Microsoft has unveiled the KB5074105 preview cumulative update for Windows 11, introducing a comprehensive suite of 32 enhancements aimed at refining user experience. This optional update is part of the company’s strategy to provide administrators with the opportunity to test upcoming bug fixes, features, and improvements that are set to be rolled out during the next Patch Tuesday release.
Unlike the regular Patch Tuesday updates, which typically include critical security fixes, these monthly non-security preview updates focus solely on quality improvements. This distinction allows users to explore new functionalities without the immediate pressure of security vulnerabilities.
The January 2025 optional update notably addressed a persistent issue where Explorer.exe would hang during the initial login when specific applications were designated as startup apps. Additionally, it resolved a bug that caused the system to become unresponsive during startup when Windows Boot Manager debugging was enabled, as well as another that led to iSCSI boot failures, presenting users with an “Inaccessible Boot Device” error.
This month’s update also tackled a problem related to Windows license migrations, which could fail during upgrades due to the inability of the PC to register with the Windows Activation server for its digital license.
To install KB5074105, users can navigate to Settings, select Windows Update, and then click on ‘Check for Updates’. As this is an optional update, users will need to initiate the installation by selecting the ‘Download and install’ link. Alternatively, the cumulative update can be manually installed after downloading it from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Windows 11 KB5074105 highlights
Upon installation, this optional non-security preview update elevates Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 devices to builds 26200.7705 and 26100.7705, respectively. The January 2026 preview update promises further enhancements and fixes, with some key highlights including:
- This update enhances the Cross‑Device Resume functionality, allowing users to seamlessly continue activities from their Android phones on their PCs. This includes resuming Spotify playback, working in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and continuing browsing sessions.
- Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now accommodates peripheral fingerprint sensors, broadening the secure sign-in options beyond devices with built-in sensors to include desktops and various Windows 11 PCs, including Copilot+ models.
- [User Account Control (UAC)] Fixed: This update rectifies an issue where PCs might become unresponsive when attempting to run Windows Terminal with elevated permissions from a non-admin account.
- [Graphics] Fixed: An issue affecting certain GPU configurations that led to system errors related to dxgmms2.sys, resulting in the KERNELSECURITYCHECK_FAILURE error, has been addressed.
- [Windows Sandbox] Fixed: The update resolves an issue that could cause Windows Sandbox to become unresponsive during startup, displaying error 0x800705b4.
In a related message center update, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 updates will now have distinct identifiers to eliminate confusion. “Starting with the January 2026 security update, Windows Server 2025 will have its own KB identifiers and build numbers, separate from Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2,” Microsoft stated, emphasizing that this change aims to enhance clarity for administrators while maintaining the same installation and management processes.
Additionally, Microsoft has simplified the titles for Windows updates, aiming to make update information more accessible by removing unnecessary technical jargon, such as platform architecture details.
