KB5053656 (OS Build 26100.3624) Preview - Windows 11 24H2, March 27 2025

Summary

This is an optional, non-security preview update for Windows 11 version 24H2, bringing the OS to build 26100.3624. Released on March 27, 2025, it delivers quality improvements, new Copilot+ PC features (including enhanced Windows Search and live captions), and a range of bug fixes across authentication, input, display, and networking. See the full release notes on Microsoft Support.

Highlights

• Improved Windows Search (Copilot+ PCs): Semantic indexing models now work alongside traditional lexical indexing, letting users search File Explorer, the taskbar search box, and Settings using natural language without needing to remember exact file names or setting labels. Works offline via the onboard NPU. Currently available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs; AMD and Intel support coming soon.
• Cloud photo search in File Explorer (Copilot+ PCs): Users can search for OneDrive photos using everyday descriptions such as "summer picnics." Results now combine locally stored and cloud-stored photos when signed in with a Microsoft account. Available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs first.
• Gamepad keyboard layout: A new Gamepad layout for the Windows 11 touch keyboard includes button accelerators (for example, X for backspace, Y for spacebar) and vertically aligned keys for improved controller navigation.
• Emoji and more panel - system tray icon: A new taskbar system tray icon improves discoverability of the emoji and more panels. Initially rolling out to a small group of devices.
• Live captions and real-time translation: AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs gain live captions with real-time translation supporting more than 44 languages into English. Snapdragon Copilot+ PCs gain real-time translation to Chinese (Simplified), with an expanded list of supported source languages.
• Settings "Top cards": A new "Top cards" section under Settings > System > About shows key PC specifications - processor, RAM, storage, and GPU - at a glance.
• Voice access natural language commanding: Users can speak commands naturally using filler words and synonyms instead of rigid predefined commands. Initially available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.
• Lock screen widgets in the EEA: Devices in the European Economic Area (EEA) can now add, remove, and rearrange lock screen widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, and Traffic via Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
• Windows Studio Effects system tray icon: An icon now appears in the system tray on NPU-equipped devices when an app that supports Windows Studio Effects is active, linking directly to the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings.
• Task Manager CPU usage change: Task Manager now calculates CPU usage using standard metrics consistently across the Processes, Performance, and Users pages, aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. A hidden optional column called "CPU Utility" is available on the Details tab to show the previous value.

Improvements and fixes

• Application installation: The MsiCloseHandle API no longer takes an excessively long time when processing MSI files that contain a large number of files.
• Authentication - Kerberos: Fixed a problem where Kerberos authentication stopped responding in certain scenarios when RC4 encryption was in use.
• Authentication - FIDO Cached Credential Logon: Fixed an issue where FIDO Cached Credential Logon could stop responding on Hybrid Domain Joined devices.
• Authentication - account lockout: Fixed a case where opening certain apps after a password change could trigger an unexpected lockout when an account lockout policy was enabled.
• Boot menu: Prevented an unnecessary, non-functional boot menu entry from being created when an update rolls back. Existing extra entries can be managed in the Boot section of System Configuration (msconfig).
• Color profile: Fixed a problem where the expected color profile list for a selected monitor was not shown under Settings > System > Display > Color profile > Color management.
• Color profile on resume: Fixed an issue where color profile settings were not applied after resuming from sleep.
• Cryptography - Credential Roaming: Fixed an issue that prevented certificates and keys from being roamed into Active Directory and made available on users' machines.
• Direct 3D / Graphics: Fixed an issue where certain third-party apps could cause the graphics settings page to stop responding.
• Display kernel - Dolby Vision: Fixed a problem on Dolby Vision capable displays where users saw regular HDR instead of Dolby Vision during content playback.
• File Explorer context menu: Fixed an issue where the "See more" menu in the File Explorer command bar opened in the wrong direction.
• General reliability - blue screen on sleep resume: Fixed an underlying issue that could cause a PDC_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT bugcheck (blue screen) when resuming from sleep.
• Input - ctfmon.exe reliability: Fixed a system restart issue affecting ctfmon.exe that could disrupt typing.
• Input - ctfmon.exe data copy: Fixed ctfmon.exe restarting unexpectedly when copying data from certain apps.
• Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS): Fixed an issue where LAPS settings were not preserved after an in-place upgrade.
• Network - virtual NIC description: Fixed invalid characters appearing in the virtual NIC description within Network Connections (ncpa.cpl).
• OOBE / Enrollment Status Page: Fixed an issue preventing the Enrollment Status Page (ESP) from running every time a new user logged onto a policy-configured device.
• PowerShell - WDAC: Fixed an issue where critical PowerShell modules required for device configuration were not run under Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies.
• Remote Desktop: Fixed an issue where Remote Desktop would not use UDP and fell back to TCP only.
• Screen orientation: Fixed unexpected screen orientation changes on 2-in-1 devices when waking from sleep.
• Search on Taskbar (EEA): Improved web search provider support in Windows Search in the EEA, including better discoverability and merged results in the All scope. The Microsoft Bing app's web search provider now opens results in the default browser.
• Settings - Japanese name order: Fixed an issue for Japanese users where names at the top of Settings > Accounts were displayed as First Name Last Name instead of Last Name First Name.
• Deprecation - Suggested actions: Suggested actions (appearing after copying a phone number or future date) are deprecated and being removed.
• Deprecation - Location History: The Location History feature - an API Cortana used to access 24 hours of device location history - is being removed. Location data will no longer be saved locally, and the corresponding settings are being removed from Settings > Privacy & security > Location.

