Windows 11 26H1 Release Preview Adds Quieter Widgets and Touchpad Controls

Microsoft released a new preview build of Windows 11 this week, and the changes directly affect how you interact with your desktop and touchpad. The update brings a quieter interface and more precise control over input settings, which matters for users who want fewer distractions and better touch accuracy. We see this as a practical step toward stabilizing the upcoming major feature set before it reaches general release.

Build 28000.2597 refines widgets and touchpad settings for Insiders

The update is build 28000.2597 for the Windows 11 26H1 branch, and it is available now to Insiders on the Release Preview channel. This non-security update includes quality improvements that Microsoft has been testing with early adopters. It serves as a key checkpoint for the features that will define the next major version of the operating system.

Microsoft redesigned the Widgets experience to reduce interruptions by default. The company stated that widgets no longer open on hover and that notifications and taskbar badges are minimized by default to keep your workspace clean. You can also customize the size of the right-click zone in Settings under Bluetooth & devices and Touchpad. You can choose from Default, Small, Medium, or Large to control how much of the bottom-right corner responds to a single-finger right-click.

Windows Update now supports a calendar-based pause feature that allows you to delay updates for up to 35 days. Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors, expanding hardware compatibility for secure login. Voice typing and access are now available for French, German, and Spanish speakers. New printer installations use Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) by default to improve connectivity. The Graphics Kernel improves memory management for PCs with more than 32GB of RAM to help run larger local AI models.

When we covered the last Windows 11 update, several of the same balance and stability themes came up. This new build continues that trend by refining existing features rather than introducing radical new capabilities. The changes focus on usability and stability for the 26H1 branch.