Microsoft has released Windows 11 KB5101650 and KB5099414 cumulative updates for versions 25H2/24H2 and 23H2 to fix security vulnerabilities, bugs, and add new features.
Today’s updates are mandatory as they contain the July 2026 Patch Tuesday security patches for 571 vulnerabilities discovered in previous months.
You can install today’s update by going to Start > Settings > Windows Update and clicking on ‘Check for Updates.’
You can also manually download and install the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
This is the seventh ‘Patch Tuesday’ release in 2026, and it’s based on 24H2, which means 25H2 gets the same update. There are no exclusive or special changes. You’ll get the same fixes across the two versions of Windows 11.
What’s new in the July 2026 Patch Tuesday update
After installing today’s security updates, Windows 11 25H2 (KB5101650) will have its build number changed to 26200.8875 25H2 and 26100.8875 (24H2), and 23H2 (KB5099414) will be changed to 22631.7376.
After the update, you will notice Bluetooth-related fixes, including faster and more reliable pairing with AirPods. In addition, Microsoft is adding Point-in-Time restore for everyone, but enterprise customers will be given greater control.
Here’s the full list of improvements and fixes:
-
[Widgets] New! A quieter, more focused Widgets experience helps reduce interruptions and improves default settings and notification controls:
- Reduce distractions: Widgets no longer open on hover. Notifications and taskbar badges are minimized by default.
- Simpler: Open to the Widgets dashboard by default on first use.
- Customize: Configure Widgets how you want by selecting Settings in the navigation bar, then changing any of the default settings.
- Stay informed: Dashboard icons show the number of alerts, and badges clear automatically when you leave a dashboard.
- Adjusted defaults: Some default settings are preserved based on usage, while others adjust to reduce interruptions.
- Performance improvements: This update provides improved reliability, responsiveness, and visual quality across the Widget experience.
-
[Accessibility] New! This update makes your screen easier to see and customizes your zoom experience:
- Screen tint: Apply a full-screen color overlay to help reduce eye strain and improve readability. Choose from preset tint options, adjust the intensity, or turn it on automatically. Find this feature in Settings > Accessibility.
- Magnifier: Enter a zoom percentage directly and change it in increments in the Magnifier window for more precise, flexible control.
- Magnifier settings menu: You can now also modify zoom increments directly from the magnifier bar instead of navigating to Windows Settings each time.
-
[File Explorer]
-
New! When you hover over a file in File Explorer Home, commands such as Open file location and Ask Copilot appear as quick actions. This experience is now supported for work and school accounts (Entra ID).1
-
Improves the speed and performance of File Explorer launch.2
-
This update improves File Explorer responsiveness when mounting disk images.
-
The address bar now supports paths containing double backslashes and quotation marks (for example, C:\\Users\\user or “C:\Users\user”), improving compatibility with a wider range of inputs.
-
The address bar suggestion dropdown is more reliable and now consistently closes after an item is selected.
-
This update addresses an issue on File Explorer Home where OneDrive files could appear duplicated in the Favorites section.
-
This update includes several refinements to the Rename experience:
- Addresses an issue where text was repeatedly selected when renaming items in folder views.
- Addresses an issue where case-only name changes were not immediately reflected in folder views for items stored locally or in the cloud.
-
-
[Bluetooth] This update improves reliability and performance when connecting to and using Bluetooth devices:
-
New! Windows now keeps the microphone mute state in sync between the audio mixer and the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) for a more consistent experience with Bluetooth headphones with mute buttons or indicators.
-
Accessory compatibility workarounds: Improves compatibility with specific Bluetooth audio devices, helping AirPods appear faster in pairing mode and improving microphone reliability on Beats Studio Pro headphones.
-
Bluetooth audio stability:
- Improves overall Windows stability with certain PC manufacturer drivers (error code 0x9F).
- Improves Bluetooth reliability for voice calls when using Classic Audio devices with the Hands-Free Profile (HFP).
