KB5089570: Cumulative update for Windows 11, version 26H1, May 2026. Shared Audio arrives; File Explorer and system reliability improve

• View and Sort preferences are retained when apps open Downloads or Documents directly in File Explorer.¹
• Explorer processes are more likely to stop after you close File Explorer windows.²
  Improves the reliability of relevant explorer.exe processes.

• Custom tools set for the Wheel feature work more reliably.³
  Applies to custom tools under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Wheel.
• The Fluid Dictation setting is more likely to remain enabled in voice typing.⁴
• Keyboard navigation in emoji panels is more reliable.⁵
  Emoji panels open with Windows logo key + Period.
• Typing is more reliable with the ADLaM keyboard.⁶

• The sharing tray is now called Drop Tray, is easier to dismiss, and is less likely to open accidentally.⁷
  Its settings move to Settings > System > Multitasking from the previous Nearby sharing location. The Drop Tray uses a smaller peek view.

• Windows changes how it trusts third-party drivers, which can result in some older cross-signed drivers being blocked after enforcement.⁸
  Default trust for cross-signed drivers is removed; WHCP drivers and allow-listed trusted legacy drivers remain allowed. Windows audits compatibility for at least 100 hours and three reboots before enabling enforcement.

• Unexpected errors are less likely when downloading or installing apps from the Microsoft Store.⁹
  Includes errors 0x80070057, 0x80240008, and 0x80073d28.

For: People using these scripts

• The Leelawadee UI font family renders scripts more accurately.¹⁰
  Improvements cover glyph sequencing, positioning, and rendering for Thai, Lao, Khmer, and Lontara scripts.

• Third-party audio drivers work more reliably with the Windows MIDI service.¹¹
  Improves third-party driver compatibility with midisrv.exe.

• The taskbar's system tray area loads more reliably.¹²

• Windows Hello Face is more reliable.¹³
• Windows Hello Fingerprint settings are more likely to persist across upgrades.¹⁴

• Storage information loads faster for large volumes in Settings.¹⁵
  Applies to Settings > System > Storage > Advanced Storage Settings > Disks & Volumes.
• The command-line FAT32 formatting size limit increases from 32 GB to 2 TB.¹⁶

• Delivery Optimization uses less memory, reducing the likelihood of unexpectedly high usage.¹⁷

• Color profile options are more likely to remain available on supported monitors.¹⁸

For: IT administrators configuring kiosks

• Configuring allowed packaged apps in a kiosk is simpler when Microsoft Edge is also allowed.¹⁹

• Startup apps launch faster after the device starts.²⁰
  Applies to apps listed under Settings > Apps > Startup.

• File Explorer is more reliable at sign-in and while using taskbar menus, Task View, or Quick Access.²¹
  Underlying changes improve explorer.exe reliability, including when unpinning items from File Explorer's Quick Access.

• More eligible devices can receive new Secure Boot certificates automatically, using a controlled rollout based on successful update signals.²²
  Quality updates include additional high confidence device targeting data. Devices receive certificates only after demonstrating sufficient successful update signals.

• This release updates several AI components on Copilot+ PCs.²³
  Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model are updated to version 1.2604.515.0. These components apply only to Windows Copilot+ PCs and do not install on other Windows PCs or Windows Server.

• The component that installs Windows updates receives quality improvements.²⁴
  The update includes servicing stack update KB5095676, build 28000.2172.

For: People with compatible audio devices

• Two people can listen to the same audio from one PC using supported Bluetooth audio devices.²⁵
  Shared Audio uses Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology. Start it from Quick settings by selecting two supported, paired, and connected devices.

For: Gamers

• Xbox mode provides a full-screen interface for games on PCs, laptops, and tablets.²⁶
  Open Xbox mode from the Xbox app, Game Bar settings, or by pressing Windows logo key + F11.

• File Explorer can work with more archive formats, including uu, cpio, xar, and NuGet packages.²⁷
  Adds support for the uu, cpio, xar, and nupkg archive formats.

• Compatible input devices can provide haptic feedback for actions such as aligning objects or resizing windows.²⁸
  Control the feature under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, Touchpad, or Pen > Haptic signals. Supported devices include Surface Slim Pen 2, ASUS Pen 3.0, and MSI Pen 2 with haptic feedback; additional devices may be supported as partners release updates.
• Voice typing on the touch keyboard shows its animation on the dictation key instead of using a full-screen overlay.²⁹
• The Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout is available as an option for Arabic.³⁰
  Add it under Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region.

For: People using supported agent apps

• The taskbar can show an agent's progress and notify you when its work is ready.³¹
  The first adopter is Researcher in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. Hover over the Microsoft 365 Copilot icon to view progress.

• Organizations can manage Enterprise State Roaming through Windows Backup policies.³²

• Administrators can use a policy to specify additional Microsoft packaged apps to remove.³³
  For Windows Enterprise and Education, the “Remove Default Microsoft Store packages” policy accepts app package family names through Group Policy. The dynamic list is not available in the Intune Settings Catalog; validation must use Group Policy or custom OMA-URI.

• Print settings show an icon when a printer supports Windows Protected Print Mode.³⁴

For: IT administrators and Application Control for Business policy authors

• Administrators and policy authors can enable a mode that prevents batch files from changing while they run.³⁵
  Set LockBatchFilesWhenInUse under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor to 0 (disabled) or 1 (enabled). Policy authors can also use the LockBatchFilesWhenInUse application manifest control.

• Administrators can limit Secure Boot service data sent by Windows.³⁶
  Adds the LimitSecureBootRequiredServiceData Group Policy and MDM setting under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Secure Boot. When enabled, Windows suppresses the event normally sent to Microsoft.