In a fresh development, this doesn't affect our editorial independence. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission.
As part of the ongoing story, on top of numerous minor improvements, it introduces a few big changes that’ll be noticeable in day-to-day use. Microsoft just dropped optional patch KB5120998 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2.
Industry observers note that you can now choose whether it sits at the bottom, top, left, or right side of the screen. This marks the return of a capability that was present in earlier versions of Windows but was taken out of Windows 11 at arrival. The most noticeable change in this patch involves the taskbar.
In a fresh development, you can find this setting under Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behavior → Taskbar position.
Industry observers note that in “Small” mode, the icons and height of the taskbar are reduced, freeing up more space on smaller screens. However, this compact version can only sit at the top of bottom of the screen. Microsoft is also introducing a smaller taskbar in this patch.
Industry observers note that the “Recommended” section has been renamed “Recently used,” and you can also hide your name and profile picture in the Start menu. Separate toggles allow you to show or hide the sections for pinned apps, recommended content, and all apps independently of one another. The Start menu has gotten some fresh customization options in this patch.
In a fresh development, in the future, you’ll be able to choose between small and large layouts, and you’ll be able to use the automatic resize capability.
According to the latest update, the search interface is clearer and will, in the future, indicate more clearly whether a result comes from an app, Settings, a local file, the web, or the Microsoft Store. Microsoft has revamped Windows Search.
In a fresh development, windows can also automatically index frequently used folders for future searches. If you don’t wish to see web or Store results alongside local results, you can disable these suggestions in the privacy and search settings.
In a fresh development, the section with recommended files now also supports touch scrolling. In File Explorer, the home page is set to respond more quickly.
In a fresh development, administrative tasks can now be carried out using time-limited permissions. The capability is disabled by default and is designed for corporate environments. With Administrator Protection, Microsoft is introducing a capability designed to better secure administrator rights.
As part of the ongoing story, the fresh Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) can isolate processes such as coding agents and restrict their access to files, the network, and other system resources via policies. The patch also prepares Windows for the use of AI agents.
According to the latest update, in addition, Windows will soon support the post-quantum cryptography algorithm ML-KEM as a standalone option for TLS key exchange.
Industry observers note that the Windows Setup process and the “Get Started” app have also been revamped. Revision KB5120998 also improves: switching between virtual desktops, display and brightness settings, the Task Manager, and various functions relating to Windows Revision.
As part of the ongoing story, the command-line tool for Windows Management Instrumentation will no longer be available in Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. The underlying Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), however, will remain in place. Another change concerns WMIC.
In a fresh development, microsoft is currently not aware of any known issues with the patch. The patch also includes various bug fixes in areas like text-to-speech, Japanese text input, Outlook, and touchpad issues.
In a fresh development, that means you have to install it manually if you want to take advantage of what it offers. However, early adoption of preview updates is risky—some users are reporting cursor and wallpaper issues with this patch, so you should weigh the risks before jumping in. The cause of those issues is still unknown. Revision KB5120998 is an optional preview patch.
Industry observers note that you may have to wait a week or longer before certain functions are enabled on your system. Also note that Microsoft likes to gradually roll out its functions, so even if you install the optional patch, you may not have immediate access to all of the improvements.
Industry observers note that if you still want to install this patch, you can do so by navigating to Settings → Windows Revision → Advanced options → Optional updates → KB5120998.
In a fresh development, this article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
According to the latest update, egal, ob Smartphones, Gadgets oder die neuesten Trends aus der Welt von Apple und Android – sie ist in beiden Welten zu Hause. Neben Technik widmet sie sich gerne Lifestyle-Themen, kulinarischen Entdeckungen sowie Filmen und Serien. Mit ihrer Begeisterung für moderne Technologien liefert sie gerne praxisnahe Tipps und spannende Einblicke, die den Alltag bereichern. Viviane Osswald ist freie Redakteurin und Tech-Enthusiastin mit einer besonderen Leidenschaft für Mobile-Tech.