Windows 11 26H2 and Recent Update Issues

Starting in mid-November 2026 and finishing by early December 2026, Microsoft is removing eight artificial intelligence actions - including Summarize, Create FAQ, and Extract text - from the Windows 11 File Explorer right-click context menu for OneDrive cloud storage.

The removed capabilities are not being entirely deleted, as users can still access them through the remaining Ask Copilot menu entry, the hovering Copilot button, or the OneDrive activity center.

Concurrently, Diego Baca, Vice President of Design for Windows, disclosed on social media that the design team is utilizing artificial intelligence to accelerate workflows and allow designers to contribute directly to code fixes.

The changes arrive amid heavy user pushback and online criticism targeting excessive artificial intelligence integrations in the operating system, which critics deride as Microslop.

On October 13, 2026, Microsoft released cumulative updates KB5127648 and KB5127646 to fix a bug where Always On VPN connections failed or remained stuck after initial connection attempts on Windows 11 version 24H2 and newer systems.

The original September bug triggered when automatic protocol selection failed between IKEv2 and SSTP tunneling protocols, generating errors such as "The specified port is already in use" and leaving corporate devices disconnected.

While resolving the VPN issue, the October updates introduced a new glitch preventing Windows 11 clients from authenticating to WPA2-Enterprise wireless networks using 802.1X, PEAP, and Aruba access points.

As a temporary workaround for organizations unable to immediately install the October patches, Microsoft advised IT administrators to change VPN profiles from automatic selection to a single protocol like SSTP only or IKEv2 only.

On October 15, 2026, Microsoft announced that months of optimization have made Windows 11 up to 20 percent more responsive across core shell areas including Start, File Explorer, Search, Settings, Snipping Tool, and Edge.

For low-memory computers, Windows 11 can now keep up to 2GB of active data in physical RAM rather than pushing it to slower storage page files on solid-state drives.

On PCs with 8GB of RAM or less, Widgets now load exclusively when opened instead of preloading in the background, freeing over 200MB of memory for applications.

Additional updates allow users to reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of the display, speed up Windows Hello sign-in, and cut AirPods Bluetooth pairing times by up to 15 seconds.

Independent testing of an 8GB RAM computer revealed no measurable performance change, and Microsoft's 20 percent responsiveness metric compares Insider build 26300.9550 against build 26200.7628.

On October 15, 2026, Microsoft announced a redesigned Photos app for Windows 11 that combines local PC pictures with OneDrive and iCloud galleries into a single unified space.

The rebuilt native editor launches 25 percent faster and preserves HDR, HEIC, and WebP formats, while the viewer launches up to 30 percent faster with expanded SVG file support.

The update introduces artificial intelligence-powered tools including natural language search, enhanced object removal via the Repair tool, and Relight for adjusting image lighting.

The new Photos app began rolling out to select Windows Insiders on October 15, 2026, with a public release scheduled for all Windows 11 users later in the year.

Microsoft also highlighted broader Windows 11 optimizations that make the operating system up to 20 percent more responsive on PCs with 8 gigabytes of memory.

On October 13, 2026, Microsoft released updates including KB5127646 to resolve a bug that caused black screens, desktop loading failures, and Windows Explorer crashes for Windows 11 users.

The bug primarily affected Azure Virtual Desktop hosts utilizing FSLogix user profile software and originated from updates released after August 2026.

Enterprise administrators can bypass the issue on managed devices without installing the full update by deploying specific Known Issue Rollback group policies, such as KB5124006 and KB5124010.

Microsoft also addressed a separate September update issue that blocked non-administrator users from connecting to Remote Desktop hosts when Administrator protection was enabled.

Users unable to install the permanent patch can temporarily restore desktop access by opening Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc and manually launching explorer.exe.

In October 2026, Microsoft deployed a server-side patch closing a loophole discovered in September 2026 that let Windows 11 Home users create local accounts during the Out-of-Box Experience simply by clicking a "Learn more" hyperlink.

The patched workaround previously allowed users to skip mandatory Microsoft account sign-in without disconnecting from the internet, entering Command Prompt commands, or modifying the registry.

