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CopilotPATCH 2026.09.07

Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.7051 Explained: Ask Copilot in Taskbar and Xbox Full Screen Experience

By VGSources Team 7 min read

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Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.7051, released to the Dev and Beta Channels on October 31, 2025, introduced two major previews: Ask Copilot in taskbar and the Xbox full screen experience (FSE) for supported Windows gaming handhelds. It also began rolling out shared audio for compatible Copilot+ PCs.

This was an Insider preview for Windows 11 version 25H2—not a general release for every Windows 11 PC. Installing build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) did not automatically make either headline feature available. Microsoft used a gradual rollout with feature toggles, and FSE also depended on supported hardware, Windows components, and the Xbox PC app.

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What Build 26220.7051 introduced

Item Details
Build Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051
Update package KB5067115
Announced October 31, 2025
Channels Dev and Beta
Windows base Version 25H2
Headline features Ask Copilot in taskbar and Xbox full screen experience
Other preview Shared audio for supported Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft later issued build 26220.7052 on November 5, 2025, describing it as a quality update with no new features and a test of servicing. Build 26220.7051 is now a historical feature-introduction build; Flight Hub lists later 26220-series releases, including 26220.7070 and 26220.7262.

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Ask Copilot in taskbar: what it does

Microsoft’s official name is Ask Copilot in taskbar. It adds an optional taskbar entry point for Copilot where users can type questions, use Copilot Voice, access Copilot Vision, and receive suggestions involving apps, files, settings, and Copilot chat. Results can update as you type.

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Microsoft says the experience uses existing Windows APIs to return apps, files, and settings in a way similar to Windows Search. Microsoft also says this does not give Copilot access to users’ personal content. That is Microsoft’s product and privacy description, not an independent security audit.

Does it replace Windows Search?

Not according to Microsoft’s wording. Some coverage described the change as replacing or redesigning taskbar Search, but Microsoft said Ask Copilot complements the familiar Windows Search experience. Users can continue to use Search from Start.

The distinction matters because three things can be confused:

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  • The taskbar interface, which may appear in or near the familiar Search location.
  • Underlying Windows Search functionality for apps, files, and settings.
  • The separate Copilot app and its AI-assisted or online capabilities.

How to enable Ask Copilot

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Personalization.
  3. Select Taskbar.
  4. Find Ask Copilot.
  5. Enable the experience.

Microsoft also identified an Auto start on log in toggle in Copilot app settings.

If Ask Copilot is missing

A missing toggle does not necessarily mean the build installed incorrectly. The feature may not yet have reached the device, the PC may not be on the relevant Dev or Beta build, the account or device configuration may not be included in the test, or the Copilot app and Windows components may be out of date. Microsoft may also have changed or superseded the experience in a newer Insider build.

There is no officially documented registry edit, ViveTool command, or supported command-line override in the source material for forcing this feature. Installing the KB alone is therefore not a guarantee.

Xbox full screen experience for Windows handhelds

The Xbox full screen experience is a controller-oriented Windows interface designed for handheld gaming PCs. It works with the Xbox PC app to provide a cleaner, console-style launch surface, easier game selection, controller-friendly navigation, and task switching.

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Microsoft also described reduced background activity and deferred nonessential tasks intended to keep gameplay responsive. Those are Microsoft’s design goals, not independently measured performance results.

FSE does not install a new Xbox operating system. The device remains a Windows 11 PC. Owners can still use desktop applications and other PC storefronts, although individual launchers, games, anti-cheat systems, DRM, controllers, and multi-window behavior may vary.

How to enable Xbox FSE

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Gaming.
  3. Select Full screen experience.
  4. Choose Xbox as the home app.
  5. Optionally configure the handheld to enter FSE at startup.

Once enabled, Microsoft said FSE could also be accessed through Task View and Game Bar.

Which handhelds were supported?

At the time of the October 31, 2025 announcement, Microsoft listed:

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  • ASUS ROG Xbox Ally — available for the experience.
  • ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X — available for the experience.
  • MSI Claw models — preview rollout beginning.
  • Additional OEMs — planned for the following months.

This was the launch-time availability statement, not a permanent or complete device list. Current support should be checked against Microsoft, the device manufacturer, and the exact handheld model. “MSI Claw” should not be treated as proof that every model is supported.

ASUS describes the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X as Windows 11 handheld PCs with access to Xbox and other PC game stores. That is the right way to understand FSE: a Windows gaming handheld with an Xbox-oriented shell, not a closed console.

