Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 Insider build adds detailed Start menu controls, per-app permissions for legacy desktop software and multi-monitor Magnifier improvements, while a Recall bug affects some Copilot+ PCs after clean installations.
Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Experimental Build 28120.3302, adding a broader set of Start menu controls, more granular privacy permissions for legacy desktop apps, and a series of usability tweaks across the operating system. The preview also extends Windows Magnifier for multi-monitor setups, updates recovery options, and expands Unicode support, although Microsoft has also confirmed a known Recall problem on some Copilot+ PCs after a clean installation.
The most visible change is to the Start menu, where Microsoft is giving users finer control over layout and appearance. The company is introducing size choices for the menu, allowing Small, Large or Automatic modes, while also letting users hide their name and profile picture. Separate switches now control the visibility of the Pinned, Recent and All sections, and the Recommended area has been renamed Recent. Microsoft has also reorganised the Start settings page so the relevant controls are split into distinct toggles rather than bundled together, which should make the interface easier to manage.
The build also adds per-app privacy permissions for classic desktop software. Instead of relying only on system-wide access settings, users can now approve or block camera, microphone and location access for individual desktop applications. Microsoft says apps that have never used those resources will prompt for permission the first time they try to access them, while existing permissions will remain in place. That approach brings desktop applications closer to the model already used for many modern apps, and gives users more precise control over sensitive hardware and location data.
Elsewhere, Microsoft is refining Magnifier for people who use more than one display. The updated tool can keep separate zoom levels on each monitor, so enlarging one screen does not automatically affect another, and a new Viewport Locking option keeps the magnified area fixed while the user works on a different display. The company has also added a contrast theme control designed to reduce glare without changing the original colours of images, video or charts. In addition, Settings now includes a Cloud Rebuild option under System > Recovery, File Explorer thumbnails in the Home page’s Recommended area are said to appear sharper, and Windows has gained support for 4,803 additional Unicode 17.0 characters, including four newly encoded scripts.
Microsoft says the build is not free of issues, however. The company has flagged a Recall bug affecting some Copilot+ PCs, where the feature may disappear or fail to open after a clean installation of the preview. Microsoft says it is working on a fix, but has not said when it will be released. The changes follow other Insider updates to Windows 11 25H2, which have already brought new phone controls, an internet speed test and further customisation for File Explorer’s context menu.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
