Microsoft has unveiled the February 2025 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, designated as KB5052093. This update introduces a suite of 33 enhancements and fixes, addressing various issues including those affecting SSH connections and File Explorer, as well as a notable audio glitch where the volume unexpectedly spikes to 100% upon waking the PC from sleep.
Part of Microsoft’s monthly schedule for “optional non-security preview updates,” this release allows Windows administrators to evaluate new features and improvements before they are rolled out to the broader customer base during the March 2025 Patch Tuesday.
The February 2025 preview update rectifies a persistent issue that disrupted SSH connections on certain PCs following the installation of the October 2024 cumulative and preview updates. Additionally, it enhances the performance of File Explorer and resolves several bugs related to URL entry in the address bar and context menu interactions.
KB5052093 also addresses the audio volume issue and resolves another problem that rendered USB audio devices inoperative on systems left idle for brief periods. Users can conveniently install this preview update by navigating to Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for Updates. As this is an optional update, users will need to click on the Download and install link to proceed. Alternatively, the update can be manually downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Windows 11 KB5052093 highlights
Upon installation, this preview release will elevate Windows 11 24H2 systems to build 26100.3323. The non-security preview update encompasses several additional enhancements and fixes, with some of the most noteworthy listed below:
- [Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers] New! Users may notice a new referral card for a PC Game Pass subscription on the Settings home page, enabling them to invite friends and family to experience PC Game Pass for free. This card appears only when users sign in to their PC with a Microsoft account.
- [Scanners] Fixed: Applications may not recognize a connected scanner.
- [Drag and Drop] Fixed: The drag and drop functionality was not effectively moving objects (such as files, emails, or attachments) in certain applications and monitor configurations, particularly on devices utilizing high DPI displays and legacy DPI scaling modes.
- [Remote Desktop] Fixed: Resolved issues causing the application to become unresponsive.
Microsoft has also identified two known issues associated with KB5052093. One issue affects the installation of the January 2025 Windows security update due to certain Citrix components, for which Citrix has provided a temporary workaround. The other issue impacts Roblox players on Arm devices, preventing them from downloading the game from the Microsoft Store on Windows; however, they can still access the game directly from www.roblox.com.
Windows 11 24H2 is now widely available, having entered broad deployment for all users via Windows Update. Additionally, Microsoft has been rolling out the Windows 11 2024 Update to eligible Windows 10 22H2 PCs since mid-January. A week prior, Microsoft announced plans to begin force-installing Windows 11 24H2 on eligible, non-managed systems running the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2.
