- Windows 11 build 26100.6584 (KB5065426) is now available as the September 2025 update for version 24H2.
- It introduces a redesigned Recall homepage, a clock in the Notification Center, a grid view for image searches, Lock Screen widget customization, a new Widgets board, a redesign of the Windows Hello experience, and numerous fixes.
- Windows 11 build 22631.5909 (KB5065431) for version 23H2 is now available for download through the Stable Channel with fixes and changes.
- On August 28, 2025, Microsoft announced that it’s delaying the following features: AI Actions in File Explorer, Advanced Settings, the “Your device info” card in Settings Home, and time and language features from Control Panel, for future updates.
- Microsoft released the Out-of-Band (OOB) update KB5068221 (build 26100.6588) for Windows 11 24H2 to address bugs in Office apps and update several AI components. Check the Update History section for more info – UPDATE 9/23.
UPDATED 9/23/2025: Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 11 builds 26100.6584 (KB5065426) for versions 24H2, as the Patch Tuesday update for September 2025 in the Release Preview Channel. The update introduces security fixes, visual enhancements for the Taskbar, Windows Search, and security, as well as new features for Recall, Click to Do, and File Explorer.
According to the official notes, the update KB5065426 for version 24H2 introduces a redesigned homepage for Windows Recall, an interactive tutorial for Click to Do, and new AI actions for File Explorer.
In addition, the cumulative update for September brings the clock with seconds back to the Notification Center, a centered dialog with a dimmed background for location, camera, and mic access. Windows Search will now display images in a grid view.
Microsoft also notes that the cumulative update removes PowerShell 2.0 from Windows 11 and makes Windows Backup for Organizations generally available.
In addition, the company is releasing the cumulative update for Windows 11 23H2, build 22631.5909 (KB5065431), which includes only fixes, with no new features, except for Windows Backup for Organizations. The update KB5065431 is available for version 22H2 as build 22621.5909.
As per usual, for clarification, during the early stages of development, Microsoft does not disclose the final name of updates intended for the Stable Channel. While these updates are in preview, they are labeled as non-security updates. It’s only when they are officially released on Patch Tuesday that the company designates them with their final name, such as the “September 2025 Security Update.”
- What’s new on Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.6584 (KB5065426)
- What’s new on Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.5909 (KB5065431)
- Windows 11 September 2025 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process
- Windows 11 September 2025 Patch Tuesday – Update history
What’s new on Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.6584 (KB5065426)
Microsoft is currently rolling out these new features, improvements, and fixes as part of the September 2025 Security Update for Windows 11 24H2:
Windows Recall new homepage
Starting with build 26100.6584, the “Recall” app introduces a new home page that groups your recent snapshots and top content for easier access.
The home page also offers greetings with the current date and a search box to help you look through your activities.
Furthermore, there’s a new navigation bar on the left, and you can access the settings menu at the bottom-left corner.
Click to Do a new interactive tutorial
Microsoft is also adding a quick interactive tutorial with text and images to help users understand how to start using Click to Do on Windows 11.
Clock with seconds in Notification Center
Microsoft reintroduces the larger clock with seconds in the Notification Center. This update gives you a more detailed time display, making quick glances at the clock even more convenient.
To display the full clock with seconds in Notification Center, open Settings > Time & language > Date & time, and turn on the “Show time in the Notification Center” toggle switch.
This feature does not appear by default, but the company is also developing a toast notification to inform you about the clock, with an option to turn it on automatically.
In this release, Microsoft has also resolved an issue where dragging the mouse across Taskbar preview thumbnails could disable click functionality, as well as a bug causing File Explorer previews to appear when hovering over unrelated Taskbar icons.
Windows Search grid view for images
In this preview release, when you perform an image search, the results for photos will be displayed in a grid view.
In addition, if your device is still organizing files, the system will display a notice with a link to track the indexing progress.
Finally, the file and folder state is also visible, making it easy to see whether items are stored locally or in the cloud.
Lock Screen widgets customization
Microsoft is introducing the ability for everyone to select the widgets that appear on the Lock Screen from Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen, along with other enhancements. This feature was previously only available for European users.
New Widgets board with multiple dashboards
This release also brings a new Widgets board design that appears from the left side, and you can now navigate between the different dashboards.
In addition to the Discover and Widgets boards, you can download other boards from the Microsoft Store, but this feature is currently limited to users in Europe.
Also, the Discover feed now features content curated by Copilot, which you can customize from the Personalization settings.
File Explorer with AI actions (Delayed)
Starting with the September 2025 patch, the software giant continues to integrate AI into File Explorer with the introduction of “AI actions.”
AI actions enable you to interact with files without needing to open them. You only need to right-click and choose an action:
- Bing Visual Search: Quickly identify objects and landmarks or shop for items based on an image.
- Blur Background: Automatically detects backgrounds in images and blurs them with customizable intensity.
- Erase Objects: Remove unwanted elements from photos using Generative Erase.
- Remove Background: Instantly cut out a subject from an image with one click.
The above actions are currently available for JPG, JPEG, and PNG file formats.
