According to the latest report, the Windows 10 KB5010415 and Windows 11 KB5010414 cumulative patch is now available as an optional update, which brings two new features to users.
Windows 10
KB5010415 is an optional update designed to be deployed on production devices, and it is considered more secure than technical preview versions available in channels such as Dev or Beta. In general, it’s a good idea to skip optional updates unless you really need the patch to fix an isolated issue on your system.
Today’s optional updates include fixes that will be bundled into future cumulative updates, such as the upcoming March 2022 Patch Tuesday release, or even April 2022 Patch Tuesday. This is because the latest update also applies fixes missing from previous updates.
There are two new features in this release, but they are aimed at an enterprise or advanced customers. According to the changelog, you can now share cookies between Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer mode and Microsoft Edge. Likewise, Microsoft has added support for hot adding and removing non-volatile memory (NVMe).
Windows 10 KB5010415 (Build 19044.1566) updates are as follows:
For enterprises, there are several bug fixes. For example, an issue where Windows Server 2016 would stop responding when running Terminal Server with certain VDIs has been resolved in this update. This bug led to a regression where Windows actively checked the status of CSharedLock in rpcss.exe.
Windows Search has a quality issue, and Microsoft is trying to fix at least one bug with today’s optional update. According to the release notes, Microsoft fixed an issue affecting Windows Search that occurred when users tried the proximity operator feature.
Another bug has been fixed where the wmipicmp.dll module caused a memory leak due to a false alarm in the System Center Operations Manager (SCOM). Microsoft also fixed an issue where users encountered error messages when browsing domains or organizational units.
Microsoft also fixed an issue where Task Manager would not correctly display startup impact values such as low, medium, or high. Microsoft fixed a bug where OpenGL and GPU were causing problems in some display scenarios and preventing ShellWindows() from returning objects.
There is also a fix for those planning to upgrade to Windows 11 who were having issues checking TPM status with Get-TPM PowerShell. This command apparently fails to report Trusted Platform Module (TPM) information with the error “0x80090011”.
The Windows 10 optional update also fixes the driver issue. After the update, you will no longer have to unload and reload the driver when the driver is protected with HVCI.
Other bug fixes include:
- Fixed an issue affecting the use of Remote Desktop.
- Fixed an issue with the built-in screen reader.
- Fixed an issue where the live migration of virtual machines failed.
- Fixed an issue that caused the WebDav redirector to deadlock.
Alongside the Windows 10 cumulative update, Microsoft has also released a new Windows 11 patch (KB5010414) that brings several new features.
Windows 11
It is a major version with several new features. Unlike typical monthly updates, today’s optional update is part of Microsoft’s plan to upgrade Windows 11 with new features in addition to major feature updates.
Windows 11 KB5010414 is an optional update, so it won’t be actively downloaded or installed unless you explicitly click the “Get Updates” button. An optional update in February 2022 brings support for new taskbar features like “AirDrop” and a clock on multiple monitors. In addition, there are a bunch of general improvements and fixes that make it a heavyweight update.
This is an optional update, and users who choose to install it will indirectly help Microsoft test next month’s “Patch Tuesday.” Users who install optional updates are considered “explorers”. Keep in mind that you can get the same set of changes later in the March 2022 Patch Tuesday.
The new features of Windows 11 KB5010414 (Build 22000.527) are as follows:
- An Android app is available through the Microsoft Store.
- The taskbar can now display the clock on multiple monitors.
- Easily switch microphones from the taskbar and share application windows in Teams.
- The taskbar can now display weather information.
- The Recommended section of the Start menu is integrated with Office Web.
Most of us are familiar with Windows 10 ‘s News and Interests widget, which appears on the right side of the taskbar and displays local weather updates and news headlines based on your personal interests.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is doing it a little differently with Windows 11. On Windows 11, we have a widget panel that contains a stream of details like weather, news, traffic, Microsoft To-Do, and other widgets such as photos. Like Android widgets, Windows 11’s widget panel has small apps that give you quick information.
The Windows 11 widget panel supports all the features available in News & Interests, but it cannot display the weather on the taskbar. This feature was dropped from the taskbar in Windows 11, but was brought back in Build 22000.527.
As you can see in the screenshot, the widget is now at the far left of the default taskbar and displays weather updates. When you hover over the weather button on the taskbar, a widget panel with newsfeeds and other widgets will automatically launch.
Later this year, the widget panel will also gain support for third-party apps.
Taskbar gets new features
A new feature in Windows 11 called “AirDrop” reduces the need to move back and forth between apps when you want to share an app’s window during a Microsoft Teams meeting. AirDrop will also support other video conferencing clients, but it’s currently limited to Microsoft Teams.
According to Microsoft, the Windows 11 taskbar’s new window-sharing experience can lead to fewer interruptions during online meetings, provided you use it properly.
To get started, you need to hover over the app in the taskbar and click the new button that allows you to share a window with other people in a meeting. When you share your screen, you can tap the “Stop Sharing” button at any time, or switch to another app by tapping “Share this window.”
Microsoft says this new feature will be useful for sharing PowerPoint slides with any video conferencing app (support for third-party apps coming soon).
Additionally, Microsoft is introducing support for new mute and unmute buttons to the Windows 11 taskbar. This new feature will come in handy for users who frequently meet on Teams.
As you can see in the screenshot, you’ll be able to access the new mute or unmute toggle right from the taskbar. The feature persists throughout the call, allowing you to mute/unmute the Teams microphone from anywhere, even with several windows open on the screen. Currently, only Teams is supported, but Microsoft may also introduce support for third-party applications via the API.
Other improvements in Windows 11 Update
- KB5010414 also brings some other improvements. For example, you can now launch Office files from the Start menu directly in your browser.
- This comes into play when you access Office files through the Recommended section of the Start menu and the device doesn’t have a corresponding Office license or the files are in OneDrive or SharePoint.
- If you have a valid license, the file will open in the desktop application as usual.
- Likewise, cookies can now be shared between Microsoft Edge’s Internet Explorer mode and Microsoft Edge.
Other improvements include:
- Fixed silent BitLocker enable policy not working.
- Fixed an issue affecting Remote Desktop applications.
- Fixed right-to-left (RTL) language text appearing left-aligned on context menus.
- Fixed an issue with taskbar tooltips where application icons appeared in an empty area on the taskbar.
- Fixed an issue with offline files on network drives.