Windows 11 Dev Build 26300.7877 Delivers Impressive Polishes to Settings, Taskbar, File Explorer, and Paint Freeform Rotate

The latest Windows 11 Dev Channel build is a classic “quality and polish” release, tightening up small but meaningful parts of everyday Windows use. From File Explorer stability to better Settings layouts and a surprisingly powerful tweak to Paint, this is the kind of build that quietly improves how Windows 11 feels day to day.

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7877 (KB5077232) to the Dev Channel, continuing its work on version 25H2 via an enablement package. As with recent Dev builds, changes are split between features and fixes that roll out first to Insiders who enable the “get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle in Windows Update and those that go to everyone in the channel over time.

Context menu and Settings device info get smarter

One of the small but nice touches in this build is a visual refinement to the context menu. When you right‑click an .exe, .bat, or .cmd file, the “Open” option in the context menu will now show an icon that matches the default app associated with that file type. It’s a subtle change, but it makes it clearer what will actually open your executable or script and keeps the context menu visually consistent with your default app choices.

Settings is also getting a refreshed “Device info” card on the Settings Home page, building on work that first showed up in Insider channels back in June 2025. The updated card simplifies key device specs and aligns the data with what you see under Settings > System > About, making it easier to scan and understand your hardware at a glance. This consumer‑focused experience is currently rolling out to Insiders in the United States, while a separate flavor of the device card remains available for IT‑managed enterprise devices.

In Settings > System > About, Microsoft is once again pushing key hardware details—like CPU, RAM, graphics, and storage—back to the top of the page based on early feedback. Additional system details are now grouped into a single Device information section, complete with easier copy/paste support so you can quickly share specs in support chats or tickets. For now, device‑related FAQs are hidden while the team rethinks how best to surface contextual help inside Settings.

Taskbar, system tray, and File Explorer stability

On the desktop side, this build brings some subtle but welcome improvements to the taskbar and system tray. Animations when you mouse over app groups on the taskbar have been refined, which should make hover previews feel smoother and more responsive. Microsoft has also improved the reliability of showing app icons in the system tray when the taskbar is set to auto‑hide, addressing a long‑standing annoyance for users who prefer a cleaner desktop.

File Explorer picks up a notable fix as well. An issue where all open File Explorer windows and tabs could unexpectedly jump to Desktop or Home has been addressed in this build. For anyone juggling multiple Explorer windows across monitors and virtual desktops, this should reduce some unwanted “teleporting” behavior and make window management more predictable.

Better Nearby Sharing for large files

If you rely on Nearby Sharing to move files between PCs, this Dev build should make that experience more robust. Microsoft has specifically improved the reliability of sending larger files with Nearby Sharing, reducing the chances of flaky transfers failing mid‑way. That’s particularly useful in mixed environments where Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth conditions vary and users expect local sharing to “just work” without resorting to USB drives or cloud uploads.

Paint’s new freeform rotate arrives in Dev

Beyond core OS tweaks, the classic Paint app is getting a modern capability that many creators have been requesting as is the Windows 11 Canary build released today. With Paint version 11.2601.391.0, a new freeform rotate feature lets you rotate shapes, text, and any active selection to any angle. When you select an object, you’ll see a rotate handle above it that you can drag to spin freely, or you can use the “Custom rotate” option in the Rotate menu to enter an exact angle value. This gives casual users and quick‑and‑dirty editors a lot more flexibility when composing layouts, memes, or simple graphics without needing a heavier app.

Rolling out via 25H2 and controlled feature rollout

Under the hood, Build 26300.7877 is part of the Windows 11, version 25H2 development line and is delivered via an enablement package. Many of the features in this build are governed by Microsoft’s Controlled Feature Rollout system, which means they’ll first appear for a subset of Insiders, then expand as feedback comes in. The usual Insider caveats apply: the desktop watermark in the lower‑right corner is expected, some features may never ship to the general public, and behavior or designs can change as the team iterates.

If you want to see these tweaks as early as possible, you can turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle under Settings > Windows Update in the Dev Channel. Otherwise, they’ll gradually roll out to your PC once Microsoft is ready to broaden availability—and as always, the Feedback Hub remains the best place to report issues or request further refinements.