Known issues

Citrix Session Recording Agent blocks update installation

Symptom: Devices with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411 (released December 2024) may fail to complete the January 2025 Windows security update installation. The update appears to download and apply correctly, but on restart an error similar to "Something didn't go as planned. No need to worry - undoing changes" appears and the device reverts to its previous update state. Home users are not expected to be affected.

Workaround: The issue has been resolved in Citrix Session Recording Agent version 2503, released April 28, 2025, and newer versions. For details, see the documentation provided by Citrix at "Microsoft's January Security Update Fails/Reverts on a machine with 2411 Session Recording Agent."

Blue screen exception after installing this update

Symptom: After installing this update and restarting, some users may encounter a blue screen with error code 0x18B (SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR).

Workaround: This issue is addressed in KB5055627.

Blurry CJK text in Chromium-based browsers at 96 DPI

Symptom: After installing this update, some users report blurry or unclear Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) text when displayed at 96 DPI (100% scaling) in Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. This update introduced Noto fonts for CJK languages as fallbacks to improve text rendering; the blurriness is caused by limited pixel density at 96 DPI. Increasing display scaling improves clarity.

Workaround: Microsoft has shared its findings and potential solutions with Google for further discussion. Users can report issues related to Noto CJK fonts through the official Google Noto Fonts GitHub repository.

How to get this update

Microsoft bundles the latest servicing stack update (SSU) - KB5054984, build 26100.3616 - together with this cumulative update. Devices must have KB5048295 (build 26100.2447) or later installed to receive the AI components (Image Search, Content Extraction, and Semantic Analysis, all updated to version 1.7.818.0).

• Windows Update: Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. The update appears under "Optional updates available." Select the link to download and install it.
• Windows Update for Business: These changes will be included in the next security update pushed through Windows Update for Business channels.
• Microsoft Update Catalog / WSUS: The standalone package is available from the Microsoft Update Catalog for environments using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or manual deployment.

Note: Windows updates delivered through this channel do not install Microsoft Store application updates. Enterprise users should refer to Microsoft Store apps in Configuration Manager; consumer users should use Get updates for apps and games in Microsoft Store.

Frequently asked questions

Is KB5053656 a security update?

No. This is a non-security optional preview update. It contains quality improvements and new features but does not patch security vulnerabilities. The fixes and new features in this preview will be included in the next scheduled monthly security cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2.

Do I need to install a servicing stack update before applying KB5053656?

Microsoft bundles the required servicing stack update (KB5054984, build 26100.3616) directly with this package, so no separate SSU download is needed. However, to install the AI components - Image Search, Content Extraction, and Semantic Analysis - your device must already have KB5048295 (build 26100.2447) or a later SSU installed.

Which devices get the new Windows Search improvements?

The improved semantic search powered by on-device indexing models is initially available only on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs is described as coming soon. Standard (non-Copilot+) PCs do not receive these specific search enhancements in this update.

What should I do if my device hits the 0x18B blue screen after installing this update?

Microsoft acknowledges this SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR (0x18B) blue screen and states it is addressed in KB5055627. Sysadmins should deploy KB5055627 to affected devices as soon as it is available in their update management channel to resolve the issue.