October 2026 Windows 11 update brings new features
Microsoft will begin the automatic installation of the October 2026 Windows 11 update on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. According to Windows Central, versions 26H2, 25H2 and 24H2 will receive it, with 24H2 getting its final quality update, as support for that version also ends. The new features are being rolled out gradually via Controlled Feature Rollout, so some computers will receive them later.
What the October 2026 Windows 11 update changes
In File Explorer, the preview pane is changing. Downloaded HTML files can be viewed after confirming an internet warning, while PDFs are previewed automatically. However, appauxin.com describes a different form: according to it, downloaded files are displayed without the "unblock first" step, and only HTML files require manually clicking "Preview anyway." The Home page now remembers which sections you expanded or collapsed, and in the Details pane the reliability of thumbnails for files in the cloud has improved.
The Open apps maximized feature can be found in Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects. Apps then launch in a maximized window, not in full-screen mode. Magnifier has received a redesigned interface with icons in the spirit of Windows 11 and adjusted spacing.
Copilot key, touchpad and system recovery
For precision touchpads, two vertical scrolling options have been added (Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad). The Copilot key can now be assigned to Right Ctrl or the context menu key in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard. A Tips widget with short tips about the system has been added to widgets.
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) can reuse Wi-Fi profiles saved in the system. Previously, it supported connecting only via Ethernet or separately configured Wi-Fi networks. A plugin for remote recovery management for MDM providers has also been added.
Other changes and a known bug
Microsoft has improved transitions when changing wallpapers, preview supports higher resolutions and DIB images. In Settings, on the Home or Accounts page, there is a new Camera Roll Backup option for backing up photos via OneDrive. The Ebrima font supports the Garay and Beria Erfe fonts, and support for Emoji 17.0 has been added. In Kiosk mode, additional shortcuts are blocked: Windows + Tab, Windows + A and Windows + C. Conversely, Microsoft is removing the PC-to-PC Migration feature for transferring files and settings from an old computer.
According to appauxin.com, an optional preview update KB5124010 for versions 24H2 and 25H2 was released at the end of September 2026, bringing build 26200.9550 on 25H2 and 26100.9550 on 24H2. Microsoft records one known bug with it: File History may not back up or restore files on some external drives and network locations.
How Windows Central rates the update
Mauro Huculak of Windows Central writes: "I see this as a solid update because many changes make the operating system easier to use rather than adding another major feature people have to learn." On system recovery, he adds: "The ability to reuse Wi-Fi connections with WinRE is probably even more useful when something goes wrong. I rarely think about recovery tools when everything is working, but when I need them, having the system connect to an already saved connection without extra setup can save time and make things easier."