Windows 11: optional update KB5043145 restores removed Start feature and more
Microsoft has released a new optional update for Windows 11 version 23H2. This version of Windows is still the most recent for most Windows 11 users. Microsoft has yet to announced the release date for Windows 11 version 24H2 after removing information that hinted at a October 8th release.
The details:
- KB5043145 is a non-security optional update that previews changes that will be included in next month's cumulative update for the Windows version.
- Microsoft rolls out new features gradually to users.
- The update includes several fixes next to that.
The optional update is available already. While most users may want to wait until the next Patch Tuesday, some may want to test the update. Visit Start > Settings > Windows Update and activate the check for updates button to find and install the latest update.
A restart of the PC is required to complete the process.
KB5043145: the major changes
The big new feature that the update introduces is not really a new feature. You may remember that Microsoft removed links to sign out and a few other options in the Start menu recently.
When you activate the profile icon, Windows 11 version 23H2 displays no options anymore. Starting with this update, Microsoft is restoring the sign out option to the interface.
Tip: a far better option to sign-out is to right-click on Start and select the option under Shut down or sign out. There you find all other options, including Sleep, Shut down, or Restart, as well.
Microsoft lists four additional features under gradual rollout, of which three are noteworthy:
- Local files that appear in the search results in Windows may now be shared directly from the taskbar.
- The Windows Share window's search box is no longer available.
- The Lock screen may now display media controls when media is playing.
Note: Gradual rollout means that Microsoft decides when a feature lands on a Windows 11 PC. It may be immediate or delayed by days, weeks and in some cases even months.
The Windows 11 update fixes a few non-security issues next to that. Two fixes address hangs in Microsoft Edge when using Internet Explorer Mode (IE Mode). One fix addresses a sync issue when Defender for Endpoint is on.
Another fix addresses an annoying issue. Outlook prompted to enter the Pin each time you opened an encrypted email. This should be fixed for all users once the update is installed on the device.
You can check out the full list of changes on the Windows Blog website. All fixes and new features will be part of the October 8th cumulative update for Windows 11.
Do you run Windows 11 already on all or some of your devices? What are your expectations for Windows 11 version 24h2? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
As someone who participated in Windows XP beta testing, I can say that Windows 11 and Windows 10 are very low quality operating systems. There are many reasons for this.
1. Indian inexperienced programmers are used as cheap labour.
2. The CEO of Microsoft is someone who does not understand this business very well and is only focused on profit.
3. They do not test the software properly and every KB update contains serious bugs.
4. They do not take BUG reports into consideration, even the 7-8 bugs we reported 5-6 years ago have not been fixed and remain the same.
5. The arrogance of being a monopoly is at its peak, the user who was king with XP is now treated like a slave.
6. Lack of planning is at its peak, they add every feature they find and see and remove it after 5-6 months. This makes the operating system unnecessarily cumbersome.
We’re currently stuck with a bloated operating system that users can’t customise, that’s riddled with bugs, and that’s slow to perform.
What In want to know is when are Microsoft going to return the ability to locate the task bar at the top of the screen, where it belongs. After decades of being able to do this they have suddenly removed this option. It will result in my case of finally switching to Linux for good. I currently use both but Win11 is just increases the workload excessively, such as now it take three mouse clicks to delete a file or folder when it used to take just one. Like so many other software products it appears that Microsoft continue to make changes for the sake of change rather than product improvement.
After a few years considering the annoyances of 11 I’ve finally committed with the purchase of a Dell Core Ultra 7 Series 1 Inspiron. I’ve been running Win10 mainly but also various Linux flavours in standalone and VMs for over a decade but couldn’t commit full-time due to VSTs and audio device drivers I need Win for. Ran a MacBook years ago to check out, and too limited. So held my nose and off to Win11 I go.
The majority of people do not like windows 11 for good reason, if you want to say that in 10 years everyone will want it back and thus sssert windows 11 is somehow a good os you need to stop smoking your own product
@Anonymous;
> Microsoft should put there resources to prevent updates
> from corrupting system files.
Fuck M$.
> Second, give customers control of one drive.
Control? You use Windows and want CONTROL? Hahahahhahahahahahhahah!
Microsoft should put there resources to prevent updates
from corrupting system files. Second, give customers control of one drive.
Why Microsoft wastes resources on changing crap like this in the first place is beyond me. Other than some idiot Windows team member wants to make points by making a change for the sake of calling it a change. Seems they just cannot leave well enough alone.
@John, once my grandfather said to me, before entering to our family’s cow farm, “it smells like shit here, but this give us the money for living. But don’t be confused, my grandson, it’s not the shit that makes money, it’s the milk.” Microsoft is mostly the same, it smells like shit everywhere you look at, but it still makes money. And as long as it makes money, shit will make no difference at all.
The question is how much pain we will have to endure to drink our daily glass of milk.
W11 is a useless piece of crap with useless updates. No improvement at all since 2021.
Thanks for the article! :]
W11 is better than W10 because it can cause less damage because it’s installed in only the 25% of the whole computers worldwide. Just trying to be ironic in this grey monday. Thanks for the article! :]
{What are your expectations for Windows 11 version 24h2?}
My expectation is people will join a rant of hatred for it, then in 10 years time, people will want it back.
What we want it back is W10 or even W7 or even W12!
“then in 10 years time, people will want it back.” yeah but people always want the thing that has gone away, that is not a measure of a product’s success. A potential measure is *how many* people complain.
I don’t think you’ll ever get the same numbers of people complaining as when W7 went EOL, not even the W10 EOL will rile up so many people.
Most probably :)