Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3671 to Windows Insiders in the development channel using Windows 11 24H2. The beta channel introduces enhancements including taskbar icon scaling, which facilitates a more efficient and streamlined file-sharing experience in Windows. The icons on the taskbar will automatically reduce in size when the taskbar reaches capacity, enabling users to maintain visibility and accessibility of more applications without having to navigate to a secondary menu. Users have the ability to adjust their taskbar icon scaling settings by right-clicking on an empty area of the taskbar and choosing "Taskbar settings." From there, they can expand the "Taskbar behaviors" section and select their preference for the "Show smaller taskbar buttons" option.

A new drag tray feature has been implemented, enabling users to seamlessly drag a local file using either mouse or touch from File Explorer or the desktop to one of the displayed applications, or select "More…" to access the Windows share window. The test remediation package for quick machine recovery (QMR) is now accessible for Windows Insiders to fully engage with the functionalities of QMR in practice. To confirm the installation, navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Update history.

Updates and enhancements are being systematically implemented in the Beta Channel with the toggle activated. Recall is presently accessible in preview for Windows Insiders utilizing Windows 11, version 24H2, within the Dev and Beta Channels on Copilot+ PCs. Click to Do now enables users to engage with Copilot by highlighting text or images, facilitating the direct transfer of selected content to the Copilot application. The input settings are being enhanced to focus more on mouse functionality, incorporating features such as a mouse indicator, pointer trails, and additional customization options for mouse behavior and pointers.

Improvements for enhanced Windows Search on Copilot+ PCs involve rectifying semantic search challenges, resolving complications with external graphics cards linked via Thunderbolt, and tackling issues related to Hyper-V Manager.

Here is the announcement:

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518 (Dev Channel)

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518 (KB5054687) to the Dev Channel. 

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

Taskbar icon scaling

We are starting to roll out taskbar icon scaling to Windows Insiders – an improvement to the Windows taskbar that ensures that you have quick access to more of your favorite apps, even when your taskbar is full. With taskbar icon scaling, when your taskbar starts to get crowded with pinned or open apps, the icons will automatically scale down to a smaller size. This means you can keep more apps visible and accessible without the need to dive into a secondary menu. It’s all about making your workflow smoother and more efficient.

We understand that everyone has their own preferences, so we’ve included settings to tailor this feature to your liking. You can choose when Windows will show smaller taskbar buttons:

• When taskbar is full: By default, taskbar icons will automatically turn smaller when the taskbar is full. This helps you maintain access to more apps without any extra effort.
• Never: For users who prefer their icons to remain the same size as before, regardless of how many apps are open, there’s an option to prevent the icons from scaling down.
• Always: If you love the look of smaller icons and want them to stay that way all the time, you can set your taskbar icons to always be small.

To customize your taskbar icon scaling settings, simply right-click an empty region of your taskbar and select “Taskbar settings”, expand “Taskbar behaviors” section, and make your selection for the setting “Show smaller taskbar buttons”.

As always, we value your feedback, so let us know what you think!

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Taskbar.

Making sharing files in Windows easier

Sharing files in Windows is getting a lot easier and quicker with our new drag tray feature. When you start dragging a local file with mouse (or touch) from File Explorer or your desktop, a handy tray appears at the very top of your screen allowing you to drop the file into one of the displayed apps or choose “More…”  to open the Windows share window.

New drag tray UI that appears at the top of your screen when dragging a local file from File Explorer or your desktop.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File sharing.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[General]

• The  improved battery iconography in Windows 11 may disappear for Windows Insiders in the current flights. We’re beginning to re-roll this change out to Windows Insiders.

[Recall (Preview)]

Recall is currently available in preview for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2 in the Dev and Beta Channels on Copilot+ PCs.

• We are trying out a basic search history feature in Recall.

[Click to Do (Preview)]

Click to Do is currently available in preview for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2 in the Dev and Beta Channels on Copilot+ PCs.

• Ask Copilot is a new action within Click to Do. When you highlight either text or image with Click to Do, you’re given an option to Ask Copilot.  Microsoft Copilot opens with your content in the prompt box. You can send selected text or image within Click to Do Directly to Copilot app. The selected text or image is handed off to the Copilot app where you can complete your prompt. This feature is not available in the European Economic Area (EEA).  You can learn more about this Click to Do here..

• You can now swipe using touch from the right of your screen to invoke Click to Do on your Copilot+ PC. You can adjust this experience back to notifications if you want via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touch.

[Input]

• As part of our ongoing work to improve our settings experiences, we’re starting to make more mouse related settings available directly under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse and Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch without needing to go into Control Panel. This includes the settings for mouse indicator, mouse pointer trails, and further mouse behavior and pointer customization. As part of this work, we have also added the ability to adjust the amount of time needed to hover over a window to activate it, if you have activated on hover enabled. Finally, we updated the icon used for Mouse pointer speed in Bluetooth & Devices > Mouse and added an icon to the Enhance mouse pointer precision option.
• We’re updating the Bluetooth & Devices > Pen and Windows Ink, and Bluetooth & Devices > Touch pages in Settings to have options if you want press and hold for pen or touch to perform a right click action.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Improved Windows Search]

The following fixes are rolling out for improved Windows Search on  Copilot+ PCs:

• Fixed an issue which was causing semantic search to stop working for some Insiders (until you reboot your PC).

[Graphics]

• Fixed an issue where external graphics cards connected over Thunderbolt were unexpectedly not discoverable in some cases.

[Hyper-V]

• Fixed an issue where Hyper-V Manager may erroneously report 0% CPU usage for VMs in some scenarios.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5518 (Dev Channel)