KB5050092: Windows 11 OS Builds 22621.4830 and 22631.4830 Preview (January 29, 2025)

Summary

This is an optional, non-security preview update for Windows 11, covering OS Builds 22621.4830 and 22631.4830, released January 29, 2025. It applies to Windows 11 Enterprise and Education version 22H2 and Windows 11 version 23H2 (all editions). See the full details at Microsoft Support.

Highlights

Some of the following improvements are subject to gradual rollout and may not reach all users immediately.

• Taskbar previews - Hover previews for apps on the taskbar are improved, along with their animations.
• Windows Studio Effects tray icon - On devices with a neural processing unit (NPU), an icon now appears in the system tray when an app using Windows Studio Effects is active. Selecting the icon opens the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings; hovering shows a tooltip identifying which app is using the camera.
• Simsun-ExtG font - A new simplified Chinese font is added, including the Biangbiang noodles character and 9,753 ideographs supporting Unicode Extensions G (range 30000-3134A, 4,939 chars), H (range 31350-323AF, 4,192 chars), and I (range 2EBF0-2EE5D, 622 chars). Some apps may not display the new extension characters yet.
• File Explorer enhancements - Right-clicking items in the left pane now shows a "New Folder" command. Previously open tabs are restored when "Restore previous folder windows at logon" is enabled. Specific File Explorer settings are enabled automatically when "Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in" is turned on under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
• File Explorer fixes - Resolved: unwanted repeated searches after an initial search; file date and time properties updating unexpectedly after a copy operation; icons in the details pane not refreshing correctly when switching themes; and the search box losing input focus while typing.
• Windows Share - You can now share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows by right-clicking local files in File Explorer or on the desktop.
• Magnifier app - New keyboard shortcut CTRL+ALT+Minus sign quickly switches between the current zoom level and 1X zoom. New buttons allow resetting zoom to fit the screen or to the last or preferred magnification.
• Snipping Tool - Fixed distorted screenshots when two or more monitors with different display scaling are in use.
• Chinese Pinyin IME - Fixed an issue where the IME language switches from Chinese to English when changing app windows.

Improvements and fixes

• Exporting chart objects - Resolved an issue that prevented exporting files containing chart objects to PDF and XLSX formats.
• Chinese Pinyin IME search suggestions - Bing will no longer provide automatic suggestions in the search box for search engine sites such as Baidu. Manual suggestions remain available via Ctrl+Tab or the chevron button (>).
• Windows Backup - After restoring from a backup through the Windows Setup (OOBE) experience on a new PC, users will receive a standard Windows 11 taskbar. Previously pinned apps can still be found in Start menu and Search.
• USB audio (DAC fix) - Resolved an issue where USB audio devices using a DAC driver based on USB 1.0 stopped working and halted playback.
• USB audio device drivers - Fixed a "This device cannot start" (code 10) error that appeared when connecting certain external audio management devices.
• USB cameras - Fixed an issue introduced by the January 2025 security update where the device did not recognize that the camera was active.
• Task Manager (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Fixed an incorrect CPU index number when setting process affinity on servers with two or more NUMA nodes.
• Remote desktop (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Fixed two issues: a console session stopping responding upon reconnection, and the Action Center not displaying in certain scenarios.
• Virtual memory (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Fixed an issue that depleted virtual memory and caused some apps to fail.
• NFC readers (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Fixed intermittent failures to read card UUIDs after many point-of-sale app scans.
• USB Print and IPP Over USB (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Fixed an installed printer failing when the spooler initializes.
• Windows WARP (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Added support for Y210, Y216, Y410, and Y416 formats in the High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) format.
• Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Updated DriverSiPolicy.p7b to expand the list of drivers blocked due to Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attack risk.
• Remote Desktop Gateway (22H2 Enterprise/Education) - Fixed sign-in errors when connecting to Windows 11 workstations with device redirection enforced.

Known issues

OpenSSH service fails to start

Symptom: Following installation of the October 2024 security update, the OpenSSH service fails to start, blocking SSH connections. The failure produces no detailed logging and requires manual intervention to run sshd.exe. This affects enterprise, IoT, and education customers on a limited number of devices.

Workaround: This issue is addressed in KB5052094.

Citrix Session Recording Agent blocks January 2025 update installation

Symptom: Devices with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411 (released December 2024) may download and initially apply the January 2025 Windows security update, but display an error similar to "Something didn't go as planned. No need to worry - undoing changes" on restart, causing the update to revert. Home users are not expected to be affected.

Workaround: The issue is resolved in Citrix Session Recording Agent version 2503, released April 28, 2025, and newer versions. Citrix documentation titled "Microsoft's January Security Update Fails/Reverts on a machine with 2411 Session Recording Agent" provides additional details.

Dual-mode USB printers print random text

Symptom: After installing this update, USB-connected dual-mode printers that support both USB Print and IPP Over USB protocols may unexpectedly print random text and data, including network commands and unusual characters. Printed output often starts with "POST /ipp/print HTTP/1.1" followed by other IPP headers. The issue occurs more frequently when the printer is powered on or reconnected after being disconnected.

Workaround: This issue is addressed in KB5053657.

How to get this update

Microsoft combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) - KB5050114, versions 22621.4825 and 22631.4825 - with this cumulative update.

• Windows Update - Available. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and look for the link under the "Optional updates available" section.
• Windows Update for Business - Not available directly. These changes will be included in the next security update.
• Microsoft Update Catalog - Available. Download the standalone package directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) - Not available natively. Administrators can import the update manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM /online /get-packages command to find the package name, then remove it with DISM /Remove-Package. Running wusa.exe with the /uninstall switch will not work on the combined package, and the SSU cannot be removed after installation.

Frequently asked questions

Does this update apply to Windows 11 Home and Pro?

No. KB5050092 applies specifically to Windows 11 Enterprise and Education version 22H2, and all editions of Windows 11 version 23H2. Some known issues noted in this update, however, reference potential impact on Home and Pro users in separate contexts such as the OpenSSH issue.

Is a servicing stack update required before installing KB5050092?

Microsoft bundles the latest servicing stack update - KB5050114 - with this cumulative update, so no separate SSU installation step is needed beforehand. The combined package handles both components during installation.

How can administrators deploy this update to managed devices?

Administrators can import the standalone package from the Microsoft Update Catalog into WSUS manually. Windows Update for Business does not surface this optional preview; the fixes will appear in the next scheduled security update for those channels.

Can this update be uninstalled if problems occur?

Partially. You can remove the LCU portion using the DISM /Remove-Package command with the correct package name found via DISM /online /get-packages. The SSU component cannot be removed after installation, and using wusa.exe /uninstall against the combined package will not work.