New additions to the Windows 11 Insider Program unfolded in the latter half of July 2025, showcasing 9 novel features.
In the latter half of July 2025, the Windows Insider Program for Windows 11 underwent significant changes and improvements across various features. The updates, which included enhancements to Click to Do, Windows Narrator, Lock Screen widgets, privacy settings, the Settings app with AI agent, the Second Chance Out-of-Box Experience (SCOOBE), Windows Search, Notification Center, and Task Manager, were rolled out through multiple builds in the Dev, Beta, and Canary Channels.
The Windows Narrator, for instance, received an update that allows it to generate detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs for Copilot+ PCs using Intel and AMD processors. This enhancement aims to improve accessibility for visually impaired users.
Lock Screen widgets also saw updates, potentially enhancing widget variety or interaction, thereby enabling users to access quick information more effectively. The "Discover widgets" option has been added to the Lock Screen settings, which will periodically update the Lock Screen with suggested widgets.
Privacy settings were refined as well. Microsoft removed the “Manage or clear your Bing search history” option from the Settings app, directing users to manage Bing search history via the Privacy dashboard instead. This consolidation of privacy control points is intended to streamline user experience.
The Settings app itself is now receiving an AI agent feature. This new addition allows users to use natural language to find and apply settings and fix issues automatically, without needing to open a specific page. This feature is starting to roll out in the Stable Channel with the August 2025 Security Update, but it's already available for Copilot+ PCs featuring AMD and Intel processors with build 26200.5722 (Dev) and 26120.5722 (Beta).
The Second Chance Out-of-Box Experience (SCOOBE) experience is now combining the suggestions into a single page, starting with build 26200.5722 and 26120.5722. This change aims to provide users with a more streamlined setup process post-initial setup.
In the realm of search, incremental improvements were made to Windows Search, though not all details were specified, likely focusing on search relevance and possibly integrating AI-driven enhancements.
The Notification Center interface is being improved so that users can access the fly out from secondary monitors, which also includes the full clock with seconds. This change is present in Windows 11 build 26200.5722 and 26120.5722.
Microsoft also made available for download the ISO file for build 27902. In the Canary Channel, builds 27913, 27909, and 27902 were introduced.
The Task Manager app is also seeing enhancements, possibly involving new metrics, UI improvements, or deeper integration with AI for system resource management insights.
Lastly, Windows 11 is experimenting with a grid view to show results for images in the last preview build for the Beta and Dev Channels. The new view will show the standard metrics used by industry standards and third-party tools. If you want to view the legacy metrics, you can do so on the "Details" page.
These updates, which span builds like 26200.5710, 26200.5722 (Dev and Beta Channels), and Canary Channel builds 27902, 27909, 27913, with continuous fixes and minor changes accompanying the new features, are aimed at refining usability, accessibility, and personalization for testers ahead of broader release.
- The Windows Narrator on Copilot+ PCs using Intel and AMD processors received an update that allows it to describe images, charts, and graphs to improve accessibility for visually impaired users.
- Lock Screen widgets potentially have enhanced variety or interaction, enabling users to access quick information more effectively, and a "Discover widgets" option has been added.
- Microsoft removed the "Manage or clear your Bing search history" option from the Settings app, Streamlining the user experience by consolidating privacy control points.
- The Settings app now has an AI agent feature, enabling users to find and apply settings and fix issues using natural language, starting with August 2025 Security Update.
- The Second Chance Out-of-Box Experience (SCOOBE) is combining suggestions into a single page to provide users with a more streamlined setup process post-initial setup, starting with the same build as the AI agent feature.
