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Windows 11 24H2 / 25H2 Windows 11 24H2 / 25H2 Optional preview
Preview

KB5120998

KB5120998: Cumulative update for Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, August 2026. Taskbar moves to four edges; WMIC utility removed

In short

Adds extensive taskbar, Start menu, and Search customization. It also removes the WMIC utility from versions 24H2 and 25H2, while Secure Boot certificates for most devices have been expiring since June 2026.

Does it affect you? Applies to: This preview applies to Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2, on x64 and Arm64 devices. Some features are limited to particular users or devices, including work or school account users, organizations, ARM-based devices, and Copilot+ PCs.

Builds
26100.9278 · 26200.9278
Restart
Required
Review notes Additional details from the official release notes (1) Read note
  • What changes The page lists these AI components in a separate Components updates section and says they apply only to Copilot+ PCs. It does not specify a gradual or normal rollout for them.

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

What changes

New features 23 changes

Taskbar

Gradual rollout Verified in package 3 items
  • You can place the taskbar at the bottom, top, left, or right of the screen. Search and the smaller taskbar option are supported only at the top and bottom.1
    Change the position in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position.
  • A smaller taskbar option reduces taskbar height and icon size while keeping access to Start, Search, and the system tray.2
    Set the size to Small in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar size.
  • The Taskbar behaviors section in Taskbar settings is expanded by default, making its settings easier to find.3

Start menu

Gradual rollout Verified in package 4 items
  • You can choose a small or large Start menu, in addition to the existing Automatic option.4
    Choose the size in Settings > Personalize > Start > Start menu size.
  • The Start menu's Recommended section is renamed Recent, including in Settings.5
  • You can hide your name and profile picture in Start.6
    Use Settings > Personalize > Start > Hide your name and profile picture on Start.
  • The redesigned Start settings page lets you show or hide Pinned, Recommended, and All sections independently.7

Windows Search

Gradual rollout Verified in package 4 items
  • Search home has a simpler layout, helping you return to recent searches.8
  • Search results make it clearer whether a result is an app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion.9
  • A new setting lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local search results.10
    Find it in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search.
  • Windows can automatically index your most-used folders so their files appear in later search results.11
    Control this in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search > Automatically find additional relevant locations.

File Explorer

Gradual rollout 2 items
  • File Explorer Home launches faster and responds more quickly.12
  • You can scroll through the Recommended files carousel on File Explorer Home using touch.13

Widgets

Gradual rollout Verified in package
  • Weather is the only widget shown by default on the lock screen. You can add other widgets in Settings.14
    The change began rolling out to new users in July and is now rolling out to existing users. Manage widgets in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.

General design

Gradual rollout
  • Updated progress indicators appear during startup, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and update installation.15

Windows Share

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: work or school account users

  • People signed in with a work or school account can discover and install relevant apps from the share window.16
    Manage the feature in Settings > System > Share > Show suggested apps in share surfaces.

Administrator Protection

Gradual rollout
  • Administrators can perform administrative tasks using just-in-time privileges, with profile separation intended to harden protection against elevation-of-privilege attacks.17
    Off by default; organizations can enable it using OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. It is not a formal security boundary.

App updates

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: users of participating apps

  • Supported apps can coordinate their updates with Windows Update for improved scheduling and a more streamlined update process.18
    This support is for participating apps using the Windows Update Orchestration Platform.

Microsoft Store

Gradual rollout

For: developers and users of participating apps

  • Packaged WinUI 3 apps that require elevation can support in-app purchases through Microsoft's integrated commerce platform.19

Windows Autopilot device preparation

Gradual rollout
  • Organizations can identify trusted devices before enrollment, enabling device-targeted policies, automatic corporate enrollment, and more setup customization.20
    Device association for Windows Autopilot device preparation is generally available.

Microsoft Execution Containers

Gradual rollout Verified in package

For: developers and IT administrators

  • Process Isolation adds a lightweight boundary for responsive workloads such as coding agents and model-generated code.21
    It uses Windows containment capabilities to restrict access to resources such as files, networking, the user interface, and other operating-system capabilities according to policy.

