Windows 10 receives April 2024 update (KB5036892)

Microsoft adds Spotlight wallpapers for the desktop.
This update also shows more information on the Lock Screen.
This package was previously available as the build 19045.4233 and then as 19045.4235 (KB5035941) without new changes in the Release Preview Channel.
The same packages, such as build 19045.4239 in the Stable Channel, were rolled out as optional installations.
The package is now rolling out as build 19045.4291, the April 2024 update, with the same changes and security fixes.

On April 9, 2024, Microsoft rolls out the Windows 10 build 19045.4291 as the April 2024 update (KB5036892) in the Stable Channel. This update includes new personalization features, fixes, and improvements for versions 22H2 and 21H2.

New desktop Spotlight

According to the official changes (preview notes from the Stable Channel and logs for the Release Preview Channel), the update KB5036892 brings the Spotlight feature to the desktop experience, allowing you to set wallpapers dynamically from the cloud as backgrounds from the Bing service, similar to the Spotlight feature for the Lock Screen.

You can enable Spotlight from Settings > Personalization > Background and choose the “Windows Spotlight” option from the “Personalize your background” setting.

This feature was originally announced with the release of build 19045.4116, but then the company removed it, and now it’s available again.

Lock Screen with more information

As part of the Lock Screen improvements, the system will be able to show content for sports, traffic, and finance in addition to weather.

You can enable this new experience from Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and choose the information you want to see on the screen before signing in.

Windows Hello for Business changes for admins

Starting with this release, network administrators can turn on the “DisablePostLogonProvisioning” policy in the Mobile Device Management (MDM) to disable the Windows Hello for Business prompt for Entra-joined computers.

Microsoft is also taking the opportunity to force users to upgrade to Windows 11 if the device meets the minimum requirements. However, you can skip this option to continue using Windows 10, but consider that the company will end support for the operating system on October 14, 2025.

Other fixes and changes for Windows 10

Regional updates:

Supports Daylight Saving Time (DST) for Palestine, Kazakhstan, and Samoa.
Changes the English name of the former “Republic of Turkey” to the “Republic of Türkiye.”
Resolves time service configuration inconsistency between mobile device management (MDM)/Group Policy Object (GPO) and Windows Settings app.
Updates Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles for certain mobile operators.

Policy fixes:

Addresses issues where the existing AppLocker rule collection enforcement mode is not overwritten when merging rules with a collection without rules.
Fixes Group Policy service failure after applying an audit policy using LGPO.exe.

General fixes:

Addresses issues affecting the COM+ component, causing some applications to stop responding.
Fixes issue where some apps and features become unavailable after upgrading to Windows 11.
Resolves deadlock issue in CloudAP occurring during simultaneous sign-ins and sign-outs on virtual machines.
Addresses a problem preventing access to a network resource from Remote Desktop sessions when Remote Credential Guard feature is enabled on Windows 11.
Fixes Microsoft Edge failure to open on Surface Hub.
Addresses issues with the Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) AmsiUtil class, including bypass detection and other long-term threats.
Fixes touch keyboard not opening intermittently.
Addresses loading issue with top-down bitmaps having negative height when using LoadImage().
Fixes scanner unresponsiveness when connected via eSCL over USB.
Addresses reliability issues affecting the Virtual Remote App product when using a custom shell to open it.

Older versions of Windows 10

In addition, the company is making available updates for older versions of the operating system, including versions 1809, 1607, and 1507.

For example, the company is rolling out the update KB5036896 for version 1809, bumping the build number to 17763.5696, resolving security vulnerabilities and minor improvements.

Windows 10 1607 receives the update KB5036899, which bumps the version to build 14393.6897 and resolves several problems with this version.

Finally, Windows 10 1507 is getting the update KB5036925, which increases the version to build 10240.20596 and introduces some security fixes and some minor improvements.

Install build 19045.4291

If you want to download and install Windows 10 build 19045.4291, you can force the update from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, click the “Check for updates” button and choose the option to install the update.

In addition to the preview of the Patch Tuesday update for April, on March 12, the company released the March 2024 update with various security fixes, and the new changes are to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for users in the European Union. The DMA changes include the ability for users to uninstall virtually any application, including Microsoft Edge and Bing, turn off the news feed or add other news sources to the Widgets dashboard, disable Bing from the Taskbar search, and more.

If you prefer manually installing the April 2024 update, download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

If the update is causing problems after the installation, you can use these instructions to uninstall the April 2024 update and roll back to a previous good working state.

Microsoft is also releasing the update KB5036893 for Windows 11 as part of the April Patch Tuesday update.

Update March 19, 2024: Microsoft is releasing the KB5035941 as build 19045.4235 with all the same new changes.

Update March 27, 2024: The company is making available the KB5035941 as build 19045.4239 as an optional update for everyone in the Stable Channel.

Update April 9, 2024: Microsoft is now rolling out the update KB5036892 as the April 2024 update.