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I spent time with the August Windows 11 Insider builds, and these 8 changes reveal Microsoft’s next phase for the OS
Windows Central • • technology
Key Points:
- In mid-August 2026, Microsoft released five Windows 11 preview builds across Experimental and Beta channels, introducing a fully customizable context menu, improvements to background image handling, Magnifier, Camera Roll backup, and the Get Started app.
- The redesigned context menu offers a simpler, faster, and less cluttered interface with customizable options such as "Send to" and Print, vertical arrangement of primary actions, and the ability to restore the classic menu, catering to users accustomed to Windows 10.
- Windows Recovery Environment now supports automatic reuse of saved Wi-Fi profiles, enabling recovery workflows like Quick Machine Recovery or cloud rebuilds to connect online without manual Wi-Fi setup.
- Microsoft removed the legacy Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility and the Drag Tray feature from Windows 11, while continuing to support WMI through PowerShell and other tools.
- Additional updates include faster File Explorer performance with improved touch support, subtle visual tweaks to Windows Security, and enhanced desktop background reliability and slideshow functionality.