Additionally, you will find options to summarize documents for Microsoft 365 files, allowing you to preview key insights without opening Word, PowerPoint, or Excel. Also, you will be able to turn files into an AI-generated question and answer list.
These new AI actions will be supported for the following file types: XLSX, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT, RTF, ASPX, and HTML.
File Explorer with Home changes
Finally, this new version of File Explorer will display people icons under the “Activity” column in the “Recommended” section of the “Home” page. However, this feature is only limited to users with a work or school Entra ID.
Furthermore, this update also addresses a bug related to the use of the unblock option on the file properties page.
Windows Hello with modern design
In this cumulative update, Windows 11 is updating the Sign-in screen with visual changes if your computer is configured to use Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint, or PIN. For instance, when you access the screen, the system will display an animation on the icon representing the current sign-in methods to enhance the experience and make it easier to understand.
While on your account, the system also updates the security credential user experience dialogs for the passkey.
For example, once you create a passkey, the next time you have to sign in, you will notice a new Windows Hello animation for entering your credentials and recognizing the information. Also, you can now switch between authentication options.
Additionally, in build 26100.6584, facial recognition now operates reliably without generating false positives that prompt a PIN entry. If you are still experiencing issues, you can recalibrate under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Improve recognition.
Finally, fingerprint login is now more consistent after waking from standby.
New Advanced page in Settings app (Delayed)
In the Settings app, the September 2025 update introduces a new “Advanced” settings page, replacing the “For Developers” page.
The page includes a new design that groups settings in different categories, and it adds some new features:
- Enable Long Paths: Removes file path length (MAX_PATH) limitations.
- Virtual Workspaces: Easily toggle features like Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox.
- Git integration in File Explorer: Displays version control details, branch status, and commit history directly in Explorer.
I have also published another article and a hands-on video that explores these new settings coming to Windows 11 in more detail.
New AI agent for the Settings app
The Settings app is also bringing the new AI agent that helps you find and change settings more quickly to AI processors from AMD and Intel. Previously, this feature was only available for Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chips.
As part of this integration, using on-device AI, you can now use natural language to describe the problem or setting you want, and the feature will find and change the settings on your behalf with your permission.
If you want to test the feature, you can ask questions like “How do I control my PC by voice?” or “My mouse pointer is too small.”
New Settings app changes
In addition to the new “Advanced” page, the Settings app includes several other improvements. For example, the activation and expiration prompts match the design language of the operating system.
Privacy and security changes
You’ll notice a new “Recent activity” option in Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation, which allows you to view recent requests to use text and image generation with AI from different third-party applications installed on your computer.
Activation page with updated prompts
After installing this update, the activation and expiration prompts align with the operating system’s design language.
Settings app Home page changes (Delayed)
The company is also rolling out a new “Device Card” on the Home page for users in the United States who use a Microsoft account, which displays key specifications and usage details, including processor, storage, graphics card, and memory capacity.
Control Panel to Settings changes (Delayed)
On Settings > Time & language > Date & time, this flight brings the following changes:
- Option to add additional clocks from the “Show time and date in the system tray” setting.
- Setting to change the time server under the “Additional settings” section.
- An option to access the date and time formatting is now available through the “Date & time” page, rather than from “Language & region.” The page also includes the option to change the AM and PM symbols.
On Settings > Time & language > Language & region, you can now find these improvements:
- Option to change number and currency format under the “Regional format” section.
- Option to enable Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support under the “Language” section.
- Option to copy current user language and region settings to the welcome screen and system account, and new user accounts under the “Additional settings” section.
On Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, Microsoft is adding settings for character repeat delay and rate. Also, on Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor, you’ll find the setting to control the cursor blink rate.
Finally, this release addresses a crash that occurred when adding a security key on the “Sign-in options” page.
Task Manager with better CPU metrics
Windows 11 build 26100.6584 ships an updated version of the Task Manager that makes “CPU” usage information consistent. You’ll now see the same CPU workload across all pages, matching industry standards.
If you need the previous CPU value, you can display the “CPU Utility” column, located in the “Details” tab.
Other fixes and changes
The development team is also pushing several fixes and changes for the next monthly update.
- Live captions: Fixed an issue where adjusting caption opacity via the Caption Style setting in Accessibility had no effect.
- Input: Resolved multiple IME-related issues, including missing the first character when typing Chinese after using “CTRL + C,” crashes in apps like Sticky Notes and Notepad due to textinputframework.dll, extended characters appearing as empty boxes in the Chinese (Simplified) IME, and touch keyboard input failures with Changjie, Bopomofo, and Japanese IMEs after reverting versions. Also, this update fixes apps freezing during certain input method scenarios and missing IIS modules in IIS Manager, which blocked configuration via the UI.
- Kerberos: Fixed a crash that could occur when accessing cloud file shares using Kerberos authentication.
- Login: Improved login reliability by addressing cases that caused prolonged blank screens or “just a moment” delays.
- dbgcore.dll: Fixed a crash issue linked to
dbgcore.dll, which could affect apps such asexplorer.exe. - Audio: Improved audio playback reliability by resolving a service hang that could prevent sound in certain scenarios.
