Skip to the content
The Update Bureau
Windows 11 23H2 Windows 11 23H2 Optional preview
Preview

KB5046732

KB5046732: Cumulative update for Windows 11, version 23H2, November 2024. File Explorer sharing reaches Android; Bluetooth audio fixed

In short

Adds Android sharing in File Explorer and new input settings, while fixing several taskbar, File Explorer, Bluetooth audio, and other issues. It applies to Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 Enterprise and Education editions.

Does it affect you? Applies to: This update applies to Windows 11, version 23H2, and Windows 11, version 22H2, Enterprise and Education editions. The changes for 22H2 are listed separately from those for 23H2.

Build
22631.4541
Restart
Required
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (1) Read note
  • This page The update page covers Windows 11, version 23H2, and separately covers version 22H2 for Enterprise and Education editions.

The official sources are linked at the end of the page.

What changes

New features 13 changes

Settings

Gradual rollout Verified in package
  • Tailored Experiences is renamed Personalized offers in the out-of-box experience. You can turn off the setting that sends device data to enhance Windows.1
    The setting is on the Recommendations and offers page under Settings > Privacy & security.

Taskbar

Gradual rollout Verified in package
  • The system tray can show a shortened date and time. With Do not disturb on, the notification bell might be hidden; you can change the date, time, and bell display in Settings.2
    The options are under Settings > Date and Time and Settings > System > Notifications.

Input Method Editor (IME)

Gradual rollout

For: People typing Chinese or Japanese

  • The IME toolbar hides when an app is full screen while you type Chinese or Japanese characters.3
    This occurs when the IME toolbar is active.

Start menu

Gradual rollout
  • Right-clicking a pinned app shows its jump list when the app has one.4

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: People sharing content with Android devices

  • You can share content with an Android device from the File Explorer or desktop context menu. Phone Link must be installed and configured on your PC.5

Touchscreen

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: Devices with touchscreens

  • A new Settings section lets you turn off the left or right screen-edge touch gesture.6
    Find the options under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch.

Mouse

Gradual rollout Verified in package
  • Settings lets you turn off enhanced mouse pointer precision and change the mouse scroll direction.7
    Find the options under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mouse.

Dynamic Lighting Settings page

Gradual rollout Verified in package 2 items
  • The page shows a placeholder when no compatible device is attached, and its Brightness and Effects controls are off.8
  • The Wave effect gains Forward, Backward, Outward, and Inward directions; the Gradient effect gains Forward.9

Jump lists

Gradual rollout
  • Holding Shift and Ctrl while clicking a jump list item opens it as an administrator.10

IFilters

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: Windows 11, version 22H2, Enterprise and Education editions

  • Windows Search runs IFilters in a more restricted environment, reducing the potential damage from a compromised process.11
    IFilters run in Less Privileged App Containers (LPAC), which deny more permissions by default and limit access to needed resources.

Task Manager

Gradual rollout 2 items

For: Windows 11, version 22H2, Enterprise and Education editions

  • The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs support dark mode and text scaling.12
  • The Performance section shows the type of each disk.13

Fixes 7 changes

Taskbar

Gradual rollout Verified in package
  • When the taskbar is set to hide automatically, the search box appears as a search box instead of an icon.14

File Explorer

Gradual rollout Verified in package 2 items
  • The left pane no longer has more space than expected between listed items.15
  • The search box is no longer cut off when the File Explorer window is small.16

Bluetooth LE Audio

Verified in package
  • Some devices, including hearing aids, can stream Bluetooth audio again.17

Mouse and game bar

  • With multiple monitors, the mouse no longer unlocks from the game window when you open and close the game bar.18

Motherboard replacement

For: Windows 11, version 22H2, Enterprise and Education editions

  • Windows activates after you replace a motherboard.19

Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer

Verified in package

For: Windows 11, version 22H2, Enterprise and Education editions

  • Windows no longer stops responding when you use an IPP USB printer.20

Improvements 2 changes

Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA)

Verified in package

For: Windows 11, version 22H2, Enterprise and Education editions

  • Profiles for certain mobile operators are brought up to date.21

Servicing stack

For: Devices installing this update

  • The component that installs Windows updates receives quality improvements intended to help devices reliably receive and install updates.22
    Includes servicing stack update KB5046729 for builds 22621.4539 and 22631.4539.

Known issues

  1. Resolved Affects: Organizations and IT administrators Resolved by KB5052094

    Following the installation of the October 2024 security update, some customers report that the OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) service fails to start, preventing SSH connections.

    After the October 2024 security update, the OpenSSH service failed to start on a limited number of enterprise, IoT, and education devices, preventing SSH connections. Microsoft was investigating whether Home and Pro consumers were also affected. KB5052094 addresses the issue.23

    Resolution Fixed in KB5052094

    Install KB5052094 (or a later cumulative update) on affected devices. No manual workaround is required after updating.

