Microsoft released Windows 11 Experimental build 26340.9843 with Xbox mode Quick Settings

Microsoft released Windows 11 Experimental build 26340.9843 on October 30, 2026, adding full Quick Settings to Xbox mode so players can toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and power from the Gaming Task View navigation bar without leaving the full-screen interface.

The same build expands Windows 11 search with sliders for volume, screen brightness and cursor size, filters for Files and Folders, Settings and Actions, and file previews showing last modified date, location and author. Microsoft calls the new search experience a small command center rather than a file finder, and it began rolling out earlier in October 2026.

Search in build 26340.9843 can place calls, send texts or turn on Do Not Disturb from a connected Android phone through Phone Link, while iPhone support is planned for early 2027. Phone actions require a phone linked through Phone Link, and Android support is live now.

Search results include web answers for weather, stocks and facts plus app suggestions from the Microsoft Store, and users can turn off Store app results and web results under Settings, Privacy and security, Search. These toggles share the same settings location where web results are already controlled. Users can give feedback on search results by right-clicking any result for a thumbs up or thumbs down, or remove items from the initial view. The feedback controls are part of the redesigned search experience.

The Xbox mode and search features roll out gradually through Controlled Feature Rollout, so not every Windows Insider sees them immediately, and Microsoft warns that Experimental features may change or never ship. Build 26340.9843 is in the Experimental channel, which can take longer to reach regular Windows 11 PCs or be dropped entirely.

Microsoft has not given a date for when these features reach all Windows 11 PCs. Beta channel features usually arrive within a few months, and Experimental channel features can take longer or be dropped. Other current changes for everyone include a customizable right-click menu in KB5127936, and Microsoft is also working on better performance for Windows 11 PCs with 8 GB of RAM.

Microsoft shipped Beta build 26220.9836 on October 30, 2026, adding per-app camera, microphone and location permissions for traditional desktop apps instead of one device-wide switch while keeping existing choices. The Beta channel update arrived the same day as the Experimental build with the new search and Xbox mode features.

Microsoft was testing a redesigned Gaming Task View for Xbox Mode on October 20, 2026, with a navigation bar including direct shortcuts to Exit to Desktop and Power Options. Previously users had to press Win + F11 to exit Xbox Mode, which is not ideal for keyboard-free gaming, and touch-enabled devices could swipe up to access Task View but that does not work for everyone.

The navigation bar appeared in Beta Build 26220.9739 and Experimental Build 26340.9750, with gradual rollout to Release Preview builds 26200.9807 and 26300.9807 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 26H2. Microsoft said the navigation bar “makes key system actions easier to access while gaming.” There is no word yet on whether it will eventually add options such as Quick Resume or performance sliders.

Skoar says Beta Build 26220.9836 and Experimental Build 26340.9843 are currently available for Windows Insiders, and search results provide charts for stock prices and weather updates. The search box also lets users adjust screen brightness or volume and interact with a connected phone to make calls, and users can rate results with thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons.