Applies To
Windows 11 version 25H2, all editions Windows 11 version 24H2, all editions

Release Date:

29/01/2026

Version:

OS Builds 26200.7705 and 26100.7705

​​​​​This non-security update for Windows 11, version 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5074105), improves functionality, performance, and reliability. To learn more about differences between security updates, optional non-security preview updates, Out-of-band (OOB) updates, and continuous innovation, see Windows monthly updates explained. For information on Windows update terminology, see the different types of Windows software updates.  

To view the latest updates about this release, visit the Windows release health dashboard or the update history page for Windows 11, version 24H2 and version 25H2.

Announcements and messages

This section provides key notifications related to this release, including announcements, change logs, and end-of-support notices.  

Windows Secure Boot certificate expiration

Important: Secure Boot certificates used by most Windows devices are set to expire starting in June 2026. This might affect the ability of certain personal and business devices to boot securely if not updated in time. To avoid disruption, we recommend reviewing the guidance and taking action to update certificates in advance. For details and preparation steps, see Windows Secure Boot certificate expiration and CA updates.

A new, standardized title format makes Windows updates easier to read and understand. It improves clarity by removing unnecessary technical elements like platform architecture. Key identifiers such as date prefixes, the KB number, and build or version are retained to help you quickly recognize each update.

For more details, see Simplified Windows Update titles or its accompanying blog post.

Highlights

This update is available through two release phases: gradual rollout and normal rollout. A gradual rollout delivers an update in phases, so features reach devices over time instead of all at once, meaning availability varies by device.​​​​​​ A normal rollout is the broad release to all eligible devices at the same time, usually when it reaches general availability (GA). 

The following summary outlines features from Copilot experiences and AI-powered Windows 11 PC experiences, along with improvements and fixes. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change.

For more info on the different AI experiences, see aka.ms/copilotpluspcs.

This section highlights updates and improvements unique to Copilot+ PCs, focusing on AI-powered features, performance enhancements, and user experience optimizations.

  • [Agent in Settings] ​​​​​​​New! The Settings Agent now supports more languages, with expanded support for German, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Italian, and Chinese (Simplified).

This section highlights new features and enhancements for Windows 11 PCs, including AI-powered capabilities, continuous innovation, and performance improvements.

  • [Cross Device Resume] New! This update expands the functionality of Cross‑Device Resume, which Microsoft first introduced in the May 2025 Windows non-security update (KB5058499). You can continue activities from your Android phone on your PC based on the apps and services you use, including resuming Spotify playback, working in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or continuing a browsing session.

    • Vivo Android phone users can continue browsing from Vivo Browser on their PC.

    • If you use an Android phone from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, vivo, or Xiaomi, you can resume online files that you opened in the Microsoft Copilot app on your phone and continue working on them on your PC. Files open in the corresponding Microsoft 365 app on your PC if it is installed. If the app is not installed, the files open in your default web browser. This feature does not support offline files stored only on your phone.

  • [Windows MIDI Services] New! This update improves MIDI on Windows with enhanced support for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0, including full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support with built-in translation, shared MIDI ports across apps, custom port names, loopback and app-to-app MIDI, plus performance improvements and bug fixes—delivering a better experience for musicians. 

    The App SDK and Tools package is a separate download that enables inbox MIDI 2.0 features and includes tools like MIDI Console and the MIDI Settings app. Releases are available on the Windows MIDI Services landing page and GitHub and are currently unsigned, which might display a security warning during download or installation. 

  • [Narrator] New! Narrator now gives you more control over how it announces on‑screen controls. You can choose which details are spoken and adjust their order to match how you navigate apps. These settings apply throughout the app to help reduce extra speech and make Narrator easier to follow. 

  • [Settings] New!1 You can view the Device card on the Settings home page. It shows key specifications and usage details for your PC. From the card, you can go directly to Settings > System > About for more detailed information about your device. This card appears when you sign in with your Microsoft account. This feature rollout has resumed after being paused during the August 2025 release. 

  • [Smart App Control] New! You can turn Smart App Control (SAC) on or off without any clean install requirement. To make changes, go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings. When turned on, SAC helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps. To learn more, see App & Browser Control in the Windows Security App – Microsoft Support. 

  • [Voice Access] New! A streamlined setup makes it easier to get started with Voice Access. The redesigned experience helps you download a speech model for your chosen language, select your preferred input microphone, and learn what Voice Access can help you do on your Windows PC.  

  • [Voice Typing] New! The Wait time before acting setting in Voice Typing enables you to adjust the delay before a voice command runs. This setting gives you flexibility for different speech patterns and improves recognition accuracy whether you speak slowly or quickly. 

  • [Windows Hello] New! Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors. This update extends this more secure sign in option beyond devices with built in fingerprint sensors to include desktops and other Windows 11 PCs, including Copilot+ PCs. To get started, plug in a supported ESS fingerprint reader, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, and follow the prompts to enroll.  

  • [Start Menu] 

    • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where the warning message that appears when you shut down your computer while other users are signed in might be cut off at the edge of the Start menu.

    • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Start menu might open on the wrong side of the screen when you use Arabic or Hebrew as your display language and the taskbar icons aren't centered.

  • [Kiosk mode] Changed: This update removes an error message that might show after you sign in for multi-app kiosk mode. The message said, "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer". 

  • [Windows Update] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where trying to join the Windows Insider Program from Settings > Windows Update might get stuck. 

  • [Lock screen] Improved: This update includes some underlying changes that help address cases where the lock screen might become unresponsive. 

  • [File Explorer] Improved: This update includes some underlying changes that help improve responsiveness of File Explorer when navigating in network locations. 

  • [Logging into your PC] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Explorer.exe might stop responding (hang) the first time you sign in to your PC, if certain apps were configured as startup apps. This could make the taskbar not appear. 

  • [Activation] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where, in some cases, valid Windows license migration might fail when upgrading because the device couldn’t register with the Windows Activation server for its digital license, requiring the use of the troubleshooter to fix.

  • [Desktop icons] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where desktop icons unexpectedly move when interacting with files, such as opening or renaming them. 

  • [Input]: Fixed: This update addresses an issue where the keyboard character repeat delay labels in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Keyboard were reversed.

  • [User Account Control (UAC)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where your PC might stop responding when attempting to run Windows Terminal elevated from a non-admin account.

  • [Windows Sandbox] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that could cause Windows Sandbox to stop responding during start up and display error 0x800705b4.

​​​​​​​1This feature is currently available only in the United States. 

   

AI Components

This release updates the following AI components:

AI Component

Version

Image Search

1.2601.1268.0

Content Extraction

1.2601.1268.0

Semantic Analysis

1.2601.1268.0

Settings Model

1.2601.1268.0

Windows 11 servicing stack update (KB5074104)- 26100.7704

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates. To learn more about SSUs, see Simplifying on-premises deployment of servicing stack updates.

Known issues in this update

Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How to get this update

Before you install this update

Microsoft combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates and Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions.

Install this update

To install this update, use one of the following Windows and Microsoft release channels.

Available

Next Step

Included

Open Start  > Settings Update & Security > Windows Update. In the Optional updates available area, you will find the link to download and install available updates.

Check for optional updates

If you want to remove the LCU

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages.

Running Windows Update Standalone Installer (wusa.exe) with the /uninstall switch on the combined package will not work because the combined package contains the SSU. You cannot remove the SSU from the system after installation.

File information

For a list of the files provided in this update, download the file information for cumulative update 5074105​​​​.

For a list of the files provided in the servicing stack update, download the file information for the SSU (KB5074104) - version 26100.7704.

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