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Windows Update KB5065426: Overview, New Features, and Installation Guide

9/10/2025 •
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Windows Update KB5065426: Overview, New Features, and Installation Guide

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Overview

KB5065426 is a mandatory cumulative update for Windows 11, version 24H2, released as part of Microsoft's September 9, 2025 Patch Tuesday. It upgrades the OS to build 26100.6584 and delivers critical security fixes, new features, and quality improvements. The update is especially notable for introducing AI-powered enhancements for Copilot+ PCs and refining the user interface across several system apps.

Key Highlights

  • Release Date: September 9, 2025
  • OS Build: 26100.6584
  • Applies to: Windows 11, version 24H2
  • Update Size: Approximately 3.7–3.8 GB (due to included AI models for Copilot+ PCs)
  • Mandatory: Yes, contains critical security patches
  • Installation: Via Windows Update or Microsoft Update Catalog

New Features and Improvements

1. Recall (Copilot+ PCs Exclusive)

  • New Homepage: Recall now opens to a personalized homepage showing recent activity, top-used apps, and websites.
  • Recent Snapshots: Displays latest snapshots to help resume tasks quickly.
  • Custom Filters: Users can set filters in Settings to control which apps and websites are saved in snapshots.
  • Privacy: Recall is optional and can be fully disabled via Command Prompt.

2. Click to Do (Copilot+ PCs Exclusive)

  • Interactive Tutorial: First-time users see a tutorial demonstrating how to summarize text and remove image backgrounds.
  • Re-access Tutorial: Select "More options" > "Start tutorial" within the app.

3. Taskbar & System UI

  • Clock with Seconds: The larger clock with seconds is back in the notification center. Enable via Settings > Time & language > Date & time > Show time in Notification Center.
  • Taskbar Search: New grid view for image search and clearer status indicators for online (cloud) vs. local files.
  • Privacy Prompts: Redesigned, full-screen system dialogs for location, camera, and mic access—background dims for focus.

4. File Explorer

  • Context Menu Dividers: Dividers now separate top-level icons for clarity.
  • People Icons (Work/School Accounts): Hovering over a person's icon shows their Microsoft 365 Persona Card.
  • Unblock File Fix: Resolves issue where files remain marked as blocked after unblocking.

5. Lock Screen Widgets

  • Expanded Customization: Add, remove, or rearrange widgets (Weather, Sports, Traffic, Phone Link, etc.) via Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
  • Global Rollout: Previously limited to EEA, now available in all regions.

6. Windows Hello

  • Modernized UI: Faster, clearer animations for sign-in, passkeys, Recall, and Microsoft Store.
  • Facial Recognition Fix: Resolves issues where facial recognition fails but still prompts for PIN.
  • Improved Fingerprint Login: More reliable after waking from standby.

7. Settings & Privacy

  • AI-Powered Search: On Copilot+ PCs, Settings search provides AI-generated answers with direct toggles (e.g., changing cursor size).
  • AI Usage Tracking: New section under Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation shows which apps use generative AI and allows user control.
  • Activation Prompts: More modern, user-friendly dialogs for Windows activation.

8. Task Manager

  • Standardized CPU Metrics: CPU usage is now consistent across all tabs and aligns with industry-standard tools.
  • Optional Legacy View: Users can enable a "CPU Utility" column for the old-style calculation.

9. Widgets

  • Multiple Dashboards: Users can create and switch between several widget dashboards.
  • Discover Feed: New visual layout with curated stories from premium publishers.

10. Windows Backup for Organizations

  • Enterprise Backup: Generally available for business customers to streamline device transitions and upgrades.

11. Emoji 16.0

  • Rendering Support: Windows now supports Emoji 16.0 rendering, though full panel access is expected in a future update.

Important Notes

  • PowerShell 2.0 Deprecated: No longer included in Windows 11 24H2. Users should migrate to PowerShell 5.1 or 7.x.
  • Feature Rollout: Some new features may take days or weeks to appear on all devices.
  • AI Models: The large update size is due to included AI models, which only apply to Copilot+ PCs with NPUs.

How to Install

  • Automatic Installation: Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
  • Manual Download: Download the .msu installer from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Available for x64, ARM64, and Windows Server 2025.

Known Issues

As of this release, no widespread critical issues have been reported. If problems arise, Microsoft typically documents them on the official Windows Release Health page.

Conclusion

Windows 11 KB5065426 is a substantial update that not only addresses security vulnerabilities but also introduces a range of user experience enhancements—especially for Copilot+ PCs. Key improvements include a more intuitive taskbar, richer File Explorer integration, better privacy controls, and AI-powered features. Given its critical security importance, installing this update promptly is strongly recommended.