KB5074157 Explained: What’s New in Windows 11 Build 26220.7653 (Beta Channel)
Windows 11 Beta Update: Build 26220.7653 (KB5074157) Brings Modern UI Upgrades and Stability Fixes
Microsoft has pushed a new Windows 11 Insider Preview update to the Beta Channel: Build 26220.7653 (KB5074157). This release is not about flashy new features. It is about refining the experience. Think cleaner Settings flows, better compatibility with modern image formats, and a list of fixes aimed at reducing annoying day-to-day glitches.
If you test Beta builds in a lab, run Insider rings on secondary devices, or you simply like tracking what is changing inside Windows 11, this build is worth a closer look.
What’s New in Build 26220.7653
1) Account dialogs in Settings are finally modernized
If you manage user profiles often, you have probably noticed how some parts of Windows 11 still fall back to older-looking dialogs. In this build, Microsoft is modernizing the account-related dialogs found in:
Settings > Accounts > Other users
This includes screens like Add account and Change account type. The big win here is consistency. These dialogs now align with the newer Windows 11 Settings design and properly support dark mode, which removes the “old UI popping up in the middle of a modern interface” feeling.
Why it matters
- A more consistent Windows 11 Settings experience
- Dark mode works correctly across these flows
- Cleaner visuals for screenshots and internal documentation
2) WebP desktop backgrounds are now supported natively
WebP is widely used on the web because it can preserve quality while reducing file size. With this update, Windows 11 now lets you set a .webp image as your desktop wallpaper through the normal Settings path:
Settings > Personalization > Background
Why it matters
- Less conversion work if your wallpapers or branding packs are sourced from web-optimized images
- Easier testing if you collect images from web platforms where WebP is the default format
3) “Click to Do” becomes faster on Copilot+ PCs
If you are testing Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft has improved performance in the “Click to Do” experience. Specifically, Copilot prompt suggestions now load instantly, which makes the feature feel less like a preview and more like a polished workflow.
There are regional limitations noted for some markets, so availability will not be universal.
Why it matters
- Faster response time improves usability
- Better consistency for Copilot+ testing scenarios
- Less friction for users who rely on “Click to Do” for quick actions
Fixes You’ll Actually Notice
Beta builds can be a mixed bag, but this update includes several fixes that target common pain points.
Taskbar and Start menu fixes
This build addresses:
- A memory leak in the Start menu that could slowly impact performance
- Scenarios where the Start menu, Notification Center, or Quick Settings fail to open when clicked
- An issue where the Start menu appeared on the wrong side of the screen for Arabic and Hebrew language users
If you have ever seen Start “stop responding” in a test environment, these fixes are the kind that improve day-to-day stability.
System stability improvements
Microsoft also addressed:
- A crash in the Settings app related to audio device interactions
- Cases where explorer.exe could hang during login if certain startup apps were configured, which could prevent the taskbar from appearing
- A bug where the password icon on the login screen could show up blank
These are not headline features, but they are exactly the kind of reliability fixes that reduce helpdesk noise.
Hardware and gaming fixes
If you test peripherals and gaming scenarios, you will want to note these:
- Bluetooth battery levels not showing correctly for supported devices
- Unexpected app behavior when using the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE)
Known Issues (Read This Before You Deploy Widely)
As with most Insider builds, there are still unresolved issues. The ones that matter most for testing:
Display issues with secondary monitors
Some users report secondary monitors showing black screens or displaying incorrectly after recent updates. If your setup includes docks, multiple monitors, or mixed refresh rates, this is a key area to validate.
System tray inconsistencies
You may notice some apps not appearing in the system tray as expected. This can be especially annoying if it affects apps users rely on, such as VPN clients, Teams, OneDrive, or endpoint security tools.
“Click to Do” dependency behavior
The Copilot prompt box may not function properly if the Microsoft 365 Copilot app is not actively running. If you are testing Copilot flows, verify the dependency behavior so you can avoid false bug reports.
Suggested Test Plan for IT and Insider Labs
If you are validating this build in a controlled ring, focus on these checks:
- Start menu reliability
- Open/close repeatedly
- Confirm no delayed load or UI dead clicks
- Quick Settings and Notification Center
- Validate click response and keyboard shortcuts
- Login stability
- Reboot, sign in, ensure taskbar appears consistently
- Test with common startup apps enabled
- Multi-monitor behavior
- Dock/undock
- Sleep/resume
- Mixed DPI and refresh rate validation
- System tray icons
- Confirm expected apps appear and stay persistent after reboot
- Wallpaper behavior
- Apply WebP via Settings and confirm it sticks after restart
Final Takeaway
Windows 11 Build 26220.7653 is a classic “polish” release. The most visible improvement is the modernization of account dialogs, but the real value is in the stability fixes, especially around Start menu reliability and explorer behavior during login.
If you are running Beta builds as part of a test ring, this is a good update to evaluate. Just pay attention to multi-monitor behavior and system tray consistency before you recommend it beyond lab devices.
