Quote:Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7523 (KB5072043) to the Dev and Beta Channels, based on version 25H2. The update introduces several Copilot-related additions to the taskbar, expands accessibility controls in Narrator, tweaks input and widgets, and delivers a long list of fixes. The same build is available in both channels for now, which also opens a temporary window for Dev Channel users to switch to Beta without reinstalling.

The release follows Microsoft’s current Insider strategy: features are split between those rolling out gradually to systems with the “get the latest updates as they are available” toggle enabled, and changes that apply to everyone in the Dev and Beta Channels. Most of the headline additions in this build fall into the gradual rollout category.



Ask Copilot arrives on the taskbar for commercial users

The most visible change is the rollout of Ask Copilot on the taskbar for commercial customers with Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses. Consumer Insiders saw an earlier version of this feature in October; this build brings a variant tailored for work environments.

Ask Copilot acts as a unified entry point to Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot agents, and search. From the taskbar, users can open Copilot with a single click, interact using voice or text, and reference contextual work information tied to their Microsoft 365 environment. Agents can be invoked directly by typing “@” or using the tools button, and search results for apps, files, and settings use the same Windows APIs as standard Windows Search.

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