- Reduces time for LE Audio accessories to start playing audio while using the microphone.
-
Device management: Windows will no longer show a “Remove failed” message when attempting to remove Bluetooth devices if the Bluetooth radio is unavailable or has changed since pairing.
-
Settings experience: Improves stability when using the Bluetooth & devices settings page for a smoother, more consistent experience.
-
Connection reliability and responsiveness:
- Reduces the time it takes for classic Bluetooth audio devices to reconnect after Windows resumes from hibernation.
- Improves reliability when LE Audio accessories disconnect, such as when another device (for example, a phone) connects.
- Improves reliability of LE Audio streaming after a connection is lost and restored.
-
-
[Bluetooth and Phone Link] This update improves audio routing for calls made through a connected phone:
- When an outgoing call is dialed from a paired phone, audio remains on the phone while ringing and transfers to the PC only when the call is answered from the PC.
- When Do Not Disturb is enabled on Windows, incoming call audio from a paired phone no longer rings on the PC.
-
[Voice access and voice typing] **New!** You can now use voice access and voice typing in French, German, and Spanish. As you speak, your PC improves your text in real time. It corrects grammar, punctuation, and recognition errors, and helps improve clarity—even in the presence of background noise. This makes dictation smoother and reduces the need for manual edits.3
-
[Audio] This update improves the reliability of the inbox HD Audio driver.
-
[Taskbar] This update improves the reliability of opening the Start menu when selecting the left edge of the taskbar when the icons in the taskbar are left-aligned.
-
[Networking]
- This update includes networking improvements for virtualized environments. Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) now use SR-IOV hardware acceleration by default for improved network throughput, and a configuration issue in nested Hyper-V virtualization network setup has been corrected to ensure reliable VM network provisioning.
- This update improves the reliability of the Windows networking stack. It reduces bug checks (blue screen errors) related to Wi-Fi power and improves cellular (WWAN) connectivity, including support for IPv6 VPNs. Compatibility with third-party VPN software and SR-IOV configurations on server hardware is also improved. Network adapter settings and bindings are now preserved across OS upgrades.
-
[Printing] New! New printer installations use Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) by default when supported, simplifying setup and improving reliability. For details about third-party driver deprecation, see End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows. To control this behavior, use the toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Default install printers using Windows Ready Print. For more information, see Introducing Windows Ready Print and modernized driver selection. For more information, see Introducing Windows Ready Print and Modernized Driver Selection.
-
[Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)] The update improves usage of WSL in mirrored networking mode with VPNs.
-
[Display and graphics]
- Improves the reliability of rendering content while scrolling for certain apps spanning across multiple monitors.
- Improves the reliability and persistence of applying color profiles.
-
[Location services] This update changes how some location settings are displayed in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location to help with clarity. When location services are turned off, settings like Default location and Allow location override don’t immediately apply, since location information is not given to apps or services. These settings will now be greyed out when location services are off to reduce confusion over when they take effect.
-
[Search] This update improves the reliability of setting Search related group policies.
-
[Input]
- New! You can now customize the size of the right-click zone in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Choose from default, small, medium, or large to control how much of the bottom-right corner responds to a single-finger right-click. This setting is only available on touchpads with a pressable surface. If your device manufacturer provides customization through their own app, a Custom option will appear to reflect those settings.
- This update improves recognition of English characters when using Japanese handwriting.
Microsoft is not aware of any new issues with this month’s Patch Tuesday, largely because it’s not a massive release compared to previous ones.
However, the company is testing several major improvements for Windows 11, including a movable taskbar and clutter-free Windows Search.
Unfortunately, the above changes are not shipping today. For now, we’re only getting the minor fixes, such as faster Bluetooth pairing for AirPods, as bigger changes are planned for a later release.
Security teams log 54% of successful attacks and alert on just 14%. The rest move through your environment unseen.
The Picus whitepaper shows how breach and attack simulation tests your SIEM and EDR rules so threats stop slipping by detection.
