Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7670 (KB5074169) Guide
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7670 (delivered via KB5074169) was released to the Beta Channel on January 27, 2026. This build represents a critical maintenance flight for the 25H2 development cycle, focusing primarily on resolving regressions introduced in earlier flights and enhancing system stability for both consumer and enterprise environments.
Release Overview
- Build Number: 10.0.26220.7670
- KB Identifier: KB5074169
- Channel: Beta Channel
- Release Date: January 27, 2026
- Target Platform: Windows 11, version 25H2
This update is primarily an “enablement package” flight. It does not introduce major new features but serves to bridge the gap between the Beta and Dev channels, the latter of which has recently branched into the 26300 series.
Key Improvements and Fixes
File Explorer & Archive Management
- Extract All Fix: Resolved a specific regression where the Extract All option failed to appear in the command bar when viewing non-ZIP archive folders (such as .tar or .7z). This restores standard functionality for the native archive support features introduced in recent versions.
- Stability: Underlying work was included to address explorer.exe hangs that occurred during the initial login phase when specific startup apps were configured.
Start Menu & Search
- Search Icon Regression: Fixed a visual bug where the Search process in the Taskbar or Start menu displayed a generic “X” icon instead of the standard magnifying glass.
- Mobile Device Side Panel: In the Start menu, clicking the hide this pane button within the mobile device side panel now correctly navigates to the Settings page, allowing users to manage the companion experience.
Settings & Performance
- Home Page Loading: Implemented performance optimizations to reduce “hangs” or slow loading times when opening the Settings Home page.
- System Check Fix: Addressed a kernel-level issue that triggered SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION bug checks (BSOD) for a subset of Insiders in recent builds.
Display & Graphics
- Multi-Monitor Support: Fixed a high-impact issue where secondary monitors would fail to render correctly or display a black screen after waking from sleep or performing a driver update.
Enterprise & Remote Desktop
- Cloud PC Connectivity: Corrected an authentication failure issue impacting Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 users. This fix addresses a regression where sign-in attempts would fail unexpectedly despite valid credentials.
Known Issues
| Feature | Impact |
| File Explorer | All open windows and tabs may unexpectedly “jump” to the Desktop or Home view during active use. |
| Start Menu | In the Categories view, clicking the option to show more apps within a specific category may fail to respond. |
| Taskbar | Some application icons may fail to appear in the System Tray (overflow area) even if configured to be visible. |
| Xbox FSE | Apps using Full Screen Experience (FSE) may exhibit unpredictable window scaling or fail to open secondary child windows. |
| Click to Do | The Microsoft 365 Copilot prompt box on selected images may be non-functional unless the Copilot app is already running in the background. |
Technical Deployment Notes
For administrators and advanced users, this build utilizes Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology.
- Feature Staging: Many of the fixes listed are tied to the “Get the latest updates as they are available” toggle in
Settings > Windows Update. If this is disabled, the system may delay the application of certain UX fixes. - Channel Migration: Note that the Dev Channel has moved to Build 26300.7674. If you move from Beta (26220) to Dev (26300), the path to roll back without a clean install becomes significantly more restricted.
- Enterprise Policy: For managed environments, these quality updates can be staged via Windows Update for Business (WUfB) using the “Windows Insider – Beta” ring policy.