Technical details

Data sheet · Security · Downloads · Components Click to collapse or expand

Data sheet

Released
2024-11-21
Classification
Updates
Type
Cumulative update
Restart
Required
Replaces
KB5046633, KB5044380, KB5044285, KB5043145
+17 earlier KB5043076, KB5041587, KB5041585, KB5040527, KB5040442, KB5039302, KB5039212, KB5037853, KB5037771, KB5036980, KB5036893, KB5035942, KB5035853, KB5034848, KB5034765, KB5034204, KB5034123
Replaced by
KB5048685
VersionBuildChannel
23H2 22631.4541 General availability
23H2 22631.4534 Release Preview Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Updated components

3,961 files changed since the previous update for the same versions.

Top changed componentsFiles
Settings97
Graphics and display43
Hyper-V and virtualization31
Security and sign-in24
File Explorer and shell22
Printing22
Bluetooth20
Windows Update18
Networking16
Remote Desktop14
Audio12
Search12

Verified in package: changed files confirm Settings, Taskbar, Touchscreen, Mouse, Dynamic Lighting Settings page, IFilters, File Explorer, Bluetooth LE Audio, Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printer, Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA).

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (23)
  1. 1. Tailored Experiences is now Personalized offers in the out of box experience (OOBE). support.microsoft.com
  2. 2. The system tray shows a shortened date and time. Also, the notification bell icon might not show if you have set the toggle for “Do not disturb” to on. support.microsoft.com
  3. 3. After you install this update, the IME toolbar will hide when apps are in full screen mode. This only occurs when the IME toolbar is active and you type Chinese or Japanese characters. support.microsoft.com
  4. 4. When you right-click apps that you have pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will appear for apps that have jump lists. support.microsoft.com
  5. 5. You can share content to an Android device from the context menu in File Explorer and on the desktop. To use this feature, you must install and configure Phone Link on your PC. support.microsoft.com
  6. 6. This update adds a new section for touchscreen edge gestures. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch. There, you can choose if you would like to turn off the left or right screen edge touch gesture. support.microsoft.com
  7. 7. This update adds the option to turn off enhanced mouse pointer precision to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mouse. There is also a new option to change the direction in which the mouse scrolls. support.microsoft.com
  8. 8. Its page will show a placeholder message when there is no compatible device attached to your computer. Also, the Brightness and Effects controls will be off. support.microsoft.com
  9. 9. This update adds the Forward, Backward, Outward, and Inward direction options to the Wave effect. The Gradient effect now has the Forward direction option. support.microsoft.com
  10. 10. If you hold Shift and CTRL and click a jump list item, this opens the item as an admin. support.microsoft.com
  11. 11. Windows Search runs IFilters in Less Privileged App Containers (LPAC). LPACs are like app containers, but they deny more permissions by default. support.microsoft.com
  12. 12. The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs now support dark mode and text scaling. support.microsoft.com
  13. 13. The Performance section now shows the type for each disk. support.microsoft.com
  14. 14. Fixed: When you choose "Automatically hide the taskbar," the search box shows as an icon, not as a search box. support.microsoft.com
  15. 15. Fixed: There might be more space than you expect between the items listed in the left pane. support.microsoft.com
  16. 16. Fixed: The search box is cut off when the File Explorer window is small. support.microsoft.com
  17. 17. Fixed: Some devices, like hearing aids, do not stream Bluetooth audio. support.microsoft.com
  18. 18. Fixed: Your mouse might unlock from the game window. This occurs when you have multiple monitors and open and close the game bar. support.microsoft.com
  19. 19. Fixed: Windows does not activate after you replace a motherboard. support.microsoft.com
  20. 20. Fixed: Windows stops responding when you use an IPP USB printer. support.microsoft.com
  21. 21. Fixed: This update brings profiles up to date for certain mobile operators. support.microsoft.com
  22. 22. This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. support.microsoft.com
  23. 23. This issue is affecting both enterprise, IOT, and education customers, with a limited number of devices impacted. Microsoft is investigating whether consumer customers using Home or Pro editions of Windows are affected. support.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 23 quoted passages · compared with Microsoft's page on Oct 20, 2026
  • Quotes found in the official pages: passed
  • Numbers found in the sources: passed
  • Vulnerabilities from the dossier only: passed
  • Links to allowed domains only: passed
  • Every official change covered: passed
  • Readable plain text: passed
  • Changes confirmed by the file list: passed
  • Sources agree: passed

A second AI read the text against the sources: correctness 4/5, clarity 4/5, completeness 5/5. How we work

Published by The Update Bureau. Written with AI from Microsoft's own documents, checked by rules and a second AI. How we work · Report a mistake