Microsoft just pushed Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7523 to testers, and it fundamentally changes how we interact with AI at work. This update blends the lines between your desktop and the cloud while giving accessibility tools a massive upgrade.
If you are in the Dev or Beta Channel, your taskbar is about to get much smarter.
Copilot gets a new home on the commercial taskbar
The biggest shift in this update is the arrival of “Ask Copilot” on the taskbar. This feature is specifically for commercial users with a Microsoft 365 license right now. It acts as a bridge between your local PC and your cloud data.
You no longer need to open a separate app to get help. You can click the icon, type your request or use your voice to start working immediately.
This feature allows you to invoke Agents by simply typing the “@” symbol.
It unifies your search results. When you search through Ask Copilot, it pulls from your apps, files and settings using the standard Windows Search tools. This ensures you do not lose track of your local data while looking for cloud answers.
Microsoft has stated this is an opt-in experience. You can turn it on by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
“Ask Copilot does not grant Copilot additional access to personal files beyond what Windows Search already exposes.”
This distinction is vital for privacy-minded users in corporate environments. The rollout has started for users in the United States and will hit other regions soon.
Windows 11 taskbar with glowing Ask Copilot icon and AI agents
Agents can now run tasks directly from your desktop
The concept of “AI Agents” is moving from a buzzword to a practical tool in this build. Microsoft introduced a system called Agent Launchers. This framework allows developers to register AI assistants that can work across your entire system.
These agents do not just sit in a chat window anymore.
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Taskbar Presence | Reports and tasks show progress bars right on your screen. |
| Notifications | You get an alert the moment an agent finishes a job. |
| Context Awareness | Agents remember what you are doing and can ask clarifying questions. |
We are seeing this in action with the Researcher agent. When you ask it to compile a report, you can watch the progress indicator on your taskbar. You do not have to keep the window open and stare at it.
Microsoft is testing two visual styles for this. Some of you might see these tasks grouped with the Copilot icon. Others will see them as standalone entries. This helps you multitask without losing track of your background AI jobs.
Narrator controls give users total command over speech
Accessibility took a front seat in this release. The Narrator tool has often been criticized for being too chatty or not chatty enough. This update fixes that by giving you granular control.
You can now decide exactly what the Narrator reads to you. You can choose to hear the label, the role, the state or the value of any item on your screen. You can also change the order in which these things are spoken.
Press Narrator key + Ctrl + P to open these new settings immediately.
This menu lets you customize announcements for specific items like buttons, sliders or checkboxes. If you are using a Copilot+ PC, it gets even better. You can use natural language to change these settings. You can simply type “don’t read position information” and the system understands you.
This level of customization is a massive win for the blind and low-vision community. It removes the clutter and lets users focus on the information they actually need.
File Explorer and widgets receive smart upgrades
The File Explorer is becoming more social. If you use a consumer Microsoft account, you will start seeing people icons in your Activity column.
Hovering over these icons opens a card with details. You can see recent file interactions or start a chat right from the file list. This was previously only for business accounts, but now personal users get the same streamlined experience.
Microsoft also tackled some annoying bugs. They fixed the white flashes that happened when you navigated folders. They also solved an issue where search results were slow because the system was indexing duplicate files.
Here are a few other changes you should know about:
- Voice Typing: The distracting full-screen overlay is gone. The animation now sits quietly on the dictation key.
- Discover Widget: A new widget offers quick tips on security and features throughout your day.
- Language Support: The Settings Agent now understands Spanish, Japanese, German and several other languages.
These changes seem small on their own. But together, they make the operating system feel much more polished and responsive to your daily needs.
