Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5603 is more than just another update—it’s a milestone in the operating system’s evolution, introducing AI-powered file management, smarter settings, and a host of enhancements designed to streamline your workflow and boost productivity. Here’s everything you need to know about the groundbreaking new features, how they work, and why they matter.
Microsoft has begun rolling out “Windows 11 AI actions” directly into File Explorer, fundamentally changing how users interact with files. With this update, right-clicking on an image or document brings up a new “AI actions” menu, offering a suite of context-aware, AI-powered tools—no need to open separate apps or leave your workflow.
Image Editing, Now AI-Driven
Currently, four powerful AI actions are available for image files (.jpg, .jpeg, .png):
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Bing Visual Search: Instantly search the web using an image, finding similar pictures, identifying products, landmarks, plants, and even famous faces. This feature brings the power of Bing’s visual intelligence directly to your desktop, making it easier than ever to get answers or inspiration from your own photos.
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Blur Background: Launches the Photos app to detect and blur backgrounds in one click, highlighting your subject for a professional look. You can fine-tune the effect with adjustable intensity or the brush tool to customize what gets blurred.
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Erase Objects: Uses generative AI to remove unwanted elements from your images. Whether it’s a photobomber or a distracting object, simply highlight what you want gone and let AI clean up your shot.
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Remove Background: Opens Paint to automatically cut out the subject from the background, creating a smooth, isolated image for presentations, design, or social sharing.
These features are available to Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel and represent a significant leap in everyday image editing—no Photoshop required.
Coming Soon: AI for Documents
Microsoft is preparing to expand AI actions to Microsoft 365 files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDF, and more. Two standout features are on the horizon:
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Summarize: Generate concise summaries of documents without opening them. Perfect for quickly grasping the key points of lengthy reports or presentations. Requires a Copilot subscription.
A summary of a document in File Explorer via the Summarize Microsoft 365 action. -
Create an FAQ: Instantly convert documents into Q&A lists, ideal for building knowledge bases or prepping for meetings. Also requires a Copilot subscription and is initially limited to commercial Microsoft 365 subscribers.
This integration will allow users to extract value from their files faster than ever—directly from File Explorer.
Advanced Settings: Power Tools for Power Users
The new Advanced Settings page (Settings > System > Advanced) replaces the old “For Developers” section, bringing more functionality and clarity to advanced Windows options. Key additions include:
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Enable Long Paths: Remove the 260-character file path limit for legacy applications, solving a long-standing headache for developers and power users.
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Virtual Workspaces: Easily toggle virtualization features like Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox from a centralized location.
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File Explorer + Version Control: View Git repository information—such as branch, commit history, and diff count—directly in File Explorer. This is a major quality-of-life upgrade for developers managing code on Windows.
Taskbar, Search, and Accessibility Improvements
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Accessibility Flyout: The Quick Settings panel now includes text descriptions for assistive technologies like Narrator and Voice Access, making it easier for users to discover and understand accessibility features.
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Search Box Enhancements: Windows Search now displays notices if results are incomplete due to ongoing indexing and provides clear status indicators for files (cloud vs. local), helping users find what they need faster.
Windows search box improvements for search results highlighted in red boxes.
Widgets Board: Copilot-Curated Content and Visual Refresh
Microsoft is testing a redesigned Widgets Board for a more organized, personalized, and visually engaging experience. The most notable addition is Copilot-curated stories, which combine summaries, videos, and images from trusted MSN publishers to give users a multifaceted view of trending topics.
Users can revert to the previous Widgets experience via the “Copilot Discover (Preview)” toggle in settings.
Energy Efficiency: Smarter Power Management
A new User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management feature helps extend battery life by automatically applying efficient power policies when your PC is idle, then instantly restoring full performance when you return. This OS-level enhancement is especially valuable for laptops and tablets, with early reports suggesting meaningful battery savings.
Sharing, Backup, and Snipping Tool Upgrades
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Windows Share Window: Image compression is now simplified to three options—High, Medium, or Low Quality—making it easier to optimize images before sharing.
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Windows Backup App: Microsoft is experimenting with new landing page designs to improve onboarding for first-time users.
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Snipping Tool: The new text extractor feature can now be launched instantly with
Win + Shift + T, letting users copy text from images or screenshots without taking a full screenshot first.
Default Apps: More Browser Control
Users now have greater flexibility in setting default apps for various file types, including a new one-click button to make your default browser the handler for PDF files. This streamlines the process of customizing how Windows opens files and addresses long-standing user requests.
Fixes and Known Issues
Resolved:
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Fixed crashes in Safe Mode affecting File Explorer and Start menu.
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Patched issues with Bluetooth settings and Start menu display.
Known Issues:
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Xbox controller Bluetooth connectivity may cause system crashes for some users; a manual driver uninstall is the current workaround.
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Some accessibility and localization bugs persist, particularly with right-to-left languages and Narrator integration in new AI features.
Why This Update Matters
Windows 11 AI Actions Powerfully Transform File Explorer, Settings, and Everyday Productivity
Microsoft’s new AI actions in File Explorer are more than just a novelty—they represent a strategic shift to make AI a seamless, everyday part of Windows. By embedding intelligent tools directly into the right-click menu, Microsoft is reducing friction, saving users time, and making advanced editing and summarization capabilities accessible to everyone—not just power users or those with expensive software.
The update also signals Microsoft’s commitment to:
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Democratizing AI: Bringing Copilot and generative AI to the masses, not just enterprise customers.
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Boosting Productivity: Reducing context switching and manual steps in common workflows.
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Supporting Developers: Integrating Git and advanced settings directly into the OS.
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Enhancing Sustainability: Prioritizing features that extend battery life and reduce energy consumption.
How to Get These Features
These features are rolling out gradually to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. To try them:
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Ensure you’re on the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5603.
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Turn on the toggle for getting the latest updates in
Settings > Windows Update. -
Right-click supported files in File Explorer to access the new AI actions menu.
For advanced users eager to test features early, tools like ViveTool can force-enable some options, but most features will become widely available as Microsoft ramps up rollout.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Windows is AI-Native
With this update, Microsoft is not just catching up to AI trends—it’s setting the standard for what a modern, intelligent operating system can be. By making AI an integral part of everyday file management, system settings, and productivity tools, Windows 11 is poised to become the hub of both work and creativity for millions.
Stay tuned to msftnewsnow.com for the latest deep dives, how-to guides, and critical analysis on every new Windows feature as it lands.
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