Windows 11 Build 26220.7523 (KB5072043) Introduces Copilot by Replacing Search and Adds Taskbar Agents (Dev, Beta)

The release of Windows 11 build 26220.7523 (KB5072043) replaces the traditional Windows Search with the innovative Ask Copilot feature, while also integrating AI agents within the Taskbar and Agent Launcher.
This significant update includes enhancements to existing functionalities such as the Touch Keyboard, a refreshed Voice Typing animation, a newly designed Discover Windows widget, and updated context details in File Explorer.
Microsoft has confirmed that this marks the final preview build for 2025, with plans to resume program updates in January 2026.

Microsoft has officially launched Windows 11 build 26220.7523 through update KB5072043, targeting version 25H2 within the Dev and Beta Channels of the Windows Insider Program. This preview replaces the conventional Windows Search in the Taskbar with the newly introduced “Ask Copilot, ”adds agents directly to the Taskbar, enhances Voice Typing for the Touch Keyboard, and brings forth a Discover widget in the Widgets board.

Moreover, the Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26220.7523) provides a range of enhancements to features such as Click to Do, input methodologies, Voice Access, and several aspects of the Taskbar and File Explorer, among others.

As always, this release includes a myriad of fixes aimed at optimizing the Taskbar, File Explorer, Lock Screen, Graphics, Windows Update functionalities, and more.

It is important to highlight that the Beta Channel has transitioned from version 24H2 to 25H2, establishing parity in the builds across both the Dev and Beta Channels.

Enhancements in Windows 11 KB5072043 for Version 25H2

This update heralds a series of changes that Microsoft is currently implementing for the Windows 11 25H2 iteration.

Transition to Ask Copilot

In a push towards AI integration, Microsoft is piloting the “Ask Copilot, ” which substitutes the standard Windows Search in the Taskbar. This feature harnesses AI to search for files, settings, apps, and more, with functionalities such as Copilot Vision and Voice available as well.

Currently an opt-in feature, users can still access the classic Windows Search experience. To enable Ask Copilot, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot.

Ask Copilot enable option for Taskbar / Image: Mauro Huculak

In addition, the option to “Resume” is being incorporated into this section.

According to Microsoft, the goal of Ask Copilot is to offer “a unified entry point that fluidly connects Microsoft 365 Copilot, agents, and search.” The experience echoes the original Windows Search but is enhanced by AI capabilities. You can utilize agents by typing “@” or using the tools button within the Ask Copilot interface.

Taskbar with Ask Copilot / Image: Mauro Huculak

While the feature can retrieve apps, files, and settings, it does not have access to private user data.

Introduction of AI Agents

The 26220.7523 build brings the inclusion of AI agents directly into the Taskbar, representing a major initiative towards establishing Windows as an “agentic OS.” This functionality allows AI agents to appear as icons on the Taskbar, enabling quick updates and task execution while maintaining a secure workspace.

Taskbar AI agent in progress / Image: Microsoft

The initial public preview features the Researcher agent, capable of conducting research and generating detailed reports, all while keeping your workflow uninterrupted. Users can view the progress by hovering over the Copilot or Researcher buttons on the Taskbar. Upon completion, a notification will alert users, and the Taskbar will indicate the task’s completion.

This experience will progressively roll out to commercial clients in the U. S.with a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription over the upcoming weeks.

Agent Launcher Framework

The KB5072043 update introduces the innovative “Agent Launchers, ” a framework designed to allow applications to register AI agents, making them accessible throughout the OS and across various experiences.

Agent Launcher on Windows 11 / Image: Microsoft

Registered apps will then become accessible through Ask Copilot and other installed applications.

Narrator Enhancements

The latest iteration of Windows 11 allows users to thoroughly tailor how Narrator vocalizes information during app navigation. Users can determine which properties—such as labels, roles, or values—are announced and the sequence in which they are presented, providing a more coherent navigational experience.

For instance, the Narrator can announce a “Submit” button in the sequence of “Button, Submit”instead of the default “Submit, button, ”allowing for greater customization. Adjustments can be made using the “Narrator key + Ctrl + P” shortcut, where users can modify properties for different control types. On Copilot+ devices, natural language input facilitates quicker settings changes.

Users can preview modifications prior to finalization and revert to default settings whenever necessary, aiding in creating a clearer Narrator experience aligned with individual preferences.

