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Windows 11 23H2 Windows 11 23H2 Optional preview
Preview

KB5052094

KB5052094: Cumulative update for Windows 11, version 23H2, February 2025. Taskbar file sharing arrives alongside File Explorer fixes

In short

Share files from taskbar jump lists, with new Spotlight and Narrator features and several File Explorer fixes. The USB printer issue has a fix in KB5053657.

Does it affect you? Applies to: This preview applies to Windows 11, version 23H2. The page also lists changes for Windows 11, version 22H2 Enterprise and Education editions.

Build
22631.4974
Restart
Required

What changes

New features 6 changes

Taskbar

Gradual rollout
  • You can share files from an app’s taskbar jump list.1
    Jump lists appear when you right-click an app that has a jump list.

Windows Spotlight

Gradual rollout
  • You can hover over a desktop background image or select its icon to learn more about it.2
    Use the “Learn about this picture” icon.

Lock screen

Gradual rollout
  • You can learn more about the lock screen image by selecting the Like icon.3

Narrator

Gradual rollout

For: Narrator users

  • Narrator can skip links, jump to the start or end of an item, and jump to lists.4
    Turn on Narrator with Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter. Turn on scan mode with Caps lock + Spacebar.

Settings

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: Qualifying Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers

  • Some Game Pass subscribers might see a card offering free PC Game Pass trials for friends and family.5
    The referral card appears on the Settings home page for qualifying Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers signed in with a Microsoft account.

File Explorer

Gradual rollout

For: People not already backing up files and folders

  • You can snooze or turn off the “Start backup” reminder in File Explorer.6
    This option applies only if you are not already backing up your files and folders. Right-click Start backup to view it.

Fixes 7 changes

File Explorer

Gradual rollout 3 items
  • Entering a web address in File Explorer’s address bar can take you to the right location again.7
  • The address bar no longer covers files in full-screen mode.8
    Fixes the address bar overlapping files in F11 full-screen mode.
  • The menu that opens when you right-click cloud files responds faster.9

Start menu

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: People using a mixed dark and light custom mode

  • The account menu uses the right colors when you choose a mix of dark and light colors.10
    Applies to the custom mode under Settings > Personalization > Colors.

Mouse

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: People who choose a non-default mouse pointer color

  • Your chosen mouse pointer color no longer reverts to white after a security prompt appears.11
    The setting is under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. The prompt is a User Account Control (UAC) dialog.

dwm.exe

For: Windows 11, version 22H2 Enterprise and Education

  • The desktop window manager stops responding less often.12
    Addresses repeated stops responding in dwm.exe.

Open Secure Shell (OpenSSH)

For: Windows 11, version 22H2 Enterprise and Education

  • The OpenSSH service starts, allowing SSH connections to work again.13
    Addresses the service failing to start, which stopped SSH connections and required manually running sshd.exe.

Improvements 5 changes

Windows Spotlight

Gradual rollout
  • Windows Spotlight is easier to find on the desktop.14
    The icon’s color and background change, and it appears in the lower-right area of the desktop.

File Explorer

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: People searching for cloud files

  • Thumbnails for cloud files appear more consistently in search results.15

Daylight saving time (DST)

For: Devices set to Paraguay

  • The update supports Paraguay’s daylight saving time changes.16

Country and Operator Settings Asset

Verified in package
  • Mobile operator settings are brought up to date for some operators.17
    Updates COSA profiles for certain mobile operators.

Servicing stack

For: Devices installing Windows updates

  • The component that installs Windows updates gets quality improvements.18
    The combined update includes servicing stack update KB5052107, builds 22621.4960 and 22631.4960.

Known issues

  1. Open Affects: Organizations and IT administrators

    Citrix

    Devices with Citrix Session Recording Agent version 2411 might fail to complete installation of the January 2025 Windows security update. Home users are not expected to be affected.19

    How to apply the workaround Workaround

    Update Citrix Session Recording Agent to version 2503 or later; these versions resolve the issue.19

  2. Open Affects: Organizations and IT administrators

    USB Printer Issue

    Some USB-connected dual-mode printers might print random text and data, including network commands. This happens more often when the printer is turned on or reconnected.20

    How to apply the workaround Workaround

    Install KB5053657, which addresses the printer issue.20

Technical details

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

Data sheet

Released
2025-02-25
Classification
Updates
Type
Cumulative update
Restart
Required
Replaces
KB5051989, KB5050092, KB5050021, KB5048685
+22 earlier KB5046732, KB5046633, KB5044380, KB5044285, KB5043145, KB5043076, KB5041587, KB5041585, KB5040527, KB5040442, KB5039302, KB5039212, KB5037853, KB5037771, KB5036980, KB5036893, KB5035942, KB5035853, KB5034848, KB5034765, KB5034204, KB5034123
Replaced by
KB5053602
VersionBuildChannel
23H2 22631.4974 General availability
23H2 22631.4969 Release Preview Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Updated components

4,068 files changed since the previous update for the same versions.

Top changed componentsFiles
Settings141
Graphics and display27
Audio25
File Explorer and shell24
Networking20
Remote Desktop20
Hyper-V and virtualization18
Windows Update13
Security and sign-in12
Bluetooth11
Printing10
Secure Boot9

Verified in package: changed files confirm Settings, Start menu, Mouse, File Explorer, Country and Operator Settings Asset.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (20)
  1. 1. You can now share files directly from a jump list on the taskbar. support.microsoft.com
  2. 2. There’s a quick and easy way to find out more information about a background image. Simply hover over the image or click the “Learn about this picture” icon. support.microsoft.com
  3. 3. This update makes it easier to learn more about the image on your lock screen when you click the “Like” icon. support.microsoft.com
  4. 4. There are new functions for Narrator scan mode. Skip past links (n) allows you to go to the text after a link. support.microsoft.com
  5. 5. Some of you might see a new referral card for a PC Game Pass subscription on the Settings home page. support.microsoft.com
  6. 6. You can now snooze or turn off the “Start backup” reminder in the File Explorer address bar. This only applies if you are not already backing up your files and folder. support.microsoft.com
  7. 7. Fixed: When you enter a URL in the address bar, it might not go to the location. support.microsoft.com
  8. 8. Fixed: The address bar overlaps files when you use the F11 full-screen mode. support.microsoft.com
  9. 9. Fixed: The context menu opens slowly when you right-click cloud files. support.microsoft.com
  10. 10. Fixed: The colors are wrong when you open the account manager flyout menu. This occurs when you use a mixed dark and light custom mode in Settings > Personalization > Colors. support.microsoft.com
  11. 11. When you chose a color, it reverts to white after the User Account Control (UAC) dialog appears. support.microsoft.com
  12. 12. Fixed: It stops responding many times. support.microsoft.com
  13. 13. Fixed: The service fails to start, which stops SSH connections. There is no detailed logging, and you must run the sshd.exe process manually. support.microsoft.com
  14. 14. This update makes Windows Spotlight easier to find. You’ll notice changes to the icon color and background. Also, the icon will show at the lower right area on your desktop. support.microsoft.com
  15. 15. Thumbnails for cloud files display more consistently in search results. support.microsoft.com
  16. 16. This update supports (DST) changes in Paraguay. support.microsoft.com
  17. 17. This update brings COSA profiles up to date for certain mobile operators. support.microsoft.com
  18. 18. This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. support.microsoft.com
  19. 19. Devices that have certain Citrix components installed might be unable to complete installation of the January 2025 Windows security update. support.microsoft.com
  20. 20. After installing this update, you might observe issues with USB connected dual-mode printers that support both USB Print and IPP Over USB protocols. support.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 20 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 5/5, 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