Following the server-side update, clicking the "Learn more" link now displays data management policies and returns users to the online sign-in screen rather than advancing to local profile creation.

Alternative methods to establish local accounts still exist, including using third-party USB creation tools like Rufus to modify installation media or leveraging the "Domain join instead" option available in Windows 11 Pro.

Microsoft released cumulative updates KB5127648 and KB5127646 on October 13, 2026, for supported versions of Windows 11, marking the final Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 version 24H2.

Update KB5127648 delivers security improvements and resolves bugs across Windows 11 versions 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2, advancing their build numbers to 26300.9711, 26200.9711, and 26100.9711 respectively.

Windows 11 version 26H1, running exclusively on Arm-based personal computers, receives cumulative update KB5127646, which elevates the build number to 28000.3231.

The October 2026 updates introduce Emoji 17.0 support including distorted face and fight cloud emojis, add a Tips widget, and bring a preview button for HTML files in File Explorer.

Microsoft ends security updates and technical support for Windows 11 version 24H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, and SE editions on October 13, 2026.

Windows 11 version 23H2 Enterprise, Education, and Internet of Things Enterprise editions will stop receiving security updates in November 2026.

Enterprise and Education editions of version 24H2 receive extended support through October 2027, while unmanaged personal PCs are automatically transitioned to newer versions.

Windows 11 version 26H2, which became generally available in September 2026 as an enablement package, extends consumer support through October 2029.

Computers running Windows 11 version 24H2 can check their build via the About settings page or the winver command, and upgrade without a clean install since versions share a common codebase.

Microsoft announced that Windows PCs and servers running outdated software will permanently lose access to Windows Update services when security certificates expire on May 17, 2027, and June 19, 2027.

Devices running Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025 require the September 2025 security update or later installed before June 19, 2027, to maintain certificate trust.

Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Channel releases including Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016 need the July 2026 security update or later before May 17, 2027.

Modern systems running Windows 11 version 25H2 and later require no manual intervention because replacement certificates are already included.

The certificate expiration restriction does not apply to enterprise devices that receive updates through Windows Server Update Services.

As of September 2026, Windows 11 accounts for 71.5% of all Windows installations globally according to Statcounter data, while Windows 10 has declined to 27.8%.

Business customers enrolled in the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program face a price increase from $61 to $122 per device for the second year, with costs reaching $244 in the third year for a total of $427 per machine.

Microsoft extended the consumer Extended Security Updates program for an additional year until October 12, 2027, allowing individual users to enroll for free.

Mainstream support for Windows 10 officially ended on October 14, 2025, when approximately half of all personal computers still ran the older operating system.

Released on October 5, 2026, Windows 11 version 26H2 functions as an enablement package that resets the operating system support lifecycle to 24 months for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions.

Early user testing and reports show that systems with 16GB, 32GB, or 48GB of RAM experienced cold-boot memory utilization drops of 1.5GB to 3GB, with a 3-year-old 16GB laptop falling from over 10GB to about 7GB used.

Budget devices with 8GB of RAM showed no noticeable change in baseline memory usage after the update, disappointing users on lower-end hardware.

The update officially expands the Low Latency Profile, which temporarily surges processor clock speeds to maximum capacity for one to three seconds during Start menu, Search, and app launches to reduce input lag.

Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 update KB5124010, released on September 22, 2026, causes certain games, media players, and productivity tools to crash without warning or fail to launch.

The crash bug affects applications relying on the built-in Windows AC-3, or Dolby Digital, audio decoding component, specifically targeting legacy software while modern apps with independent decoders remain unaffected.

The issue impacts Windows 11 versions 26H2 (OS Build 26300.9550), 25H2 (Build 26200.9550), and 24H2 (Build 26100.9550), though Microsoft has not listed any affected Windows Server platforms.

Microsoft has not provided an estimated timeline for a permanent fix or a temporary workaround, leaving affected users to manually uninstall the update via system settings if software functionality is critical.

Starting September 29, 2026, Microsoft enabled Windows settings backup by default on all Microsoft Entra-joined or hybrid-joined enterprise systems running Windows 11 version 26H2 that have the backup policy left unconfigured.

