This month, Microsoft has released the C-updates for both Windows 10 and 11, with the latest version of Windows 11 now available for download. Users can access KB5046740, which brings a substantial array of changes, new features, and quality enhancements. As this update is classified as non-security, users have the option to defer it, especially since Microsoft has also announced a pause on next month’s non-security updates.
New Features and Improvements in KB5046740
Among the notable features being rolled out gradually in KB5046740 are:
- [Settings] New! The “Tailored Experiences” feature has been rebranded to “Personalized offers” within the out-of-box experience (OOBE). Users can navigate to Settings > Privacy & security to disable the data-sharing setting that enhances Windows.
- [Taskbar]
- New! The system tray now displays a shortened date and time. Users can toggle the visibility of the notification bell icon based on their “Do not disturb” settings. To revert to the full date and time format, visit Settings > Date and Time. The notification bell can be managed through Settings > System > Notifications or via the context menu by right-clicking the system tray clock.
- Fixed: The search box now appears as an icon when “Automatically hide the taskbar” is selected.
- [Start Menu] New! Right-clicking pinned apps in the Start menu now reveals jump lists for those applications that support them.
- [Touchscreen] New! A new section for touchscreen edge gestures has been added. Users can adjust settings for left or right screen edge touch gestures in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch.
- [Input Method Editor (IME)] New! The IME toolbar will now hide during full-screen mode when typing in Chinese or Japanese.
Additionally, enhancements to File Explorer include:
- New! Users can now share content directly to an Android device via the context menu in File Explorer and on the desktop, provided Phone Link is installed and configured.
- Fixed: Adjustments have been made to spacing issues in the left pane and the search box display in smaller File Explorer windows.
- [Dynamic Lighting Settings page]
- New! A placeholder message will appear when no compatible device is connected, and the Brightness and Effects controls will be disabled.
- New! The Wave effect now includes Forward, Backward, Outward, and Inward direction options, while the Gradient effect has added a Forward direction option.
- [Jump Lists] New! Holding Shift and CTRL while clicking a jump list item will now open it with administrative privileges.
- [Speech in Windows] New! Improvements have been made to speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionalities, with users potentially prompted to update their language files from the Microsoft Store.
- [Display]
- Fixed: Issues with app windows clustering in monitor corners after sleep mode and display lag on secondary monitors have been addressed.
- [Mouse] Fixed: The pointer location feature now displays correctly across various screen sizes.
- [Clipboard] Fixed: Clipboard history will now reliably show copied content.
Further technical changes include:
- [Task Manager]
- New! The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs now support dark mode and text scaling.
- New! The Performance section now specifies the type for each disk.
- [IFilters] New! Windows Search now operates IFilters in Less Privileged App Containers (LPAC), enhancing security by limiting access to sensitive system components.
- [DISM] Fixed: The StartComponentCleanup task has been corrected to function properly.
- [PowerShell] Fixed: The Get-WindowsCapability command now executes without requiring a restart.
- [Windows Update] Fixed: Resolved an issue where installation errors were previously encountered.
- [JPG files] Fixed: API access for rotation information has been restored.
Additional fixes include improvements to HTML Applications, Task Manager responsiveness, and graphics handling, ensuring a smoother user experience across various applications.
However, users should be aware of a known issue affecting Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.2454, specifically regarding the inability to play Roblox from the Microsoft Store on ARM devices. The recommended workaround is to download the game directly from www.Roblox.com.
The KB5046740 update can be accessed through Windows Update or downloaded as an offline install package from the Microsoft Update Catalog.