Agentic processes

Gradual rollout

For: developers

  • Windows adds preview support for authorized components to identify agentic processes and pass that identifier to child processes.22
    When an agentic process authenticates through Web Account Manager, the identifier is included in the authentication request. The identifier format may change in future releases.

Cryptography

Gradual rollout

For: developers and IT administrators

  • ML-KEM can now be used on its own for TLS key exchange, in addition to the hybrid groups already available.23
    ML-KEM is a post-quantum cryptography algorithm.

Improvements 18 changes

Taskbar

Gradual rollout

For: devices without touch

  • The system tray loads more reliably on non-touch PCs.24

Multiple desktops

Gradual rollout
  • Switching between virtual desktops is smoother and more responsive.25

Display and Graphics

Gradual rollout Verified in package 2 items
  • Navigating to and interacting with Display settings is more reliable.26
    Applies to Settings > System > Display.
  • Previous brightness settings are more likely to persist after energy saver turns off.27

Task Manager

Gradual rollout
  • App history information displays more reliably in Task Manager.28

Windows Setup

Gradual rollout 2 items
  • Choosing a secondary keyboard during Windows setup is more straightforward, including skipping it when it is not needed.29
  • The Get Started app adds pages for app installation, site pinning, and themes to help personalize the device and find features.30

Windows Update

Gradual rollout Verified in package
  • A PC manually put to sleep returns to sleep after an update, even when automatic sleep is set to Never.31

Network

Gradual rollout 2 items
  • Recovery is more resilient to background activity related to VPN processes that can cause processes to stop responding.32
  • The wireless network report command provides better output for Japanese users.33
    Applies to netsh wlan show wlanreport.

Input

Gradual rollout Verified in package 2 items
  • Typing with the Japanese IME is more reliable, with fewer potential hangs.34
  • Voice typing settings for automatic punctuation and the launcher persist more reliably.35

Accessibility

Verified in package

For: Narrator users

  • Natural Voices in Narrator install and set up more successfully from the settings dialog.36

App

For: Japanese-language RemoteApp users

  • Japanese text appears correctly while typing in RemoteApp applications.37

Outlook

Verified in package

For: classic Outlook users on Japanese-language devices

  • Search in classic Outlook on Japanese-language devices shows the correct To label and returns expected results in Sent Items and Advanced Find.38

Pointer

  • Touchpad gestures and mouse-drag actions respond more reliably on some devices.39

AI components

Verified in package

For: Copilot+ PC users

  • Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model are updated to version 1.2608.951.0.40
    These AI components apply only to Copilot+ PCs and do not install on other Windows PCs or Windows Server.

Servicing stack update

Verified in package
  • The included servicing stack update improves the reliability of Windows update installation.41
    Includes KB5120997.

Removal 1 change

Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC)

Gradual rollout

For: IT administrators and users of WMIC

  • The WMIC utility is no longer included in Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, and is no longer available as a Feature on Demand. WMI remains supported.42
    WMIC had already been removed by default in new installations of these versions.

Known issues

  1. Resolved Affects: Everyone Resolved by KB5127648

    Devices might experience a black screen or desktop loading issues after sign-in

    Some devices, primarily Azure Virtual Desktop hosts using FSLogix, might show a black screen after sign-in or fail to load the desktop automatically. This issue is resolved by updates released October 13, 2026, including KB5127648.43

    How to apply the workaround Group Policy

    Before installing the resolving update, users can start Explorer manually; enterprise IT can mitigate the issue with Known Issue Rollback and a restart.43

    Step-by-step workaround instructions
    2 steps
    Show steps Hide steps
    Step-by-step procedure
    1. To temporarily start the desktop, open Task Manager, select Run new task, enter explorer.exe, and select OK.
    2. For enterprise-managed devices, install and configure the applicable Known Issue Rollback Group Policy, then restart the devices.
  2. Resolved Affects: Everyone Resolved by KB5124008

    Mouse customization is reset on non-English Windows devices

    Mouse personalization settings, including cursor and cursor animations, might reset on non-English Windows installations. This issue is resolved by updates released on or after September 8, 2026, including KB5124008.44

    Resolution Fixed in KB5124008

    Install KB5124008 (or a later cumulative update) on affected devices. No manual workaround is required after updating.

