Microsoft begins testing Cloud Rebuild for Windows 11 recovery

Microsoft has started testing a new Windows 11 recovery feature called Cloud Rebuild in the latest Insider Preview builds available through the Experimental channel. The company first previewed the option at its Ignite conference in November 2025, and it is now being made available to testers in a limited form.

Cloud Rebuild is designed for situations where a PC is severely damaged, stuck in a boot loop, or otherwise unable to start normally. Instead of relying on local repair media, the feature performs a full operating system reinstall by pulling a fresh Windows image from the cloud. Microsoft says the process also retrieves the appropriate drivers through Windows Update so the device can return to service without requiring a USB installer or a custom recovery image.

How the feature works

Insiders who want to try the option must be on Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772. From the Windows Recovery Environment, users can open the recovery tools under Troubleshoot > Recovery and select Cloud rebuild. Before the reinstall begins, the system shows details such as the target Windows build, edition, and language, along with a warning that the process will erase data on the device.

Microsoft positions the feature as part of its broader Windows Resiliency Initiative, which focuses on helping users and administrators recover from serious system failures more quickly.

Other recovery tools in testing and rollout

Cloud Rebuild joins several related features Microsoft has introduced over the past year. One of those is Point-in-Time Restore, which lets users and IT teams return a Windows 11 system to an earlier working state. That feature began rolling out in June with preview update KB5095093 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2.

Microsoft has also been refining Quick Machine Recovery, a tool intended to help administrators fix boot problems on devices they cannot access in person. When Windows fails to start after a bad driver or configuration change, the system can enter WinRE, collect diagnostic data, and allow Microsoft to push targeted fixes remotely.

Another recent experiment recommends running a memory scan after a blue screen crash, giving users one more check to improve stability after a failure.