The automatic backup process runs approximately every eight days, uploading regional formats, display preferences, accessibility options, and Microsoft Store app lists to Exchange Online storage.

Restoration behavior remains disabled by default and strictly admin-controlled, requiring explicit configuration through Microsoft Intune, Group Policy, or mobile device management tools before any saved profile can be reapplied.

The default activation excludes devices in the European Union regulated by the Digital Markets Act, sovereign or restricted cloud environments, and machines running versions prior to Windows 11 26H2.

Administrators wanting to prevent the automatic uploads must explicitly disable the backup policy using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy, as these administrative overrides take precedence over the new default.

Microsoft launched Windows 11 version 26H2 on September 29, 2026, utilizing a phased rollout that prioritizes users who manually enable the 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available' toggle.

For PCs already running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2, the update is delivered as a lightweight 'enablement package' (KB5121794) that activates dormant features with a single system restart.

Users on older versions, including Windows 10 or Windows 11 23H2, must perform a full operating system upgrade using the Installation Assistant or an ISO file rather than the enablement package.

The update requires the September 22, 2026 cumulative update (KB5124010) as a prerequisite, and Microsoft may block the installation via 'safeguard holds' on devices with known compatibility issues.

Microsoft released the Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) on September 29, 2026, delivering it as a small enablement package that requires only a single restart for users on versions 24H2 or 25H2.

The update resets the support lifecycle, providing 24 months of updates for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions, while support for Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro ends on October 13, 2026.

PCs running Windows 11 26H1 cannot upgrade to 26H2 due to a different underlying operating system core, with Microsoft promising a future update path for these specific devices.

The release functions primarily as a feature-enabling switch rather than a full OS replacement, as most included features were already delivered to users incrementally through previous monthly updates.

The optional KB5124010 update introduces native remapping for the dedicated Copilot key, allowing users to assign it as the Right Ctrl or Context Menu key.

New features include Emoji 17.0 support, an 'Open apps maximized' accessibility setting, and expanded gesture controls for precision touchpads.

The update resolves critical Bluetooth issues, including a 0x139 crash during audio streaming and a bug where the radio toggle displayed incorrect status.

Microsoft removed the PC-to-PC Migration tool, mandating the use of Windows Backup and OneDrive for transferring files to new devices.

This release marks the final non-security preview update for Windows 11 24H2, which reaches its end of support in October 2026.

Microsoft is discontinuing its Calendar, People, and Files companion apps on December 16, 2026, just over a year after they were automatically pushed to Windows 11 business devices.

The apps have stopped receiving all updates, including critical security patches, as of September 18, 2026, leaving existing installations unpatched until the final shutdown date.

Users will not lose data, as the apps functioned only as taskbar-integrated shortcuts to information already stored in Microsoft 365 services like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive.

IT administrators must manually remove the apps from managed devices and update Intune configurations to prevent the software from automatically reinstalling itself.

The September 2026 cumulative security updates cause the built-in File History backup tool to crash, preventing users from creating or updating backups on external drives and network storage.

Affected systems may display misleading "Reconnect your drive" prompts, show outdated "Last Backup" timestamps, or report "No previous version available" even when backup hardware is functioning correctly.

The bug impacts Windows 11 versions 23H2 through 26H1 and Windows 10 versions 21H2, 22H2, and Enterprise LTSC 2016 and 2019, though Windows Server editions remain unaffected.

Microsoft has not provided an official fix or workaround, and experts advise against uninstalling the security updates due to the risk of exposing systems to critical vulnerabilities patched in the same release.

The September 2026 cumulative security update KB5124008 is causing widespread domain trust failures, preventing enterprise users from signing into Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 workstations.

Affected systems report 'ERROR_NO_TRUST_LSA_SECRET' errors after rebooting, as the update appears to trigger the 'Machine Identity Isolation' security feature into enforcement mode unexpectedly.

Microsoft has acknowledged the reports and is investigating, but has not yet released an official patch or confirmed the root cause for the authentication failures.

