Windows 11 speed boost

Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s President of Windows & Devices, published an open letter titled “Our commitment to Windows quality” on March 20, 2026, laying out a roadmap that prioritizes performance, reliability and “well‑crafted experiences.” (blogs.windows.com) The post said Microsoft will reduce unnecessary Copilot entry points immediately, naming Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad as the first apps to see scaled‑back AI integration. (blogs.windows.com) Microsoft released Windows 11 Builds 26100.8106 and 26200.8106 (KB5079387) to the Release Preview Channel on March 12, 2026, using a phased “gradual rollout” model before general availability. (blogs.windows.com) The March 2026 security update KB5079473 (build 26200.8037) that shipped earlier in March added a Taskbar‑integrated speed test, native Sysmon support, camera pan/tilt controls and WebP wallpapers to Stable Channel devices. (pureinfotech.com) Davuluri’s plan includes concrete update‑control changes: users will be able to skip updates during device setup, restart or shut down without automatically installing updates, and pause updates for longer periods. (blogs.windows.com) Microsoft identified File Explorer as a priority and committed to faster launch times, reduced flicker and smoother navigation as part of the first round of quality improvements. (blogs.windows.com) Outlets covering the announcement say the company is preparing 26H2 as the next major Windows 11 release and will return taskbar repositioning and other customization to Insiders for testing in 2026. (pcworld.com)