  3. Resolved Affects: Everyone Resolved by KB5124008

    Microsoft Teams and Outlook might fail to launch on ARM-based devices

    Microsoft Teams and the new Outlook for Windows might fail to launch or close unexpectedly on ARM-based devices, especially new or freshly imaged PCs without Microsoft Store updates. The issue is resolved by updates released on or after September 8, 2026, including KB5124008.45

    How to apply the workaround Workaround

    Install version 1.0.19.0 or later of the Auto Super Resolution Package through Microsoft Store.45

    Step-by-step workaround instructions
    3 steps
    Show steps Hide steps
    Step-by-step procedure
    1. Open Microsoft Store.
    2. Select Downloads > Check for updates.
    3. Install the latest Auto Super Resolution Package update, version 1.0.19.0 or later.
  4. Resolved Affects: Everyone Resolved by KB5124008

    Desktop background settings are lost or reset on some devices

    Some devices might show a solid black desktop background after desktop settings fail to load; slideshow and contrast theme settings might also be affected. This issue is resolved by updates released on or after September 8, 2026, including KB5124008.46

    Resolution Fixed in KB5124008

    Install KB5124008 (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
2026-08-27
Classification
Updates
Type
Cumulative update
Restart
Required
Replaces
KB5121003, KB5101684, KB5121767, KB5101650
+58 earlier KB5095093, KB5094126, KB5089573, KB5089549, KB5083631, KB5083769, KB5086672, KB5079391, KB5085516, KB5079473, KB5077241, KB5077181, KB5074105, KB5078127, KB5077744, KB5074109, KB5072033, KB5070311, KB5068861, KB5067036, KB5070773, KB5066835, KB5065789, KB5068221, KB5065426, KB5064081, KB5063878, KB5062660, KB5064489, KB5062553, KB5060829, KB5063060, KB5060842, KB5058499, KB5061977, KB5058411, KB5055627, KB5059087, KB5055523, KB5053656, KB5053598, KB5052093, KB5051987, KB5050094, KB5050009, KB5048667, KB5046740, KB5046617, KB5044384, KB5044284, KB5043178, KB5043080, KB5041865, KB5041571, KB5040529, KB5040435, KB5039304, KB5039239
Replaced by
KB5124008
VersionBuildChannel
24H2 26100.9278 General availability
24H2 26100.9267 Release Preview Channel
25H2 26200.9278 General availability
25H2 26200.9267 Release Preview Channel
26H2 26300.9278 Release Preview Channel

Security

No vulnerabilities are listed for this update.

Updated components

10,835 files changed since the previous update for the same versions.

Top changed componentsFiles
Settings160
Bluetooth70
Graphics and display67
Networking61
Printing60
Remote Desktop55
Hyper-V and virtualization54
Security and sign-in51
Audio43
.NET networking40
Windows Update32
File Explorer and shell31

Verified in package: changed files confirm Taskbar, Start menu, Windows Search, Widgets, Windows Share, App updates, Microsoft Execution Containers, Display and Graphics, Windows Update, Input, Accessibility, Outlook, AI components, Servicing stack update.

