Microsoft has rolled out the KB5064081 patch for Windows 11 24H2 through Windows Update. This is an optional preview update, bringing significant improvements to AI features, lock screen widgets, Windows Hello, and more. Let’s go through the highlights.
Main New Features
1. Recall & Click To Do Upgrades
- Recall now opens on a personalized main page showing recent snapshots, apps, and websites.
- New sidebar navigation: Start, timeline, comments, and settings.
- Click To Do gains an interactive tutorial (re-open via More options > Start tutorial) covering tasks like text summarization or background removal.
2. Lock Screen Widgets
- You can now add, remove, resize, and rearrange widgets (weather, sports, traffic, tracking, etc.) anywhere on the lock screen.
- Managed in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
3. Modernized Windows Hello
- Refreshed sign-in interface with clearer navigation.
- Seamless switching between face, passkeys, and connected devices.
- Integrated with Recall and Microsoft Store authentication.
4. Taskbar & Search Enhancements
- Notification Center can now show a big clock with seconds (enable in Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time).
- Taskbar Search supports grid view with status indicators (e.g., still indexing, cloud vs. local file status).
5. Settings Improvements
- Activation/Expiration notices redesigned in the Windows 11 style.
- New AI usage controls under Privacy & Security > Text and Image Generation → lets you see which apps use generative AI and block them if desired.
- AI search agent in Settings: can find and change settings for you (English only, for now).
6. Windows Backup for Organizations
- Now generally available. Saves system apps, settings, and preferences for easy restoration on new devices—ideal for business/remote setups.
Other Notable Changes
- Widgets: Multiple panels supported, redesigned Discover feed with curated stories via Copilot.
- Permissions dialogs: Modernized design with dimmed background.
- File Explorer: New separators in context menus; Recommended/Activity adds person cards (when signed into Microsoft account).
- Task Manager: Optional CPU Utility column; UI standardized across pages.
- SSU KB5064531 included (servicing stack updates).
- IT Note: Microsoft reminds admins about Secure Boot certificate expiration in June 2026—plan ahead.
Fixes in KB5064081
- Fixed blank screen on login (“Just a moment” delays).
- Miracast: audio dropouts resolved.
- Audio service reliability improved.
- Windows Hello: better PIN/fingerprint handling post-sleep.
- Explorer & apps: crashes (dbgcore.dll, textinputframework.dll) fixed.
- Kerberos: hang issue with cloud file access resolved.
- Input: fixes for Simplified Chinese IME, touch keyboard (Changjie, Bopomofo, Japanese).
- ARM64: slow app installations optimized.
- ReFS: fixed memory exhaustion during large backups.
- Pluton cryptographic provider: Event 57 error corrected.
Known Issues
- Audio/Video degradation with NDI after August updates.
- Workaround: use TCP/UDP instead of RUDP until Microsoft issues a fix.
This update is optional, so you’ll need to check manually via Windows Update. It will likely roll into the September 2025 Patch Tuesday for all users.
