December 2024 Updates for Windows 11 24H2 and 23H2: KB5048667 and KB5048685 Released
- Windows 11 builds 26100.2605 (KB5048667), 22631.4602, and 22621.4602 (KB5048685) are being deployed as part of the December 2024 Patch Tuesday Update for versions 24H2, 23H2, and 22H2.
- This series of security updates brings a host of new features to the Taskbar, Start Menu, and File Explorer.
- The updates also include several modifications aimed at enhancing the Settings app and resolving various issues.
- Notably, these updates are essentially identical, and users can download them immediately through the Windows Update settings.
Microsoft has rolled out the final Patch Tuesday Update of 2024 for Windows 11, showcasing build 26100.2605 (KB5048667) for version 24H2, alongside builds 22631.4602 and 22621.4602 (KB5048685) for versions 23H2 and 22H2, packed with security enhancements and numerous feature improvements.
According to the official changelog (including Microsoft’s preview updates in the Stable Channel and Release Preview Channel changes), the Windows 11 build 26100.2605 brings new features and improvements anticipated for version 24H2’s launch. Notably, the latest Patch Update modifies the date and time display in the System Tray, eliminating the bell icon when “Do not disturb” mode is activated.
The Start Menu now supports Jump Lists for apps that are pinned. By holding down the “Shift” and “Ctrl” keys while clicking on an item in the Jump List, users can run it as an administrator. Additionally, the Settings app has been refreshed, featuring updates to the Touch, Dynamic Lighting, and Privacy & Security settings pages.
For File Explorer, a new capability allows users to share files directly with their Android devices via the context menu. The KB5048667 update also addresses various issues related to the IME toolbar, Windows Search, display, mouse controls, clipboard functionality, keyboard settings, game bar, among others.
Regarding Windows 11 updates, the KB5048685 for versions 23H2 and 22H2 brings enhancements to Windows Search and Task Manager. Furthermore, it resolves activation issues related to motherboard replacements and fixes unresponsive systems when printing with IPP USB printers, alongside updates to the Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA).
It is crucial to note that the update for version 22H2 is exclusively available for Enterprise and Education editions due to the conclusion of support for version 22H2.
Notable Changes in Windows 11 Build 26100.2605 (24H2)
The enhancements detailed here are gradually rolling out as part of the final cumulative update of 2024 for Windows 11 version 24H2. Microsoft’s deployment will take some time before all devices receive these updates.
Start Menu and Taskbar Enhancements
The Windows 11 update KB5048667 enhances the “Shift + Ctrl” keyboard shortcut for items in the Jump List, allowing them to be executed as administrators directly from the Start Menu or Taskbar. Additionally, Jump Lists for pinned apps are now supported in the Start Menu.
Microsoft has also streamlined the presentation of the date and time on the Taskbar. Users can adjust this setting through the “Time & language” menu.
When the “Do not disturb” option is on, the bell icon will not be displayed in the System Tray. Users can access notifications by clicking the date and time button.
Additionally, if the “Automatically hide the taskbar” feature is enabled, the search box will be minimized to an icon instead of appearing as a full box.
Enhancements in the Settings App
The “Touch” settings section now includes the ability to enable or disable left or right edge touch gestures on the screen.
Within the “Privacy & Security” segment, it is now possible to deactivate the “Personalized offers” feature, preventing data collection aimed at enhancing system experience. This option is also present during the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE), previously known as “Tailored Experiences.”
On the “Dynamic Lighting” settings page, a placeholder message will be displayed when no compatible devices are attached, disabling brightness and effects controls.
File Explorer: New Sharing Feature for Android
This update introduces an enhanced File Explorer, adding a context menu option for direct file sharing with Android devices.
The update also resolves a glitch causing excessive space in the left pane items and a rendering issue with the search box in compact window views.
Task Manager Enhancements
The KB5048667 update introduces a revamped version of the Task Manager that now features both dark mode support and text scaling for the “Disconnect” and “Logoff” dialogs. The “Performance” section has also been updated to display the type of each drive (e.g., NVMe, SATA).
Improvements in Windows Search
The Windows Search function has been enhanced to utilize LPACs (Less Privileged App Containers), increasing the security of IFilters. These LPACs act as secure areas, restricting IFilters’ access and mitigating risks in case of a breach.
Mouse Settings Updates
New options in the Mouse settings page allow users to alter the scrolling direction of their mouse wheel and toggle enhanced mouse pointers. The scrolling direction setting is newly introduced, while the enhanced pointers feature was previously exclusive to the Control Panel.
Accessibility Enhancements
This update adds two new features to enhance the Windows Narrator: Skip past links (N’) and Jump to lists (L’).
Moreover, Microsoft has improved speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionalities and will now provide language files through the Microsoft Store.
Additional Improvements
Additionally, the IME toolbar will now hide when applications are in full-screen mode. There are ongoing enhancements for speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionalities, alongside fixes for display issues when rendering desktop elements and applications. Furthermore, rectifications have been made for the mouse, clipboard, as well as the game bar.
This non-security update also addresses problems related to DISM and the Get-WindowsCapability commands, as well as other issues concerning Windows Update and JPG file handling.
Windows 11 also received fixes for HTML Applications (HTA), Task Manager, RAW image formats, exporting chart objects, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
New Features in Windows 11 Build 22631.4602 (23H2 and 22H2)
The Windows 11 update KB5048685 (with details from Microsoft’s Stable Channel preview and Release Preview Channel updates) for versions 23H2 and 22H2 offers similar new features and changes as the update for version 24H2 mentioned above. These devices will also receive extra improvements for Bluetooth LE Audio.
How to Install the Updates
To download and install these Windows 11 builds, navigate to the “Windows Update” settings, activate the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option, and hit the “Check for Updates” button.
For manual installation of the December 2024 updates for Windows 11, you can obtain the update for version 24H2 from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. The update for version 23H2 is available on this Microsoft support page.
If you experience any issues post-update, you can reverse the cumulative update following the provided instructions to restore the previous OS version.
If, after installing the Windows 11 build 26100.2605 for version 24H2, you cannot see the new features, you may manually enable them using the vivetool /enable /id:50564332,50565209 command with the ViveTool.
It is important to highlight that build 26100.2605 (KB5048667) was initially available as build 26100.2454 (KB5046740) in the Stable Channel and as build 26100.2448 in the Release Preview Channel but is now accessible to all as the December 2024 Patch Tuesday update.
Additionally, Windows 11 builds 22621.4602 and 22631.4602 (KB5048685) were previously released as builds 22631.4541 and 22621.4541 (KB5046732) in the Stable Channel as non-security updates and are now offered as security updates for all eligible devices running versions 23H2 and 22H2.
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