- Device management: Fixed a temporary file sharing conflict that disrupted system recovery features and impacted device management tools.
- File system: Resolved a memory exhaustion issue in Resilient File System (ReFS) triggered by backup apps handling large files.
- Performance: Fixed a slowdown affecting application installations on ARM64 devices.
- Miracast: Addressed an issue where audio would initially play but stop a few seconds after casting to a TV.
- App compatibility: Fixed an issue where non-admin users received unexpected UAC prompts during MSI-based app installations or repairs. This impacted apps like Office Professional Plus 2010 and Autodesk tools (for example, AutoCAD). The update reduces unnecessary UAC prompts and allows IT admins to suppress them for specific apps via an allowlist.
- File Server: Added checking support for SMB client compatibility with SMB Server signing and EPA. This helps organizations identify potential incompatibilities before enforcing SMB hardening policies.
- Networking: Resolved audio stuttering in OBS Studio when Display Capture is enabled. This issue affected apps using Network Device Interface (NDI) and was introduced in KB5063878.
In addition, when an app requests access to location, camera, microphone, or other device capabilities, the system displays a redesigned, centered system dialog box that also dims the screen.
Windows Backup for Organizations is now generally available, offering enterprise-grade backup and restore to support seamless device transitions.
Starting with this release, Windows 11 removes PowerShell 2.0. For context, the operating system includes PowerShell 5.1 by default, and PowerShell 7 is the new, cross-platform successor. Although it was previously possible to enable and use PowerShell 2.0, it has been deprecated for some time.
What’s new on Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.5909 (KB5065431)
The company is also releasing security fixes and improvements in September for Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 with the release of the update KB5065431.
This update makes the Windows Backup for Organizations generally available, offering enterprise-grade backup and restore to support seamless device transitions.
- Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA): Updated mobile operator profiles to ensure compatibility and correct configuration.
- Device Management: Fixed removable storage policy enforcement so external devices like USB drives are properly blocked when restricted.
- Family Safety: Restored the “Ask to Use” prompt for blocked apps, ensuring parental approval is requested as expected.
- File Explorer: Resolved issue where only one folder (for example, Desktop) appeared instead of the full recent file view, and improved performance when syncing multiple SharePoint sites, reducing lag in folder navigation and file launch times.
- File Sharing: Fixed delays when accessing SMB shares over QUIC, improving file access speed and reliability.
- File System: Addressed ReFS bug where enabling both de-duplication and compression could freeze the system.
- Input: Corrected display of rare Unicode characters (e.g., Chinese symbols) in text boxes to meet GB18030-2022 standards, and this updated fixed rendering of extended characters in the Chinese (Simplified) IME that previously showed as empty boxes.
- Narrator: Fixed misreading of the “Enhance Facial Recognition Protection” checkbox label under Windows Hello settings.
- Networking: Resolved issue where Wi-Fi failed to reconnect automatically after Group Policy changes.
- Remote Desktop: Fixed camera detection in RDS sessions (newly added or removed cameras now appear correctly).
- Copilot: Made improvements to the reliability of the Copilot key and resolved an issue that prevented users from restarting the app after using the key.
- App compatibility: Fixed an issue where non-admin users received unexpected UAC prompts during MSI-based app installations or repairs. This impacted apps like Office Professional Plus 2010 and Autodesk tools (for example, AutoCAD). The update reduces unnecessary UAC prompts and allows IT admins to suppress them for specific apps via an allowlist.
- File Server: Added checking support for SMB client compatibility with SMB Server signing and EPA. This helps organizations identify potential incompatibilities before enforcing SMB hardening policies.
Microsoft is not noting any known issues with this update. Also, this version of the operating system won’t receive any new features as the end of support is nearing.
Windows 11 September 2025 Patch Tuesday – Manual installation process
To download and install this Windows 11 update, open the “Windows Update” settings by turning on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option and clicking the “Check for Updates” button.
The update will download and install automatically. However, you can also apply it manually by downloading the update KB5065426 from the Update Catalog website. You can use this download link to get the update (KB5065431) for version 23H2.
If your computer is having issues after installing this package, you can use these instructions to uninstall the September 2025 update.
Windows 11 September 2025 Patch Tuesday – Update history
- Initial Release – Release Preview Channel:
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.5061 release date: August 14, 2025. Official notes.
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.5067 release date: August 21, 2025. (Same).
- Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.5837 release date: August 14, 2025. Official notes.
- Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.5909 release date: August 21, 2025. (Same).
- Second Release – Optional Install (Stable Channel):
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.5074 release date: August 29, 2025. Official notes.
- Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.5909 release date: August 26, 2025. Official notes.
- Final Release – Patch Tuesday (Stable Channel):
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.6584 release date: September 9, 2025. Official notes.
- Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.6584 release date: September 9, 2025. Official notes.
- Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.6588 release date: September 23, 2025. Official notes.
Update September 23, 2025: This content has been updated with new information and revised to ensure accuracy.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
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