Windows 11: Fresh Cumulative Updates KB5089549 & KB5087420 Just Landed

Microsoft has rolled out the Windows 11 cumulative updates KB5089549 and KB5087420 for versions 25H2/24H2 and 23H2, addressing security flaws, bugs, and introducing new features.

These updates are required because they include the May 2026 Patch Tuesday security fixes for 120 vulnerabilities found in earlier months.

To install the update, navigate to Start > Settings > Windows Update and select ‘Check for Updates’.

Alternatively, you can manually download and install the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

This marks the fifth Patch Tuesday release of 2026, built on 24H2, meaning 25H2 receives the same update. There are no unique or separate changes; both versions of Windows 11 will get identical fixes.

What’s new in the May 2026 Patch Tuesday update

Once the security updates are installed, Windows 11 25H2 (KB5089549) will update its build number to 26200.8457, 24H2 to 26100.8457, and 23H2 (KB5087420) to 22631.7079.

Following the update, Xbox mode is now available on the desktop, providing an Xbox console-like experience on your PC. Additionally, Microsoft has resolved taskbar issues and enhanced the reliability of Windows Hello.

Below is the complete list of improvements and fixes:

• [File Explorer] 

  
  

  • New!  This update broadens the range of archive formats supported in File Explorer to include uu, cpio, xar, and NuGet Packages (nupkg).

  • With this update, View and Sort preferences are now maintained in folders like Downloads and Documents when applications open File Explorer directly to those locations.

  • This update eliminates a white flash that could occur when opening This PC or while adjusting the Details pane in dark mode.

  • This update enhances the reliability of related explorer.exe processes so they terminate properly after closing File Explorer windows.

• [Input]

  
  

  • New!  You can now experience haptic feedback effects on compatible input devices when carrying out specific actions, such as aligning objects in PowerPoint, snapping or resizing windows. These haptic signals can be enabled or disabled in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, Touchpad, or Pen > Haptic signals. This feature is supported on Surface Slim Pen 2, ASUS Pen 3.0, and MSI Pen 2 with haptic feedback. Support for additional compatible devices, including certain mice like Logitech MX Master 4, may become available as hardware partners release updates.

  • New!  Voice typing on the touch keyboard now has a cleaner and more intuitive appearance. The redesigned interface removes the full-screen overlay and displays voice typing animations directly on the dictation key, helping you stay focused without unnecessary visual distractions.

  • New!  The Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout is now available. You can add it when choosing a keyboard for Arabic under Time & Language > Language & Region. This option is intended for users who prefer the keyboard layout used before recent changes involving AltGr.

  • This update enhances the reliability of configuring custom tools under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Wheel.

  • This update improves the persistence of the Fluid Dictation setting in voice typing.

  • This update enhances the reliability of keyboard navigation for emoji panels (Windows logo key + Period).

  • This update enhances the reliability of typing when using the ADLaM keyboard.

• [Sharing] New! Drag Tray has been renamed to Drop Tray. Its settings are now located under Settings > System > Multitasking (previously Nearby sharing). Drop Tray now uses a smaller peek view. This enhancement helps prevent the Drop Tray from opening accidentally and makes it easier to dismiss when working near the top of the screen.

• [Printing] New! This update introduces a new icon to indicate where a printer supports Windows Protected Print Mode in print settings.

• [Enhanced security and performance for batch files] New!  Administrators and Application Control for Business policy authors now have greater control over how the system handles batch files and Command Prompt (CMD) scripts. Starting with this release, administrators can activate a more secure processing mode for batch files. This mode prevents batch files from being modified during execution.

  To enable this setting, add the following value to the registry:

  Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftCommand Processor

  Value name: LockBatchFilesWhenInUse

  Type: DWORD

  Data to be set: 0 (disabled) or 1 (enabled)

  Policy authors can also activate this mode by using the LockBatchFilesWhenInUse application manifest control, as outlined in the Application Control for Business manifest schema.

• [Microsoft Store] This update reduces unexpected errors when downloading and installing apps from the Microsoft Store, including errors 0x80070057, 0x80240008, and 0x80073d28.

• [Fonts] This update includes enhancements to the Leelawadee UI font family for the Thai, Lao, Khmer, and Lontara scripts to improve glyph sequencing, positioning, and rendering.

• [Audio] This update improves third-party driver compatibility with midisrv.exe.

• [Taskbar] This update enhances the reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar.

• [Windows Hello] This update improves:

  
  

• [Storage] This update improves:

  
  

  • Performance when viewing storage information for large volumes in Settings > System > Storage > Advanced Storage Settings > Disks & Volumes.

  • The size limit for formatting FAT32 volumes from the command line from 32GB to 2TB.

• [Delivery Optimization] This update improves memory usage, reducing the likelihood of it consuming an unexpectedly large amount of memory.

• [Display and graphics] This update improves the persistence and availability of color profile options for supported monitors.

• [Kiosk mode] This update simplifies the configuration for allowed packaged apps in kiosks when Microsoft Edge is one of the permitted apps.

• [General Performance] This update improves the performance of launching startup apps after booting your device (apps listed under Settings > Apps > Startup).

• [General Reliability] This update introduces underlying changes to help improve explorer.exe reliability, including at sign-in, when interacting with taskbar menus and Task View, when unpinning items from File Explorer’s Quick Access, and more.

Microsoft is not aware of any new issues with this month’s Patch Tuesday, and it’s largely because this is not a major release compared to previous patch releases.

At the same time, it’s possible that the update has no known issues because Microsoft has committed to delivering a stable and reliable Windows experience.

Microsoft has confirmed it’s developing a significant Windows 11 2026 quality update that will restore the movable taskbar and will substantially improve the performance of modern interfaces, including the right-click menu.

Microsoft also has plans to limit Copilot integration in Windows 11, reduce advertisements, and make the out-of-the-box experience faster with skippable Windows Updates.