Towards the end of last month, Microsoft unveiled its latest non-security Windows preview update for both Windows 11 and Windows 10, designated as KB5040527 and KB5040525, respectively. In a subsequent, quieter release, the company also introduced an update for Windows 11 version 24H2, set for 2024.
Update Rollout Details
The changes introduced in this update are categorized into two distinct rollout phases: gradual and normal. This classification provides users with insight into how and when they can expect to receive the new features upon updating their systems.
The comprehensive changelog for the Windows 11 24H2 update, KB5040529, is as follows:
Gradual Rollout
- New Emoji Support: The update brings support for Emoji 15.1, enhancing the visual language of Windows. Users can now enjoy new emoji such as:
- Horizontal and vertical head shake
- Phoenix
- Lime
- Brown mushroom
- Broken chain
- Start Menu Enhancements:
- A new account manager feature provides a quick overview of account benefits for Microsoft account users.
- Users can now drag apps from the pinned section of the Start menu directly to the taskbar.
- Windows Backup Improvements: The update allows Windows to back up various sound settings, provided users enable the “Remember my preferences” option in Settings.
- Lock Screen Updates: Users can now view sports, traffic, and finance content alongside weather updates on their lock screens.
- File Explorer Enhancements: The ability to drag files between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer address bar has been introduced, streamlining file management.
- Settings Modifications:
- A new page for managing linked devices appears under Settings > Accounts, specifically for Home and Pro editions.
- The “Add now” button allows users to add a recovery email address for their Microsoft accounts.
- A Game Pass recommendation card is now featured on the Settings home page for active gamers.
- Visual updates have been applied to the “Rename your PC” and “Change date and time” dialogs.
- Windows Share Features:
- Users can now prevent accidental closure of the Windows share window by clicking outside of it.
- Quick response (QR) codes can be generated for URLs and cloud files directly from the Windows share window.
- Emailing oneself from the Windows share window is now possible, utilizing the email associated with the Microsoft account.
- Direct sharing to specific Microsoft Teams channels and group chats is enabled for users signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID.
- A new Copy button allows users to easily copy files from the Windows Share window.
- Task Manager Improvements:
- DDR speed units have been updated from MHz to MT/s.
- Process handles are released more quickly when stopping a process.
- Overall reliability of Task Manager has been enhanced.
- Sorting processes in Task Manager is now more efficient.
- Accessibility improvements include better keyboard focus, tab navigation, text scaling, and screen reader compatibility.
- Resizing the Task Manager window has been simplified.
- Issues with ejecting USB devices while Task Manager is open have been addressed.
Normal Rollout
- Widgets Update: The icons for Widgets on the taskbar have received a visual upgrade, eliminating pixelation and introducing a wider array of animated icons.
Improvements
This non-security update also encompasses quality enhancements, addressing several key issues:
- PC Manager has been added for devices in China.
- Resolved issues with the share button on USB controllers in conjunction with Game Bar.
- OneDrive can now be utilized as a RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop.
- Enhanced support for packet drop collection in the Virtual Filtering Platform (VFP) for troubleshooting.
- Adjustments made to the cache size display behavior in the latest Windows Server vNext build.
- Group Policy Preferences Item Level Targeting (ILT) and Local Users and Groups have been improved for multi-forest deployments.
- Updates to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file to mitigate risks associated with vulnerable drivers.
- Addressed intermittent failures of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) during specific logging settings.
- Resolved responsiveness issues with certain WLAN cards in the NetAdapterCx module.
For those interested, the update can be manually downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog, and further details can be found in the official support article.
The KB5040529 update is compatible with both AMD64 (Intel and AMD PCs) and Arm64 systems, ensuring a broad range of devices can benefit from these enhancements.
