Windows 11 KB5070311 Update: What’s New in the Latest Preview Build?
Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 preview update, KB5070311 (OS Builds 26200.7309 and 26100.7309). This could be the final feature update of 2025, and it brings several improvements, visual refinements, and a few strange bugs you should know about. Here’s a simple and clear breakdown of what’s new.
How to Get the Update Early
Since this update is still in preview, you won’t get it automatically unless you enable:
Settings > Windows Update > "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available."
If this option is turned on, the update will show up right away. If not, you may need to wait 1–2 weeks.
1. Updated Start Menu Experience
One of the biggest visual improvements is the new, larger Start menu. If you haven’t received it before, this update should finally enable it.
Microsoft has also fixed the search box issue. Previously, when you typed something and opened the search window, it looked smaller than the new Start menu. Now the search pane matches the Start menu size correctly.
2. Simplified Windows Update Names
Microsoft has updated how update titles appear in the update history. Instead of long, confusing names, future updates will now show:
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Short date
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Build number
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Update name
This makes update tracking much cleaner.
3. Better Dark Mode Support in File Explorer
Dark mode now extends to more File Explorer dialog boxes. For example:
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Delete confirmation prompts
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Copy/move progress windows
However, the Properties window still doesn’t support dark mode.
4. New Virtual Workspaces in Settings
Under Settings > System > Advanced, there’s a new option called Virtual Workspaces.
This lets you enable classic Windows features like:
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Hyper-V
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Windows Sandbox and more
Previously, you had to open Control Panel > Turn Windows features on or off. Now it’s available in modern Settings—a sign that Microsoft is slowly migrating legacy features.
5. A More Compact Right-Click Menu (Coming Soon)
Microsoft is also updating the Windows 11 right-click (context) menu to make it more compact.
Although the feature is not fully rolled out yet, preview images show a cleaner design. For now, many users still prefer the classic context menu.
6. Known Bugs in This Update
While this update brings improvements, it also introduces some annoying bugs:
File Explorer Flashing Bug
When you open File Explorer, the screen may flash white for a second.
Temporary fixes:
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Change File Explorer opens to: This PC
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Disable the Preview Pane in the toolbar
This prevents the flashing in most cases.
Lock Screen Password Icon Bug
Some users report that the password icon on the lock screen becomes invisible. The password box still works, but the icon doesn’t appear.
7. Major Accessibility Improvements
For people who use Magnifier or Reading mode, Microsoft introduced useful additions:
New Shortcuts
You can now use new keyboard shortcuts to change the magnifier zoom level more easily.
Natural Voices for Reading
This is one of the biggest upgrades. Windows can now use natural-sounding voices, which are far better than the old robotic text-to-speech voice.
You can find this in:
Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier > Reading
From here, you can:
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Choose new voices
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Add natural voices like Microsoft Aria
These voices sound much more realistic and make reading easier and more pleasant.