's release, it enters its final phase of development before it releases to manufacturing.

We're thrilled to be at this milestone with the Windows 8 Release Preview," said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft.

New Apps Provide an Even Richer Experience
Windows 8 Release Preview delivers new apps from Microsoft and partners. Highlights include Bing Travel, News and Sports apps, as well as Gaming and Music Xbox apps that integrate with your Zune pass. The Windows 8 Release Preview also features notable improvements to the Mail, Photos and People apps that initially debuted with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. In addition, Microsoft has worked closely with its partners to deliver apps from around the world through the Windows Store.

Beyond the new apps from Microsoft and partners, customers testing the Windows 8 Release Preview will also experience tens of thousands of refinements across the product, such as increased personalization options for the Start screen, improved multimonitor support, refinements to the way people find and download apps through the Windows Store, and new Family Safety features. The new Internet Explorer 10 redefines browsing, particularly for touch-enabled devices. The Web is as fast and fluid as any app, and with new capabilities in the Windows 8 Release Preview such as "flip ahead," it is just as intuitive. A touch-friendly and power-optimized Adobe Flash Player is now integrated into Internet Explorer 10, and it is also the first browser to feature Do Not Track "on" by default, giving customers more choice and control over their privacy.

The Path to Windows 8
Beginning June 2, 2012, Microsoft will roll out the Windows Upgrade Offer in 131 markets, including the U.S. and Canada. Consumers who buy eligible Windows 7-based PCs through Jan. 31, 2013, can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of $14.99 (U.S.) during the time of the promotion. More information about the Windows Upgrade Offer will be available June 1. In addition to the Windows Upgrade Offer designed for consumers buying new Windows 7-based PCs, Microsoft will also announce other offers in the coming months that will help consumers with existing Windows 7-based PCs upgrade to Windows 8 when it is generally available.

In the next month, Microsoft will further detail the value Windows 8 brings to businesses at TechEd North America.

For more information, visit this page.

 

Futuremark Releases 3DMark Update with API Overhead Feature-set

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso-update-1503

You can thank me later. *Wink