Windows 11 receives May 2024 update (KB5037771)

The May 2024 update for Windows 11 pushes more ads into the Start menu.
The update KB5037771 also rolls out changes for Voices Access and Widgets.
This Patch Tuesday Update also pushes fixes and various other changes for existing features.

On May 14, 2024, Microsoft begins the rollout of the Windows 11 update KB5037771 as the May 2024 update for versions 23H2 and 22H2. This cumulative update brings security patches as well as various fixes and improvements.

The update KB5037771 bumps the version number to build 22621.3593 for version 22H2 and build 22631.3593 for version 23H2, and according to the official announcement, the update introduces various Voice Access that allow you to control your computer with voice and without an internet connection.

The Start menu will also recommend apps from the Microsoft Store in the “Recommended” section. Microsoft also notes improvements to the Widgets icons in the Taskbar and the widgets in the Lock screen.

Windows 11 builds 22621.3527, and 22631.3527 also include a slew of fixes and changes that the company previously announced with the release of preview update KB5036980 on April 24. For example, system administrators can now install “.msi” apps on ARM-based systems through Group Policy Objects (GPOs), and there is a new “AllowScreenRecorder” MDM policy to disable screen recording from the Snipping Tool.

Furthermore, this update patches Windows Kernel vulnerabilities, problems with the Resilient File System (ReFS), startup problems for dual-boot systems, and more.

Windows 11 May 2024 update changes

These are all the fixes and changes rolling out with the May 2024 update.

Voice Access shortcuts

Although Windows 11 has had Voice Access, according to the company, this update rolls out some changes that make it possible to control your computer with only your voice and without the need for an internet connection since the voice engine is now fully integrated into the operating system.

Finally, you can now create custom voice commands. You can start by clicking the “Voice shortcuts” tab from the left panel in the Voice Access interface. (This functionality has been in the works for quite some time.)

To enable this feature, you will have to open Settings > Accessibility > Speech and turn on the “Voice access” toggle switch.

Start menu with more ads

Microsoft says that in the coming weeks, after installing this update, the Start menu will show frequently used apps (for those not already pinned on the menu) in the “Recommended” section. In addition, as part of the continued effort to keep adding ads, the company will now recommend apps from the Microsoft Store in the “Recommended” section.

You can prevent the Start menu from showing these recommendations from Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off the “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more” toggle switch.

Widgets tweaks

As part of the Widgets experience, this update improves the widgets button in the Taskbar, and the widgets available in the Lock screen are now more reliable and have improved in quality.

Update KB5037771 fixes and changes

These are the fixes and changes rolling out with this update:

Improved quality and reliability of widgets on the Lock screen.
Fixed the pixelated or fuzzy widget icon in the Taskbar.
Fixed for the netstat -c command, enhancing port exhaustion troubleshooting.
Fixed a memory leak in the accelerator backing store management path.
Enhanced memory granularity for media allocations, reducing overcommitment and improving performance.
Addressed high memory consumption and issues impacting service and pod deployment in the Host Networking Service (HNS).
Correction of intermittent name resolution failures in split DNS setups for WLS2.
Fixed Japanese 106 keyboard layout on the touch keyboard at sign-in.
Resolved a stop error on PCs supporting Bluetooth A2DP hardware offload.
Removed duplicate print queues for universal printers.
Fixed an issue allowing bypass of Protected Process Light (PPL) protections.
HVCI now accepts compatible drivers.
Fixed for the Settings menu stopping response when dismissing a flyout menu.
Addressed a memory leak in the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC) during mapping retrieval.
Fix for Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) where Post Authentication Actions (PAA) were not triggering correctly.

Older versions of Windows 11

Microsoft is also making available the update KB5037770 (build 22000.2960) for Windows 11 21H2. This relatively small update fixes some problems with IE Mode and VPN connections and changes currency for users in Croatia.

May 2024 update installation

You can download KB5037771 from Settings > Windows Update, click the “Check for Updates” button, and restart the computer.

If you prefer manually installing the May 2024 update for versions 23H2 and 22H2, download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

If you downloaded the preview version of the update (KB5036980), only the changes will download and install on your computer.

In the case that the update is causing issues, you can use these instructions to uninstall the May 2024 update and roll back to a previous good working state.

The update first became available as build 22621.3520 and 22631.3520 for versions 21H2 and 22H2 in the Release Preview Channel, then the company made available the build 22621.3527 and 22631.3527 in the Stable Channel as an optional update, and now it’s available as build 22621.3593 for version 22H2 and build 22631.3593 for version 23H2.

Microsoft is also releasing the update KB5037768 for Windows 10 as part of the May Patch Tuesday update.