According to Windows Report | Error-free Tech Life, Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) to Dev and Beta channels with substantial interface changes. The update reorganizes File Explorer’s right-click context menu, grouping actions like Compress to ZIP and Copy as Path into a new “Manage file” flyout while organizing cloud options under provider-specific menus. Background preloading for File Explorer reduces launch times, though users can disable this feature in Folder Options. Additionally, the update expands cross-device app resume to more Android devices and rolls out Xbox Full Screen Experience to additional Windows 11 devices. Most notably, users can now uninstall Store-managed apps directly from the Store’s library page, available to all Windows Insiders running Microsoft Store version 22510.1401.x.x or higher.
Context menu cleanup
Microsoft’s been playing whack-a-mole with Windows context menus for years now. Remember when they completely overhauled it for Windows 11 and everyone hated how basic it felt? They’ve been slowly adding features back ever since. This “Manage file” grouping actually makes sense – who hasn’t accidentally rotated an image when they meant to set it as a background? But here’s the thing: Microsoft admits the name “Manage file” might change in future updates. That tells me they’re not entirely confident about this terminology either.
Performance promises
Background preloading sounds great in theory – faster File Explorer launches are always welcome. But I’m skeptical about the real-world impact. Windows has a history of “performance improvements” that either don’t materialize or come with hidden costs like increased memory usage. The fact that they let you disable it suggests they’re aware some users might prefer the old behavior. Basically, your mileage may vary depending on your hardware.
Store improvements
Finally being able to uninstall Store apps from the library page is long overdue. It’s one of those basic quality-of-life features that should have been there from day one. But look – this only applies to Store-managed apps. The traditional Control Panel uninstall method still exists for Win32 applications, creating this weird dual-uninstall ecosystem that confuses regular users. When will Microsoft fully commit to the modern Store experience?
Industrial considerations
For businesses and industrial environments running specialized software, these interface changes could cause retraining headaches. When you’re dealing with mission-critical systems, even small UI tweaks can disrupt workflows. That’s why companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, often recommend sticking with stable builds rather than bleeding-edge updates. Their industrial clients typically need reliability over new features, especially in manufacturing and control room environments where consistency matters more than context menu reorganizations.