Sources

Updated
Cited passages from Microsoft's official notes (46)
  1. 1. You can now choose whether the taskbar appears at the bottom, top, left, or right side of your screen. support.microsoft.com
  2. 2. A smaller taskbar option is now available to help maximize screen space on smaller devices. support.microsoft.com
  3. 3. The Taskbar behaviors section of the Taskbar settings page is now expanded by default for improved discoverability. support.microsoft.com
  4. 4. You can choose between a small or large Start menu, in addition to "Automatic (default)" that's available today. support.microsoft.com
  5. 5. The "Recommended" section is renamed "Recent" in the Start menu and Settings page support.microsoft.com
  6. 6. You can now hide your name and profile picture in Start support.microsoft.com
  7. 7. The Start menu settings page is now redesigned with section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recommended, and All. support.microsoft.com
  8. 8. Search home has been simplified to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to get back to recent searches quickly. support.microsoft.com
  9. 9. Search does a better job showing where a result comes from—app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion support.microsoft.com
  10. 10. A new setting in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results. support.microsoft.com
  11. 11. Windows now automatically indexes your most used folders to make those files appear in subsequent search results. support.microsoft.com
  12. 12. Launching File Explorer Home is now faster and more responsive. support.microsoft.com
  13. 13. The Recommended section on Home now supports touch scrolling support.microsoft.com
  14. 14. Weather is now the only widget shown by default. You can add other widgets in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. support.microsoft.com
  15. 15. This update introduces updated progress indicators across Windows, providing a more consistent and modern experience during startup, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and update installation. support.microsoft.com
  16. 16. This update adds the ability for users signed in with a work or school account to discover and install relevant apps directly from the share window. support.microsoft.com
  17. 17. This feature is turned off by default and can be enabled using OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or through Group Policy. support.microsoft.com
  18. 18. Supported apps can benefit from improved scheduling and a more streamlined update experience. support.microsoft.com
  19. 19. This update provides support for in-app purchases in packaged WinUI 3 apps that require elevation support.microsoft.com
  20. 20. Device association for Windows Autopilot device preparation is now generally available. support.microsoft.com
  21. 21. This update introduces Process Isolation for Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC), a fast, lightweight boundary for responsive workloads such as coding agents and model-generated code. support.microsoft.com
  22. 22. This update introduces preview platform support for tagging agentic processes. support.microsoft.com
  23. 23. Post-Quantum Cryptography algorithm ML-KEM can now be used as a standalone algorithm for TLS key exchange support.microsoft.com
  24. 24. This update improves reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar for non-touch PCs. support.microsoft.com
  25. 25. Switching between virtual desktops is now smoother and more responsive. support.microsoft.com
  26. 26. This update improves the reliability of navigating to and interacting with Settings > System > Display. support.microsoft.com
  27. 27. This update improves the persistence of previous brightness settings once the energy saver turns off. support.microsoft.com
  28. 28. This update improves the reliability of displaying app history information in Task Manager. support.microsoft.com
  29. 29. This update streamlines the experience for selecting a secondary keyboard during Windows setup, making it easier to skip when it isn't needed. support.microsoft.com
  30. 30. This update improves the Get Started app with new App install, Site pinning, and Theme pages support.microsoft.com
  31. 31. This update improves restart behavior so PCs that were manually put to sleep return to sleep after completing an update, even when automatic sleep is set to Never. support.microsoft.com
  32. 32. This update improves resiliency and recovery from potential VPN process-related background that can cause processes to stop responding. support.microsoft.com
  33. 33. This update improves the output of netsh wlan show wlanreport command for Japanese users. support.microsoft.com
  34. 34. This update improves the reliability of typing with the Japanese IME by reducing potential hangs. support.microsoft.com
  35. 35. This update improves the persistence of voice typing settings for automatic punctuation and launcher. support.microsoft.com
  36. 36. This update improves the Natural Voices experience in Narrator, helping Natural Voices install and set up successfully from the settings dialog support.microsoft.com
  37. 37. This update improves Japanese text input in RemoteApp applications, helping text appear correctly during typing. support.microsoft.com
  38. 38. This update improves search in classic Outlook on Japanese-language devices, helping searches in Sent Items and Advanced Find display the correct "To" label and return expected results. support.microsoft.com
  39. 39. This update improves touchpad reliability on some devices, helping touchpad gestures and mouse-drag actions respond as expected. support.microsoft.com
  40. 40. This release updates the following AI components to version 1.2608.951.0: Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model. support.microsoft.com
  41. 41. Includes KB5120997 (Build 26100.9270), which improves the reliability of the Windows update installation process. support.microsoft.com
  42. 42. Starting in August 2026, Windows 11, version 24H2 and 25H2 will no longer include the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility. support.microsoft.com
  43. 43. This issue was resolved by Windows updates released October 13, 2026 (KB5127648), and updates released after that date. learn.microsoft.com
  44. 44. This issue is resolved in Windows updates released on and after September 8, 2026 such as KB5124008. support.microsoft.com
  45. 45. Install the latest update for the Auto Super Resolution Package (version 1.0.19.0 or later). support.microsoft.com
  46. 46. This issue is resolved in Windows updates released on and after September 8, 2026 such as KB5124008. support.microsoft.com
Checked automatically: 8 of 8 checks passed, 46 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