Key Points
- Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4520 to the Beta Channel, introducing enhanced passwordless login options and updates for default app settings.
- New passkey collaboration with 1Password simplifies user authentication, allowing secure sign-ins via Windows Hello and cross-device passkey management.
- General fixes improve stability, including File Explorer crash resolutions and memory leak corrections, while known issues like Start menu touch navigation problems are acknowledged.
Microsoft announced the deployment of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4520 (KB5060834) to the Beta Channel for enrolled Windows 11 users running version 24H2. This update focuses on refining security, usability, and system performance while addressing feedback from the Windows Insider Program community.
Enhanced Passwordless Login Tools
One major update streamlines passkey integration in Windows 11 through a partnership with 1Password. This plugin-based system allows users to securely store and manage passkeys—password-free authentication credentials—using 1Password’s credential manager. To activate the feature, users must install the 1Password Beta app, enable advanced settings in Settings > Passkeys, complete verification via Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, or PIN), and then use existing passkeys or generate new ones for supported websites. The company highlighted that this functionality creates a unified, native experience for cross-device authentication. Developers interested in integrating similar tools are encouraged to visit the provided API documentation link.
Changes to Default App Settings and Language Support
The update also adjusts how default apps are handled in the Beta Channel. A new option now automatically pins the selected default browser to the Taskbar and Start menu unless users uncheck the feature. Additionally, Microsoft temporarily disabled Japanese language support in the Voice Access tool to resolve critical bugs. The default app modifications and language adjustments are part of ongoing efforts to improve user control and compatibility in the 24H2 channel.
Stability and Performance Fixes
Microsoft addressed several bugs affecting system reliability. For File Explorer, crashes caused by the "Home" interface and missing thumbnails for pinned favorites have been resolved. The Start menu received fixes for duplicate folder entries and incorrect animation issues when expanding folders. Typing stability was improved via a patch for frequent ctfmon.exe crashes in input-related processes. Another fix targets a memory leak that occurred during lock screen slide shows, which could degrade performance over time. The company also enhanced system dialogs for better compatibility with high text scaling settings, such as the "You must restart your computer…" prompt.
Despite these updates, known limitations and bugs remain. Some Beta Channel users may face a rollback issue (error 0x80070005) while installing the latest build, though a troubleshooting option in Settings > System > Recovery is available. Start menu touch navigation is unreliable, particularly for gestures like swiping, and drag-and-drop actions between folder views are restricted. Xbox Controller users are advised to uninstall specific Bluetooth drivers if their systems crash, using Device Manager tools. Additionally, Click to Do (Preview) and File Explorer’s Summarize AI action for Microsoft 365 files have temporary complications, such as delayed intelligent text actions and Narrator screen reader issues with bulleted lists. The Widgets feature partially reverts to older pinning formats until updates finalize.
Microsoft emphasized that Beta Channel updates for Windows 11, 24H2, use an enablement package to preview new technologies. Features in this build may evolve or be removed based on feedback, with no guarantee of final release. The company recommends using Feedback Hub (WIN + F) to report issues, stressing that localization and accessibility support for preview features—including Recall and Click to Do—may be incomplete.
Participants in the program are reminded that the Dev and Beta Channels reflect parallel development paths, with some features appearing in the Beta Channel before the Dev Channel. Regular tracking of build progress across Insider tiers is encouraged through the Flight Hub resource.
The release highlights Microsoft’s commitment to iterative improvements in Windows 11, leveraging Azure-linked identity tools and refining core usability for a broader public rollout in 2024. As the 24H2 iteration nears stabilization, upcoming updates likely will expand feature availability for standard users.
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