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If the Full screen experience menu is missing

Likely causes include unsupported hardware, an outdated Xbox PC app or Windows build, a rollout that has not reached the device, missing manufacturer integration, or an unsupported Windows edition or channel configuration. Update Windows and the Xbox app, restart the device, and check again. Do not assume that a missing menu can be fixed by forcing an unofficial feature flag.

Shared audio and other changes

Shared audio preview

Build 26220.7051 also began rolling out Shared audio (preview) using Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology on supported Copilot+ PCs.

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  1. Open Quick Settings.
  2. Select the Shared audio (preview) tile.
  3. Choose two supported, paired, and connected accessories.
  4. Select Share.

This requires compatible PC hardware and accessories. It is not a universal Bluetooth capability on every Windows 11 computer.

Notable fixes

Microsoft also listed fixes for invisible Start menu folders, File Explorer responsiveness and launch times, Explorer icons and tooltips, desktop icon movement, lock-screen memory usage, slow first sign-in, Settings search-box overlap, screen-reader output, text rendering, protected-content playback, and Ethernet upload performance.

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Limitations testers should expect

Insider software is not production software

Dev and Beta builds are intended for testing and feedback. The Dev Channel generally receives earlier experimentation and can be less stable. The Beta Channel is usually more conservative, but it remains preview software. A production Windows installation is the safer choice for a primary work PC.

Microsoft described a temporary opportunity for some Dev users to move to Beta while both channels were receiving the same 25H2-based updates. That window would close once Dev moved to a higher build, so switching channels should not be assumed to be permanently or immediately reversible.

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FSE does not guarantee console behavior

A console-style interface does not guarantee console-style suspend and resume, universal controller compatibility, better battery life, or compatibility with every game. A later Insider announcement noted that some applications may behave unexpectedly in FSE, especially apps that expect a fixed window size or launch additional windows. See Microsoft’s later FSE compatibility notes for context.

Copilot availability is also conditional

Copilot behavior can depend on the Microsoft account, network, region, app version, and Microsoft service availability. Ask Copilot’s presence in the taskbar does not mean every Copilot feature is available to every user.

What to do when something goes wrong

  1. Confirm the exact build in Settings > System > About or Windows Update history.
  2. Check whether the relevant Ask Copilot or FSE toggle is still present.
  3. Update the Xbox PC app through Microsoft Store.
  4. Restart after Windows or app updates.
  5. Disable FSE and return to the Windows desktop if an application misbehaves.
  6. Use Task View or Game Bar to switch away from FSE where available.
  7. Report reproducible issues in Feedback Hub with Win + F. Microsoft’s categories were Desktop Environment > Ask Copilot in taskbar and Gaming and Xbox > Gaming Handhelds.
  8. If the PC is unsuitable for preview testing, check Microsoft’s current rollback and channel-transition rules before leaving the Insider Program.

Who should install or test it?

User Recommendation
Existing Dev or Beta tester Reasonable if you want to test Copilot or handheld features and accept preview bugs.
Supported handheld owner Check the build, Xbox app, hardware model, and FSE toggle before expecting the feature.
Primary work-PC user Avoid switching solely for these features; use a stable production build.
Stability-focused gamer Wait for broader availability rather than installing an Insider build for FSE alone.

Should you buy a handheld for FSE?

Existing handheld owners should take a software-first approach: update Windows and the Xbox app and check the FSE setting before buying new hardware.

The ROG Xbox Ally was listed by ASUS at a U.S. price signal of $599.99 in the supplied product information, while the ROG Xbox Ally X was listed at $999.99. Prices and availability can change. The Ally is the more sensible entry point for someone who wants the Xbox-oriented interface; the Ally X makes more sense only if its hardware advantages also matter to you. FSE alone is not a strong reason to pay the premium.

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MSI Claw owners should check compatibility by exact model rather than relying on the family name. Xbox services such as Game Pass are optional recurring costs, and game libraries from Xbox, Steam, Epic, Battle.net, and other stores can have different launcher, DRM, anti-cheat, and controller requirements. No Windows handheld guarantees that every game behaves like a console title.

Current status

Build 26220.7051 should now be treated as the original preview that introduced these experiences, not as the current Windows Insider build. Later 26220-series builds appear in Microsoft’s Flight Hub, and newer builds may change feature names, eligibility, behavior, or supported hardware.

The practical verdict remains: this build introduced an optional Copilot taskbar experience and an Xbox-oriented full-screen shell for selected Windows handhelds, but neither feature was universal, and neither transformed Windows into Xbox console software.

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Copilotgaming handheldsMSI ClawROG Xbox AllyWindows 11Windows InsiderXbox

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