Microsoft has just released a really great Windows 11 update – with system performance improvements, better wake-up from sleep, and more
Microsoft just released Windows 11’s non-optional February security update, and for the first time in a long time, it looks like a really good update with some notable quality improvements, and no AI to be seen.
The update, called KB5077241 is available to all Windows 11 users as an optional update that you can download now. If you choose not to install an update today, Microsoft will automatically roll out its content with next month’s Patch Tuesday updates on March 10.
There are also new features and additions that may be considered useful, too. There’s now a built-in Internet speed test button you can access by right-clicking the network icon in the Taskbar, and a new Camera settings mode that lets you pan and tilt your camera view directly from the Settings app.
The update also includes goodies like an updated Emoji selection, built-in Sysmon, and a redesigned Widgets Panel that separates the widgets themselves on their own dedicated page. Overall, this is a quality Windows 11 feature drop, and I hope we see more of this next year.
Here’s the full changelog for today’s update:
- [Emoji] New! The Emoji 16.0 release introduces a carefully selected subset of new emoji, one from each major category. Each emoji carries timeless symbols and functional versatility. These new emojis now appear in the emoji panel.
- [Backup & Restore] New! The original sign-in restore experience is now part of Windows Backup for Organizations, bringing this restore capability to more types of devices. This experience restores user settings and Microsoft Store apps automatically at first sign-in on Microsoft Entra hybrid devices, Cloud PC, and multi-user environments. This capability helps create a consistent setup process during device updates, upgrades, or migrations.
- [Quick Machine Recovery] New! Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) now opens automatically on Windows Professional devices that are not joined and not registered in enterprise endpoint management. These devices get the same recovery features available to Windows Home users. On domain-joined or enterprise-managed devices, QMR is always disabled unless enabled by the organization.
- [Taskbar & System Tray]
- New! A built-in network speed test is now available in the taskbar. You can turn it on from Wi-Fi or mobile quick settings, or by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray. The speed test opens in the default browser and measures Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular connections. This feature helps to check network performance and troubleshoot problems.
- Improved: If the taskbar is set to unstacked and you have an app open with multiple windows, they no longer move as set to overflow when there is not enough space on the taskbar. Only non-parallel windows go to the menu for everything. This change prevents the overflow menu from appearing with too much unused space.
- [Accounts] New! The account menu in the start menu now includes a new option that directs you to the benefits page, making it easier to check and manage your Microsoft account benefits.
- [Camera Settings] New! You can control pan and tilt on supported cameras in the Settings app. The controls appear below Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Camerasin the “Basic Settings” section of the camera you selected.
- [Built-in Sysmon] New! Windows now brings System Monitor (Sysmon) functionality to Windows. Sysmon helps you capture system events to detect threats, and you can use custom configuration files to filter the events you want to monitor. Windows writes captured events to the Windows Event Log, which allows security tools and other applications to use them.
- .[Widgets] New! Widget Settings now opens as a full-page experience in the Widgets app instead of opening a dialog.
- [Desktop Background] New! You can set WebP images (.webp) as your desktop background from Settings > Personalization > It’s the backgroundor by right-clicking the image in File Explorer.
- [Search on Taskbar]
- New! Group titles now show the number of results, so you can quickly see if more results are available. Select a group header to see all results for that group and hide results from other groups.
- New! You can preview the search results by hovering over the result and selecting Watch first to see content without opening it.
- .Improved: Updated the Search process icon in Task Manager to now display a magnifying glass
- [Storage Settings] Storage Settings Upgrades include:
- Some of the dialogs in Storage Settings have been updated with a more modern design.
- Improved performance of scanning temporary files.
- [Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT)] New! This update adds support for Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on Windows 11 Arm64 devices. IT administrators can now install and use tools such as Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services tools, Active Directory Certificate Services tools, Server Manager, Group Policy Management tools, DNS Server tools, and DHCP Server tools. These tools are available as optional features and can be installed through Settings > System > Optional Features or in Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
- [Windows Update Settings] Improved: Responsiveness of Windows Update settings page.
- [Login and lock screens] Improved: Reliability of login screen.
- [Nearby Sharing] Improved: Reliability when sending large files with Nearby Sharing.
- [Projecting] Improved: Reliability of displaying the project menu after pressing the Windows logo key + P.
- [Printing] Improved: Windows print service functionality (spoolsv.exe) to help print more efficiently and reduce downtime during high-volume printing.
- [File Explorer]
- Improved: You can now reliably open a new File Explorer window. Holding down the Shift key and selecting the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, or using the middle mouse button, now opens a new instance of File Explorer instead of the current one.
- Improved: File Explorer now includes an Extract All option in the command bar when browsing non-ZIP archive folders.
- Improved: Reliability of displaying devices on the Network page in File Explorer.
- [Display]
- Improved: This update improves reliability when your PC wakes from sleep.
- Improved: Performance improvements related to the display to help reduce the time for the PC to resume from sleep, especially when the system is under heavy load and in other situations.
- [Other] Improvements: This update improves visual consistency across Windows, including the taskbar when auto-hide is turned on, the confirmation fields in the Windows Security dialog, and the print dialog.
A good sign of things to come?
There are also no known issues with this update yet, which is a nice change of pace. Perhaps Microsoft is really willing to address “pain areas” and improve Windows OS for power users this year. If this continues, Microsoft may have a winning strategy.
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