KB5064081: Cumulative update for Windows 11, version 24H2, August 2025. Recall, Widgets and sign-in changes; legacy PowerShell removed

• Taskbar preview thumbnails keep working if you accidentally drag the mouse across one.¹

• A file you unblock in Properties no longer appears blocked when you open its Properties again.²

• Face sign-in no longer falls back to asking for your PIN after it recognizes your face.³
  If the problem continues, Microsoft says to select Improve recognition under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Facial Recognition.

• Settings no longer crashes when you try to add a security key.⁴
  The affected page is Settings > Account > Sign-in options.

• Changing live captions' opacity now changes how transparent they look.⁵
  The setting is under Settings > Accessibility > Captions > Caption Style.

• The first Chinese character you type with an input method no longer disappears after you copy text.⁶
  The source specifies copying with CTRL + C before typing Chinese with an IME.
• Sticky Notes and Notepad no longer crash because of an underlying text input problem.⁷
  The issue involved textinputframework.dll.
• Some extended Chinese (Simplified) characters no longer appear as empty boxes.¹⁴
  The issue affected the Chinese (Simplified) Input Method Editor (IME).
• The touch keyboard works after switching back to an earlier input method.¹⁵
  The issue affected Microsoft Changjie, Microsoft Bopomofo, and Microsoft Japanese IMEs.

• Some apps, including File Explorer, no longer crash because of an underlying system problem.⁸
  The issue involved dbgcore.dll and could affect explorer.exe.

For: devices accessing cloud file shares

• Accessing a cloud file share no longer risks an underlying sign-in service crash.⁹
  The issue occurred in Kerberos when accessing a cloud file share.

For: certain devices casting to a TV

• Audio no longer starts and then stops a few seconds after casting to a TV on affected devices.¹⁰

• Windows Event Viewer no longer shows an initialization error for the Microsoft Pluton Cryptographic Provider.¹¹
  The event had Error ID 57 and said the provider was not loaded because initialization failed.

• Some system recovery features and device management tools work again after a temporary file-sharing conflict.¹²

For: devices using ReFS and backup apps

• Using backup apps with large files no longer risks exhausting system memory.¹³
  The issue affected the Resilient File System (ReFS).

• Some app installations take less time on ARM64 devices.¹⁶
  The update addresses an issue that slowed application installation on ARM64 devices; some installers could take longer to complete.

For: Recall users

• Recall opens to a homepage with recent activity, snapshots, and frequently used apps and websites.¹⁷
  After snapshot collection is turned on, the homepage includes Recent Snapshots, Top Apps and Websites, and a left navigation bar.

For: Click to Do users

• A first-use tutorial shows how to use Click to Do with text and images.¹⁸
  To see it again, select More options > Start tutorial.

• When an app asks to use a device feature, Windows shows a redesigned privacy prompt in the center of a dimmed screen.¹⁹
  The prompt appears for location, camera, microphone, and other device capabilities.

• The notification center can show a larger clock with seconds above the date and calendar.²⁰
  Turn on Show time in the Notification Center under Settings > Time & language > Date & time.

• A new grid view helps you find images in taskbar search.²¹
• Taskbar search gives clearer updates when Windows is organizing files and shows whether files are online or stored on the device.²²
  A notice links to progress information when search results are incomplete during background file organization.

• You can add, remove and rearrange more widgets on the lock screen.²³
  Options include Weather, Watchlist, Sports and Traffic. Customize them under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.

• Dividers separate top-level icons in the File Explorer menu that opens when you right-click.²⁴
• People icons in File Explorer show who is connected to shared work or school files.²⁵
  For Entra ID work or school accounts, the Activity column and Recommended section can show a person's icon and open their Microsoft 365 Live Persona Card.

For: Windows Hello users

• Windows Hello has a redesigned sign-in experience, with clearer ways to choose between passkeys and connected devices.²⁶
  The visual update applies across Windows sign-in, passkey, Recall, Microsoft Store, and other authentication flows.

• Windows shows activation and expiration prompts as system notifications when action is needed.²⁷
  Messaging under Settings > System > Activation also changes.
• Settings shows which third-party apps recently used Windows-provided generative AI models and lets you choose which apps can use them.²⁸
  The page is under Settings > Privacy & security > Text and Image Generation.
• The Settings agent can now help on Copilot+ PCs with AMD or Intel processors, as well as Snapdragon PCs.²⁹
  The agent currently works only when the primary display language is English.

• Task Manager uses consistent CPU workload measures across its pages.³⁰
  The Details tab has an optional CPU Utility column for the earlier CPU usage value shown on the Processes page.

• The Widgets Board gains multiple dashboards and a navigation bar for switching between them and other views.³¹
• The Discover feed has a new layout with summaries, videos and images from trusted publishers.³²
  Copilot-curated stories are included. Customize the feed under Widgets > Discover dashboard > Personalization settings.

• Windows Backup for Organizations is generally available for backing up and restoring organization devices.³³
  The service supports device refreshes, upgrades to Windows 11, and deployment of AI-powered PCs.

• Fingerprint sign-in after standby is more reliable.³⁴

• Some causes of a blank white screen or a long “just a moment” screen during sign-in are addressed.³⁵

• An issue that could stop the audio service from responding is addressed, helping audio play in some cases.³⁶

For: organizations with remote print servers and older clients

• Windows printing components move to a newer runtime, but older print clients can no longer print to updated print servers.³⁷
  Clients older than Windows 10, version 2004, cannot print to updated servers running Windows 11, versions 24H2 or 25H2, or Windows Server 2025. Upgrade clients to Windows 10, version 22H2 or newer, or use pre-Windows Server 2025 print servers.

• This release updates several AI components on Copilot+ PCs.³⁸
  Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model are updated to version 1.2508.906.0. These AI component updates do not install on other Windows PCs or Windows Server.

• The update includes servicing stack improvements to help Windows receive and install updates reliably.³⁹
  The combined servicing stack update is KB5064531, build 26100.5074.