Windows 11 Moment 5 update (KB5034848) releases

• Microsoft starts rolling out the Moment 5 update for Windows 11 with the update KB5034848 in the Stable Channel.
• The build 22631.3235 brings changes to Copilot, Cast, Voice Access, and Share and Nearby Sharing. 
• It also adds a new “Mobile devices” feature, Snap Layouts suggestions, and Windows 365 Boot and Switch improvements.
• This update was previously available in the Release Preview Channel as build 22631.3227 and 22621.3227.

On February 29, Microsoft began the rollout of the Windows 11 build 22621.3235 and 22631.3235 as the update KB5034848 for devices enrolled in the Stable Channel as an optional install. This is the final release of the “Moment 5” update (February 2024 Update).

According to the official changes (notes from the Release Preview Channel), the Windows 11 Moment 5 update includes a slew of minor improvements and some new features, including a Copilot button that now appears on the right side of the Taskbar, new Manage Mobile Deivces apps, and an updated version of the Snipping Tool that allows you to edit recently taken photos from your Android phone.

The update KB5034848 also expands Voice Access to more regions and adds language previews for Windows Narrator. It improves Nearby Sharing. It also introduces changes to help you use and troubleshoot Cast, the Snap Layouts feature gets app suggestions, and this update rolls out support for USB 80Gbps standard.

The update also introduces a bunch of fixes regarding gaming, Notepad, Zip, Settings app, Networking, and more.

What’s new on Windows 11 update KB5034848

These are the features and changes that Microsoft is currently testing with the release of builds 22621.3235 and 22631.3235.

New features 

As part of this rollout, the development team is improving the following features:

Copilot

The Copilot button will now appear on the right side of the Taskbar. As a result of this change, the system will now disable the “Show desktop” feature by default.

Microsoft is also touting plugins as a feature, but they have been available for a while. The company also mentions additional skills that allow you to manage settings through Copilot, but again, it’s something that has been available for some time.

As part of the AI integration on apps, this update marks the official rollout of the “Generative Erase” feature in the Photos app, which allows you to select and remove unwanted objects or imperfections from your images using AI, similar to Android’s Magic Eraser.

And the Clipchamp app is also getting a new option to remove silence or conversation gaps.

Mobile devices and Snipping Tool

Starting on builds 22621.3235 and 22631.3235, you can now receive notifications when new photos or screenshots are available from your phone, and then you can access and edit them directly from the Snipping Tool app.

To enable this feature, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices and click the “Manage devices” button, which will open the new “Manage mobile devices” app.

After connecting your Android phone, you can instantly access and edit your most recent pictures with the Snipping Tool.

The company previously made available this feature with the release of build 26040 in the Canary Channel, but it’s now available through the Release Preview Channel.

Voice Access improvements

As part of the February 2024 Update, Voice Access is expanded to French (France, Canada), German, and Spanish (Spain, Mexico).

The feature now supports every available feature on multiple displays, and it’s possible to create shortcuts or custom commands.

Finally, using Voice Access, you can now open apps, dictate text, and interact with elements on the screen.

Cast changes from Quick Settings

In this update, you will notice that the system will suggest using Cast through a notification toast when performing multitasking activities, such as often switching between windows to complete a task or using Snap Assist to organize your screen space.

Also, the Cast panel has been updated with additional support if you face trouble discovering nearby displays, fixing connections, and more.

Snap Layouts suggestions

When opening the layouts menu by hovering over the maximize button, you will see app icons displayed in various layout options to help recommend the best layout option.

Share interface and Nearby Sharing changes

The Share interface will now show apps in the “Sharing using” section based on your account. For example, when using a Microsoft account, the Teams (free) app appears as a choice, but when using an Entra ID, you will see the Teams (paid) option.

The “Sharing using” section will now also list the WhatsApp app, and if the app isn’t installed, when clicking the app, it’ll install automatically.

When setting up Nearby Sharing, if the wireless and Bluetooth features are disabled, they will turn on automatically. 

Microsoft is adding another option to rename your computer from the Nearby Sharing settings page, and the company has improved the sharing transfer speeds for users in the same network regardless of the network profile.

USB4 version 2

The Moment 5 update also rolls out support for USB4 version 2 that introduces transfer speeds of up to 80Gbps (40Gpbs per lane with two lanes in each direction) through the now standard USB-Type C connector that uses a new physical layer architecture based on PAM3 signal encoding and newly defined 80Gbps active cables.

Windows 365 Boot and Switch 

Finally, Microsoft is also bringing a new personal mode for Windows 365 Boot, allowing you to configure the device to boot straight into your Windows 365 Cloud PC. As part of the Windows 365 Boot experience, the company is also adding the ability for organizations to change the logo and name of “Windows 365 Boot,” and it introduces a new fail-fast mechanism so you don’t have to wait until the login fails to know that there’s a network problem.

This update makes it easier to access and manage sound, display, and other device-specific settings of their local PC directly from your Cloud PC under Windows 365 Boot.

In the Windows 365 Switch experience, this preview improves the disconnect experience by going to Local PC > Task view > Right-click on the Cloud PC button > Disconnect.

When you switch between your respective computers, you will see the terms “Cloud PC” and “Local PC” on the desktop indicator. In addition, the Cloud PC will now display updates regarding the connection status and the connection timeout indicator while waiting on the connection screen. Microsoft is sharing more information about Windows 365 in this article.

Fixes and changes

These are the fixes and improvements rolling out with this preview.

Gaming enhancements

• Secondary Drive Game Installations: Games installed on secondary drives will now remain properly installed.

App and feature fixes

• Notepad accessibility: Addressed issues preventing Notepad from opening through Command Prompt for standard user accounts.
• 8 Zip archive access: Users can again open 8 Zip archives by double-clicking them in File Explorer.
• Remote desktop session host stability: Addressed issues with machines serving as remote desktop session hosts.
• Microsoft Edge UI Correction: Fixed an interface issue in Microsoft Edge concerning Internet Options Data Settings.
• Steps Recorder localization: The Steps Recorder’s interface and steps are now fully localized to Chinese.
• Printer alignment accuracy: For long-edge fed printers, this update corrects the alignment of stapling or hole punch locations, enhancing the precision of physical document preparation.
• eSIM Profile Deletion Notification: Users will now receive a notification upon the deletion of an embedded SIM (eSIM) profile.

System and settings improvements

• Windows settings responsiveness: The Settings app Home page has been optimized to prevent random freezes, ensuring a smoother navigation experience when accessing system settings.
• Networking efficiency: Devices will now switch from cellular to Wi-Fi connections more reliably.
• Remote Desktop Web Authentication: The update improves Remote Desktop Web Authentication, particularly with connections to sovereign cloud endpoints, ensuring more reliable access.
• Troubleshooting process: An issue causing the troubleshooting process to fail when using the Get Help app has been addressed.
• Certificate Authority Management: The Certificate Authority snap-in now allows the selection of the “Delta CRL” option.
• System sleep functionality: Fixed an issue that prevents the system from entering into sleep mode.

Install update KB5034848

To download and install the Windows 11 update KB5034848, turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch and click the “Check for Updates” button from the “Windows Update” settings. You can learn more about the installation process in this guide.

Update February 29, 2024: The original plan was to release the update on February 27, but the update is rolling out as an optional update on the last day of February.