Microsoft Releases Windows 11 KB5050009 & KB5050021 cumulative Updates

Microsoft has rolled out the Windows 11 KB5050009 and KB5050021 cumulative updates for versions 24H2 and 23H2, respectively, as part of the January 2025 Patch Tuesday.

These updates are mandatory as they include critical security fixes for vulnerabilities identified in previous months.

How to Install the Updates

Windows 11 users can install the updates by navigating to Start > Settings > Windows Update and clicking on Check for Updates. Alternatively, the updates can be manually downloaded and installed from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Build Numbers After Update

• Windows 11 24H2 (KB5050009): Build number updated to 26100.2605.
• Windows 11 23H2 (KB5050021): Build number updated to 226×1.4602.

Key Changes in the January 2025 Patch Tuesday Update

While this update does not introduce many new features, it incorporates improvements and fixes from previous updates, including those from November. Notable enhancements include:

New Features

• Touchscreen Edge Gestures: A new section in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch allows users to disable left or right screen edge gestures.
• Input Method Editor (IME): The IME toolbar now hides when apps are in full-screen mode, specifically when typing Chinese or Japanese characters.
• File Explorer Sharing: Users can now share content directly to Android devices via the context menu in File Explorer or on the desktop, provided Phone Link is installed and configured.
• Dynamic Lighting Settings: New direction options (Forward, Backward, Outward, Inward) have been added for the Wave effect, along with a Forward direction for the Gradient effect.
• Jump Lists: Holding Shift + Ctrl while clicking a jump list item now opens it with admin privileges.
• Speech Features: Speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities have been improved, with prompts to update language files through the Microsoft Store.
• Narrator Enhancements: New scan mode functions allow users to skip past links (N) or jump directly to lists (L) on web pages or documents.

Fixes and Improvements

• File Explorer:
• Resolved issues with excessive spacing in the left pane.
• Fixed a bug where the search box was cut off in smaller windows.
• Display:
• Fixed app window clustering on monitors after sleep mode.
• Addressed issues with Mica material not displaying correctly during slideshow backgrounds.
• Resolved lag and screen tearing on secondary displays when running full-screen apps.
• Mouse Pointer: Fixed an issue where pointer location circles appeared too small on certain displays when using “Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key.”
• Clipboard History: Resolved an issue where clipboard history failed to display copied content despite being enabled.

The January 2025 Patch Tuesday updates bring essential security fixes alongside several usability improvements across various Windows 11 features. Users are encouraged to install these updates promptly to ensure their systems remain secure and up-to-date.

Find this News Interesting! Follow us on Google News, LinkedIn, and X to Get Instant Updates!