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
Windows Secure Boot certificate expiration
Important
Secure Boot certificates used by most Windows devices were set to expire starting in June 2026. Microsoft has been updating these certificates on PCs and non-managed business devices for the past months. Devices that haven’t received the newer certificates will continue to start, and standard Windows updates will continue to install. We will continue to install the newer certificates via Windows updates in the coming months.
End of updates
Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro editions will reach end of updates on October 13, 2026. Devices running these editions will no longer receive fixes for known issues, time zone updates, technical support, or monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats. Enterprise and Education editions remain supported until October 12, 2027.
To stay protected and up to date, we recommend you upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11.
Improvements
This update includes improvements from the following previously released updates:
The following summary outlines key quality improvements addressed by this update. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change.
- [Security updates] This update provides security improvements. For more information about the security vulnerabilities resolved by this update, see the Security Update Guide
- [Secure Boot] This update includes additional high confidence device targeting data, increasing coverage of devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates. Certificate deployment via Windows updates continues across supported PCs and non-managed business devices in the coming months.
If you've already installed previous updates, your device will download and install only the new updates included in this package.
Components updates
AI components
This release updates the following AI components to version 1.2605.856.0: Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model.
To learn more, see Release information for AI components.
Servicing stack update
Includes KB5123304 (Build 26100.9156), which improves the reliability of the Windows update installation process. 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.
Deployment
If you deploy dynamic updates such as this update to an existing Windows image, ensure the boot.stl file is included as part of the installation media. Failure to include the file might prevent devices from successfully starting from the installation media and can result in error code 0xc0430001.
Note
The boot.stl file is used during Secure Boot validation and must match the Windows version and architecture of the image you are updating.
To ensure the boot.stl file is included as part of the installation media, do one of the following:
- Use the Update WinPE script to update an existing Windows image. (Recommended)
- Manually copy the boot.stl file from the device Windows\Boot\EFI folder to the corresponding folder on your installation media before deploying the update.
For information about how to apply Dynamic Update packages to existing Windows images, see Update Windows installation media with Dynamic Update.
Install this update
To install this update, use one of the following Windows and Microsoft release channels.
| Available |
Next Step |
| ✅ |
This update downloads and installs automatically from Windows Update and Microsoft Update. |
| Available |
Next Step |
| ✅ |
This update downloads and installs automatically from Windows Update for Business in accordance with configured policies. |
| Available |
Next Step |
| ✅ |
To install this release from the Microsoft Update Catalog, select the option that matches your device architecture (arm64 or x64), and then follow the instructions. |
Arm64 instructions
Before you install this update, the standalone package(s) for this update is available from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. This KB contains one or more MSU files that require installation in a specific order.
You can install this update using Method 1 (install all MSU files together) or Method 2 (install each MSU file individually, in order).
Method 1: Install all MSU files together
Download all MSU files for KB5121003 from Microsoft Update Catalog and place them in the same folder (for example, C:/Packages). Use Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe) to install the target update. DISM will use the folder specified in PackagePath to discover and install one or more prerequisite MSU files as needed.
Updating Windows PC
To apply this update to a running Windows PC, run the following command from an elevated Command Prompt:
DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:c:\packages\windows11.0-kb5121003-arm64_9144db4353c76975d435b986bb4fced7478a0170.msu
Or, run the following command from an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt:
Add-WindowsPackage -Online -PackagePath "c:\packages\windows11.0-kb5121003-arm64_9144db4353c76975d435b986bb4fced7478a0170.msu
Or use Windows Update Standalone Installer to install the target update.
Updating Windows Installation media
To apply this update to Windows Installation media, see Update Windows installation media with Dynamic Update.
Note
When downloading other Dynamic Update packages, ensure they match the same month as this KB. If the SafeOS Dynamic Update or Setup Dynamic Update is not available for the same month as this KB, use the most recently published version of each.
To add this update to a mounted image, run the following command from an elevated Command Prompt:
DISM /Image:mountdir /Add-Package /PackagePath:windows11.0-kb5121003-arm64_9144db4353c76975d435b986bb4fced7478a0170.msu
Or, run the following command from an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt:
Add-WindowsPackage -Path "c:\offline" -PackagePath "windows11.0-kb5121003-arm64_9144db4353c76975d435b986bb4fced7478a0170.msu" -PreventPending
Method 2: Install each MSU file individually, in order
Download and install each MSU file individually either using DISM or Windows Update Standalone Installer in the following order:
- windows11.0-kb5043080-arm64_df540a05f9b118e339c5520f4090bb5d450f090b.msu
- windows11.0-kb5121003-arm64_9144db4353c76975d435b986bb4fced7478a0170.msu
| Note: This latest cumulative update includes updates for AI components. Even though the AI component updates are included in the update, the AI components are only applicable to Windows Copilot+ PCs and will not install on Windows PC or Windows Server. |
x64 instructions
Before you install this update, the standalone package(s) for this update is available from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. This KB contains one or more MSU files that require installation in a specific order.
You can install this update using Method 1 (install all MSU files together) or Method 2 (install each MSU file individually, in order).
Method 1: Install all MSU files together
Download all MSU files for KB5121003 from Microsoft Update Catalog and place them in the same folder (for example, C:/Packages). Use Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe) to install the target update. DISM will use the folder specified in PackagePath to discover and install one or more prerequisite MSU files as needed.
Updating Windows PC
To apply this update to a running Windows PC, run the following command from an elevated Command Prompt:
DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:c:\packages\windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu
Or, run the following command from an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt:
Add-WindowsPackage -Online -PackagePath "c:\packages\windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu"
Or use Windows Update Standalone Installer to install the target update.
Updating Windows Installation media
To apply this update to Windows Installation media, see Update Windows installation Media with Dynamic Update.
Note
When downloading other Dynamic Update packages, ensure they match the same month as this KB. If the SafeOS Dynamic Update or Setup Dynamic Update is not available for the same month as this KB, use the most recently published version of each.
To add this update to a mounted image, run the following command from an elevated Command Prompt:
DISM /Image:mountdir /Add-Package /PackagePath:windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu
Or, run the following command from an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt:
Add-WindowsPackage -Path "c:\offline" -PackagePath "windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu" -PreventPending
Method 2: Install each MSU file individually, in order
Download and install each MSU file individually either using DISM or Windows Update Standalone Installer in the following order:
- windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu
- windows11.0-kb5121003-x64_dc58f03fef04b4c611e0db0ab3fadfb301194113.msu
| Note: This latest cumulative update includes updates for AI components. Even though the AI component updates are included in the update, the AI components are only applicable to Windows Copilot+ PCs and will not install on Windows PC or Windows Server. |
| Available |
Next Step |
✅
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This update automatically syncs with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) if you configure Products and Classifications as follows:
Product: Windows 11
Classification: Security Updates |
For a list of the files provided in this update, download the file information for cumulative update KB5121003.
For a list of the files provided in the servicing stack update, download the file information for the SSU (KB5123304) - version 26100.9156.
Windows monthly updates explained
Description of the standard terminology used for Microsoft software updates
Microsoft Store for Business and Education with Configuration Manager
Get updates for apps and games in Microsoft Store
Want a quick overview?: Watch the Windows 11 release note video for this update.