Administrators have identified a workaround by disabling the Machine Identity Isolation registry setting and repairing the secure channel, though experts warn this reduces virtualization-based credential protection.

Microsoft confirmed that the optional August 2026 preview update, KB5120998, causes mouse personalization settings to revert to standard defaults or display oversized, white cursors on Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2.

Numerous users reported that the update also forces desktop wallpapers to reset to a solid black background, an issue that persists through system restarts until the update is uninstalled.

The update includes new interface features such as a movable taskbar, resizable Start menu, and the ability to disable Bing in search, though these are being deployed via a gradual rollout.

Microsoft is investigating the cursor bug and has requested that affected users submit diagnostic data through the Feedback Hub to assist in identifying the root cause.

Microsoft released optional update KB5120998 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, introducing 35 quality improvements including taskbar repositioning and customizable Start menu sizes.

The update enables Administrator Protection, a security feature that uses just-in-time privileges to harden systems against elevation-of-privilege attacks, though it remains disabled by default.

Windows Search now features simplified home views and automatic indexing of frequently used folders, while File Explorer performance has been optimized for faster, more responsive navigation.

The update removes the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line utility and warns users that a one-time additional system restart may occur due to a Secure Boot certificate update.

Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9278, to the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, marking the final testing phase before the operating system's general availability later this year.

The update is delivered as an enablement package, allowing users on versions 24H2 and 25H2 to upgrade via a shared servicing branch without requiring a major overhaul of the operating system core.

Version 26H2 resets the support lifecycle, providing consumers with 24 months of support and commercial customers with 36 months of support from the date of general release.

Business users can now deploy and validate the update through Windows Update client policies and Windows Server Update Services, with ISO files expected to be available on the Windows Insider site shortly.

Microsoft is investigating reports that the August 2026 update, KB5121003, causes games like ARC Raiders, The Finals, and MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls to freeze, crash, or trigger unexpected system restarts on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2.

Preliminary findings suggest the issue stems from conflicts between the update and the inpoutx64.sys kernel-mode driver, often used by RGB lighting, hardware monitoring, and overclocking utilities to access low-level system registers.

Affected users can temporarily resolve the issue by manually stopping and deleting the inpoutx64 driver via Command Prompt or by uninstalling the KB5121003 update, though the latter removes critical security patches.

Microsoft has not yet confirmed if the root cause lies within the Windows update itself or third-party driver compatibility, and has requested that impacted gamers submit diagnostic data through the Feedback Hub app.

Microsoft is investigating reports that the August 2026 cumulative update, KB5121003, causes game crashes, system reboots, and Windows Hello authentication failures on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2.

Developers at Embark Studios identified the root cause as a conflict between the update's tightened kernel handle validation and a third-party driver, inpoutx64.sys, often installed by hardware utilities.

Confirmed affected titles include The Finals, Arc Raiders, and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, which exhibit errors such as EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION and GameThread hangs.

Security experts advise against uninstalling the update, which patches 421 vulnerabilities, recommending instead that users remove the specific inpoutx64.sys driver via Command Prompt to restore stability.

Microsoft is removing the Drag Tray file-sharing feature from Windows 11 Insider preview builds after users reported the interface frequently interfered with standard drag-and-drop workflows.

First introduced in February 2025 as part of Beta Build 22635.4950, the tool was designed to provide a shortcut for sharing files by dragging them to the top of the screen.

Users reported that the tray caused accidental activations, blocked mouse inputs, and prevented the movement of files into specific application tabs or windows.

Despite attempts to refine the feature, including renaming it to Drop Tray and moving its toggle to the Multitasking settings menu in March 2026, negative feedback persisted.

Microsoft confirmed it is still exploring alternative methods for improving local file sharing but has not provided a timeline for a replacement or its removal from general production builds.

Microsoft will cease security and non-security updates for Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions on October 13, 2026.

The October 13, 2026, deadline also marks the end of servicing for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016, requiring users to migrate to newer versions like Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024.

While consumer editions lose support, Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions will continue to receive updates until October 12, 2027.

Unmanaged devices running the expiring editions will automatically transition to Windows 11 25H2, though users retain the ability to postpone the restart process.