Microsoft’s recent Patch Tuesday rollout for February, which took place on February 11, marks a significant update not only in size but also in its comprehensive scope. This latest round of updates, designated as KB5051987 for Windows 11 24H2 and KB5051989 for Windows 11 23H2, brings a mix of new features and crucial bug fixes, addressing several critical security vulnerabilities.
New Features and Enhancements
The updates introduce enhancements to built-in tools like the Taskbar and File Explorer. Notably, Microsoft has improved the previews and animations that appear when hovering over Taskbar icons. Additionally, a new icon will now appear in the System Tray for applications that support Windows Studio Effects, allowing users to display special effects via their front-facing cameras. Another addition is a new simplified Chinese font named Simsun-ExtG.
Moreover, Windows has introduced a feature that allows certain applications to automatically restart after signing back in. Users can enable this option by navigating to Settings, selecting Accounts, and then clicking on Sign-in options to toggle the switch for “Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.”
File Explorer has also received notable tweaks. A “New Folder” command now appears in the context menu when right-clicking on a drive or folder in the left pane. Furthermore, if users check the box for “Restore previous folder windows at logon” in Folder Options, Windows will restore all previously open tabs in each File Explorer window. This update addresses previous glitches, such as unwanted repeated searches, incorrect date and time properties after copying files, and issues with icons not updating when switching themes.
Bug Fixes and Security Vulnerabilities
The February Patch Tuesday update resolves a variety of bugs that have affected users. For instance, issues with oversaturated game displays when using Auto HDR and playback interruptions for USB audio devices with DACs have been addressed. Additionally, problems related to USB audio drivers and external devices, which previously displayed errors, should now be resolved.
Moreover, the update rectifies issues introduced with the January 2025 security update, including the recognition of USB cameras, timeout problems for passkey users, and slower shutdown processes when a controller is connected.
On the security front, this update fixes a total of 56 vulnerabilities, three of which are classified as critical. Among these, two zero-day flaws have been patched, while an older zero-day issue has received further updates. Noteworthy vulnerabilities include:
- CVE-2025-21391: An important flaw that could allow an attacker to delete files on a targeted system.
- CVE-2025-21418: Another important flaw that could enable remote execution of malicious code on a PC.
- CVE-2025-21377: A vulnerability that could allow an attacker to spoof a victim’s authentication credentials.
- CVE-2025-21376: A critical flaw that could permit an attacker to run malicious code on an affected system.
The updates, KB5051987 and KB5051989, are the final versions of the preview updates released on January 28, which had initially fixed some bugs but inadvertently introduced new ones. Early indications suggest that the February patches are more stable.
These updates are set to install automatically, ensuring that users receive the latest enhancements and security fixes without manual intervention. For those who prefer to check for updates manually, they can do so by navigating to Settings, selecting Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button.
