How to enable new features for Windows 11 December 2026 Update (KB5132057)

Microsoft is gradually rolling out the December 2026 Windows 11 features, so installing the same update doesn’t guarantee identical feature availability.
ViveTool can enable some hidden Windows 11 features, but individual feature IDs may change or stop working as Microsoft updates the operating system.
Windows 11 users can install the upcoming improvements through the Release Preview channel or Windows Update when the optional update becomes available.

Microsoft is rolling out the December 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 on December 8, 2026, with the last wave of features, changes, and improvements for the year. However, installing the latest update doesn’t mean every new feature will appear on your computer immediately. The company uses a controlled feature rollout to gradually enable changes, which means some users may have to wait even after installing the same update as everyone else.

I’ve often seen two computers running the same build offer different features because the Windows team decides when certain changes become available. This approach helps the company monitor new features and spot potential problems, but it can also make testing frustrating when a feature announced in an update isn’t available on your device.

The December 2026 update (KB5132057) introduces improvements for Windows 11 versions 26H2 and 25H2. Some improvements may remain disabled until the company enables them through its gradual rollout. If you want to try these features without waiting, you can often bypass the wait by using ViveTool with the appropriate feature IDs discovered by @PhantomOfEarth.

In this guide, I’ll show you how I enable many of the new features expected to roll out with the December 2026 update using the ViveTool. Based on my testing, these commands don’t always unlock everything, since Microsoft may still limit some features or tie them to specific hardware and regions. I’ll also explain how to install the update early through the Release Preview channel or after it becomes generally available, and I’ll keep this guide updated as Microsoft changes or retires these feature IDs.

Important: This ViveTool code does not guarantee that all features included in the December 2026 Security Update will be enabled. These IDs also change frequently, and once Microsoft permanently integrates a feature or improvement into the operating system, the associated IDs stop working. I will update this guide as soon as new details become available.

Enable new December 2026 features on Windows 11

To enable all the new features and changes for the Windows 11 update KB5132057, follow these steps:

Open the GitHub website.
Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable all the new features for December 2026.
Double-click the zip file to open it with File Explorer.
Click the Extract all button.
Click the Extract button.
Copy the path to the folder.
Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:
```
cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x
```
In the command, remember to change the path to the folder to your path.
Type the following command to enable virtually all the new features and press Enter:
```
vivetool /enable /id:61161304
```
(Option 1) Type the following command to enable the new Windows Search experience and press Enter:
```
vivetool /enable /id:58381341
```
(Option 2) Type the following command to enable the new Windows Search experience if the previous command didn’t work after restarting the computer, and press Enter:
```
vivetool /enable /id:58381341,59210771,59210767
```
Type the following command to enable the modern Run dialog and press Enter:
```
vivetool /enable /id:58381341,58527096,57156807,57259990
```
Type the following command to enable the new XBOX mode Task View Quick Settings UI and press Enter:
```
vivetool /enable /id:59956305
```
Restart the computer to apply the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the command should enable the features and changes introduced in update KB5132057 for Windows 11 26H2 and 25H2.

Although this ViveTool ID enables all the new features, some improvements may require one or more specific IDs, and I’ll add those to this guide as soon as I know them.

If you want to undo the changes, you can follow the same instructions outlined above, but in step 10, run the vivetool /disable /id: command with the ViveTool ID you used and continue running the different commands, depending on which ones you enabled. You can also run the vivetool /fullreset command to reset any customization you may have enabled using this tool.

Install Windows 11 December 2026 Security Update

The installation process for the update, which includes the new features and changes for December 2026, depends on when you try to access the improvements. If it’s not yet generally available, you’ll need to enroll your device in the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program. If the update is generally available as an optional install, you can check for updates in Windows Update settings without enrolling in the Windows Insider Program.

Usually, I’d recommend waiting until the update is generally available as an optional install. This happens at the end of the month before the next Patch Tuesday.

Install the update before it’s generally available

To enroll and install preview updates of Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Windows Insider Program page.
Click the Get started button.
Click the “Continue” button to join the program with your currently logged-in Microsoft account.

Quick note: You may need to click the “Edit” button to select a Microsoft account.
Click the Continue button.
Click the Advanced options button.
Turn on the “Show Release Preview” toggle switch to enable the option.
Select the Release Preview option under the “Select your experience” section.
Click the Restart button.
Open Settings after the reboot.
Click on Windows Update.
Check the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
Click the Restart now button.
Open Microsoft Store.
Click on Downloads in the bottom left.
Click the “Check for updates” button to ensure apps and system components are up to date.

After you complete these steps, your computer will install the latest preview of the operating system, giving you access to upcoming features, changes, and fixes.

Install the update after it’s generally available

To install the preview of the next quality update of Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Check the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
(Optional) Click the “Download and install” option to apply a preview of an upcoming update of Windows 11.
Click the Restart now button.
Open the Microsoft Store.
Click on Downloads in the bottom left.
Click the “Check for updates” button to ensure apps and system components are up to date.

After you complete these steps, Windows 11 will automatically download and install any available updates.

FAQs about the Windows 11 December 2026 Update

If you still have questions about the December 2026 Windows 11 update, the FAQs below explain what’s new and how to enable the latest features.

Will running the ViveTool command enable all the features?

No, because some features aren’t available to everyone (even after running the ViveTool commands), and others are limited to specific regions.

Why do I need to run the ViveTool command to enable the new features?

You don’t have to use ViveTool, but some people want to access the improvements as soon as possible. The problem is that Microsoft rolls out new features gradually, even after they’re officially available. The idea is that if something breaks, the company can quickly stop the problem from spreading to more devices.

What features and changes are available with the December 2026 update for Windows 11?

The December 2026 update for Windows 11 introduces a redesigned Windows Search experience with faster results, inline actions, and file previews. It also includes a modern Run dialog, automatic screen brightness adjustment for Windows Hello, faster File Explorer searches, and several accessibility improvements. Other changes include Quick Settings integration in XBOX mode, new Widgets notifications, expanded Narrator language support, and passwordless web sign-in for Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined devices.

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