Windows 11 Release Preview Unveils Revamped Start Menu and Key System Enhancements

Major Windows 11 Update Reaches Release Preview

Microsoft has released a substantial Windows 11 update to the Release Preview channel, according to reports from the company’s official channels. The update, identified as KB5067036, includes builds 26200.7015 and 26100.7015 for different Windows 11 25H2 configurations and introduces several user-facing improvements alongside critical system fixes.

Major Windows 11 Update Reaches Release Preview
Redesigned Start Menu Leads Feature Updates
Enterprise and Productivity Enhancements
Setup Experience Customization
Performance and Reliability Fixes
Gradual Rollout Strategy

Redesigned Start Menu Leads Feature Updates

The most noticeable change in this release is the completely redesigned Start menu, which sources indicate has been rebuilt to provide faster app access and smoother navigation. The report states the new layout is designed to help users find needed applications and content more efficiently than previous versions.

Additional interface improvements include updated battery icons with color indicators and percentage display on the lock screen, along with several taskbar enhancements aimed at improving the overall user experience. The account management section has also been reorganized, with the “Email & accounts” section now renamed to “Your accounts” for consolidated management under Settings > Accounts., according to market analysis

Enterprise and Productivity Enhancements

For commercial users, analysts suggest the new Microsoft 365 Copilot integration represents a significant productivity enhancement. The update adds a dedicated Copilot page to the Get Started experience for managed commercial devices with active Microsoft 365 subscriptions, reportedly making it easier to discover and engage with the AI assistant.

Another notable addition for enterprise scenarios is the Administrator Protection Preview feature, which aims to secure “free floating admin rights” by providing just-in-time admin privileges. The report states this feature is disabled by default and requires activation through Intune or group policy configurations.

Setup Experience Customization

The Windows Setup Experience now allows users to customize their default user folder name during initial configuration, according to the documentation. By pressing Shift + F10 during Microsoft account sign-in to access Command Prompt, users can execute specific commands to set a custom folder name, though the naming is limited to 16 characters and Unicode characters only.

Performance and Reliability Fixes

Multiple system reliability issues have been addressed in this update, sources indicate. The release includes improvements to taskbar loading performance when unlocking devices after sleep, resolving previous instances where password fields and login screen contents failed to render properly during the transition from lock screen to login screen.

Key fixes reportedly resolve:

Remote Credential Guard failures between latest Windows 11 builds and Server 2022
Pen and handwriting functionality issues in applications due to microsoft.ink.dll exceptions
Application responsiveness problems when launching Open or Save dialogs
Protected content playback failures that occurred after previous updates
Password change errors that caused ACCESS_DENIED issues on member servers

Gradual Rollout Strategy

The new features are being released according to a gradual rollout schedule, according to Microsoft’s standard practice. This approach allows the company to monitor performance and stability before broader deployment. The authentication and media-related fixes are following a normal rollout schedule, suggesting these represent more mature solutions to known issues.

Windows Insiders in the Release Preview channel can access these updates through Windows Update, with broader availability expected as Microsoft continues to validate the changes across different hardware configurations and usage scenarios.