Voice Typing Updates for Touch Keyboard

The update enhances the Voice Typing functionality on the Touch Keyboard. The previous full-screen overlay has been eliminated, introducing a new animation directly on the dictation key for a more engaging user experience.

Voice Typing new animation in Touch Keyboard / Image: Microsoft

Discover Windows Widget

The Insider Preview Quality Update (26220.7523) introduces the “Discover Windows” widget, which offers quick, actionable suggestions to optimize user productivity. This widget delivers brief instructions on shortcuts, efficiency tactics, and security pointers, refreshing automatically to align with common user habits throughout the day.

This widget can be integrated into the Widgets Board or added to the Lock Screen as per user preference, ensuring it provides valuable insights without disrupting workflow.

AI Enhancements for the Settings App

Microsoft is broadening the language support for the Settings AI agent, which now accommodates various languages, including German, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Italian, and Simplified Chinese, in addition to previous support for English and French.

Improvements to Click to Do

Click to Do now integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 Copilot, allowing users to input custom prompts directly into the Copilot text box for context-sensitive support linked to their current screen content.

Input Functionality Enhancements

Enhancements include the enabling of the AltGr layer on the Arabic 101 keyboard, enabling right Alt key functionality for additional symbols, starting with the Saudi Riyal (₷), which can be typed using AltGr + S. The left Alt key continues to maintain its default functionalities, and users can switch languages utilizing Alt + Shift, Left Alt + Shift, or “Windows key + Space.” Similar updates have been rolled out for the Arabic 102 and Arabic 102 AZERTY layouts.

Streamlined Voice Access Setup

The Voice Access feature in Windows 11 now boasts a simplified setup process, guiding users in downloading the appropriate speech model for their chosen language and microphone selection, while also offering an overview of Voice Access capabilities.

Updated File Explorer with People Context

Users with a Microsoft account will experience updates in File Explorer, where the Activity column in Home, Recommended, Favorites, and Recent now features people icons. Clicking or hovering over these icons opens the Windows People Card (WPC), offering details on recent interactions and quick options for launching chats or calls through preferred applications.

File Explorer Windows People Card / Image: Microsoft

Miscellaneous Fixes and Enhancements

The Windows 11 build 26220.7523 incorporates a broad spectrum of fixes, covering:

Taskbar: Enhancements to behavior when the Taskbar is set to uncombined state, preventing the overflow area from appearing empty when it shouldn’t, and rectifying issues with taskbar labels for apps with multiple windows.
File Explorer: Solutions to navigation flashing, search performance improvements by eliminating duplicate indexing, enhanced accuracy for searches across drives, OneDrive file-opening issues in RemoteApp sessions, and better Voice Access functionality in the Gallery to allow opening photos by saying “click (number)” instead of double-clicking.
Lock Screen: Resolved problems leading to potential non-responsiveness or rendering failures on the login screen.
Graphics: Addressed an issue where Adaptive Brightness did not function correctly after a reboot.
Windows Update: Corrected an issue causing installation errors (0x800F0922) during recent updates.
Other: Resolved text rendering inconsistencies in Japanese during Windows Recovery, activation failures, external virtual switch binding issues post-restart, corrections in the “Share” dialog, and other consistency improvements throughout the Settings app.

Microsoft has also outlined known issues associated with these updates, including:

Taskbar Agent: The Researcher agent may become unresponsive upon clicking the Taskbar icon during active tasks.
Xbox Full-Screen Experience: Some applications may not perform optimally in full-screen mode when designed to maintain a specific size or open additional windows.
Taskbar: Instances where the Start menu does not respond to clicks, applications may not show in System Tray, and recent builds might activate autohide too early when using the screen’s bottom area.
File Explorer: Issues in dark mode regarding the copy dialog with text scaling enabled, resulting in scrollbar and footer visibility problems, and context menu interactions may trigger explorer.exe crashes.
Bluetooth: Unavailability of battery level displays for Bluetooth devices due to existing issues under resolution.
Click to Do: The Microsoft 365 Copilot prompt might not trigger on selected images if the Copilot app is inactive.

How to Acquire Windows 11 Update KB5072043

To download and install this Windows 11 build, users must enroll their devices in the Dev or Beta Channels through the “Windows Insider Program” settings found in the “Update & Security” section. Following enrollment, users can retrieve the build via the “Windows Update” settings by enabling the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” setting and clicking on “Check for Updates.”

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