Windows 11: A guide to upgrades
Launching Windows is not the end of a process; In reality, it is just the beginning. The same as Windows 10, Microsoft continually works to improve Windows 11 by fixing bugs, releasing security patches, and occasionally adding new features.
In this blog post, we summarize what you need to know about each update released to the public for the latest version of Windows 11. For each build, we include the date it was released and a link to Microsoft's announcement about it. The most recent updates appear first.
The easiest way to install updates is through Windows Update. Not sure how? See “How to handle Windows 10 and 11 updates” for complete instructions. Please note that Windows 11 version 22H2 is released as a gradual rollout and may not be available on Windows Update yet.
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If you're still using Windows 10, see “Windows 10: A guide to updates.” And if you're looking for information about Insider Program previews for upcoming Windows 11 feature releases, check out "Windows 11 Insider Previews: What's in the latest build?"
KB5030219 (OS Build 22621.2283)
Release Date: September 12, 2023
This build removes a blank menu item from the Sticky Keys menu and includes a variety of security updates. For more information, see the Microsoft Security Updates Guide and the September 2023 security updates.
What IT needs to know: Because this is a security update, it should be applied relatively soon. Over the next few weeks, look for reports of problematic issues and, if everything seems fine, apply the update.
(Learn more about KB5030219.)
Preview of KB5029351 (OS Build 22621.2215)
Release Date: August 22, 2023
This is a preview version that includes several improvements and fixes for Windows 11. Some of the highlights are:
– Fixed an issue that caused some apps to crash when using pen input.
– Fixed an issue that prevented some devices from waking up from sleep mode.
– Fixed an issue that caused some Bluetooth devices to disconnect unexpectedly.
– Fixed an issue that prevented some users from changing display settings.
– Improved performance and reliability of the taskbar and Start menu.
– Improved Microsoft Edge compatibility and stability.
This build also includes several security updates. For more information, see the Microsoft Security Updates Guide and the August 2023 security updates.
What IT needs to know: This is a pre-release version, which means it may have some bugs or issues that haven't been fixed yet. It is recommended to install it only on devices or test machines that are not critical to your work. If you want to try it out, you can choose to participate in the release preview channel in the Windows Insider Program settings.
(Learn more about KB5029351.)
If you are a Windows 10 user, you may be interested in the latest updates that Microsoft has released for its operating system. In this blog post, we will review the main features and fixes of two updates: KB5027303 Preview and KB5027231.
The KB5027303 preview (OS build 22621.1928) was released on June 27, 2023 and brings some improvements to File Explorer and VPN functionality. It also includes some security and accessibility improvements.
One of the most notable changes is the ability to share a local file in File Explorer with your Microsoft Outlook contacts. You can now right-click any file that is not stored in a OneDrive folder and choose “Email to myself” or “Email to contact.” This will open a new email message in Outlook with the attachment and recipient already filled out. You can also access your Outlook contacts more easily by clicking the "Contacts" button in the File Explorer ribbon.
Another new feature is the VPN status icon that appears in the system tray when you are connected to a VPN profile recognized by Windows. The icon is a small shield that displays your system's accent color over the active network connection. You can hover over the icon to see the VPN profile name and click on it to open VPN settings.
For security-conscious users, this update also adds some new features and improvements to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, the enterprise-grade antivirus and threat protection solution. For example, you can now authenticate to different Microsoft clouds, such as Azure or Office 365, using your device credentials. This also allows you to comply with any conditional access policies your organization may require.
Additionally, this update fixes some bugs that affected the user experience, such as an issue with Narrator reading the wrong status when you deselected a radio button and another issue that prevented Teams from notifying you about missed calls or messages.
However, this update also has a known issue that could impact IT administrators who use provisioning packages to configure devices. According to Microsoft, using provisioning packages may not work as expected after you install this update. The company is working on a fix and will provide an update in an upcoming release.
If you want to try these new features and fixes, you can download KB5027303 Preview from Windows Update or from the Microsoft Update catalog. However, please note that this is a preliminary update, which means it may have some bugs or compatibility issues. You should only install it if you are comfortable testing software and troubleshooting potential problems. Otherwise, you can wait for the final version of this update, which will be released as part of the monthly Patch Tuesday cycle.
(Learn more about the preview of KB5027303.)
KB5027231 (OS build 22621.1848) was released on June 13, 2023, as part of the regular Patch Tuesday cycle. This update does not include any new features, but it does provide some quality improvements and security updates for Windows 10.
According to Microsoft, this update addresses several vulnerabilities that could impact Windows 10 users, such as remote code execution, elevation of privilege, information disclosure, spoofing, tampering, and denial of service. Some of these vulnerabilities were rated as critical or important by Microsoft, so it is recommended that you install this update as soon as possible to protect your device and data.
This update also improves the performance and stability of Windows 10 by fixing some bugs that could cause crashes, freezes, or errors. For example, this update resolves an issue that could prevent some devices from starting after installing a previous update and another issue that could cause some apps to stop working or display incorrect information.
To install KB5027231 (OS build 22621.1848), you can use Windows Update or download it from the Microsoft Update catalog. This update requires a reboot to complete the installation process.
(Learn more about KB5027231.)