UPDATED 3/19/2025: Microsoft starts testing the April 2025 update with the rollout of the Windows 11 build 26100.3613 (KB5053656) for version 24H2 and the build 22631.5116 (KB5053657) for version 23H2 in the Release Preview Channel. This first preview is available as a non-security update.
In the official changes for version 24H2, Microsoft notes that update KB5053656 improves Live Captions, introduces new changes for the “Home” and “About” pages in the Settings app, rolls out the new Gamepad keyboard layout, updates the CPU usage logic for Task Manager, adds the ability to customize widgets in the Lock Screen, and much more.
Also, according to the official notes, the update KB5053657 for Windows 11 brings the Settings app text scaling support to File Explorer for dialogs like open, save, and copy wizard.
The Settings app brings the “Top Cards” to the “About” page and adds Your Accounts cards to the Home page, and for Japanese users, the “Accounts” page will show the first name first.
This update also rolls out the new Gamepad keyboard layout for the touch keyboard, updates the CPU usage logic in the Task Manager, and pushes various non-security fixes.
Windows 11 24H2 April 2025 update (build 26100.3613)
These are the non-security fixes and changes expected to arrive with the April 2025 update for Windows 11 24H2.
Live Captions
Starting with build 26100.3613, the development team is improving the communication of live captions and real-time translation for Copilot+ PCs using AMD and Intel processors, expanding translation for more than 44 languages.
Microsoft is also expanding real-time translation for Copilot+ PCs with ARM Snapdragon processors to Chinese (Simplified). Supported languages include Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, and Swedish.
Settings with Top Cards
The April 2025 update will add a “Top Cards” view at the top of the Settings app’s “About” page to highlight key hardware specifications, such as storage, graphics card, installed memory, and processor details.
On the “Home” page for commercial customers, the company is adding new cards that will display specific device info and accessibility preferences.
Also, in the “Accounts” section, for Japanese users, the Settings app will now show the user’s first name first instead of last.
Gamepad keyboard layout
On Windows 11 24H2, you will also find a new Gamepad layout for the on-screen keyboard to make it easier to navigate and type using the Xbox controller.
The new layout maps specific buttons, such as X, Y, LB, RB, LT, and others, to common keys like Backspace, Space, Left and Right, and numbers. It also introduces a slightly different keyboard design with a vertical alignment.
Taskbar with dedicated Emoji button
Microsoft is working on a new entry point to access the Emoji panel from the System Tray in the Taskbar. The option appears on the “Taskbar” settings page, and when enabled, you will notice a new icon in the System Tray, depending on the option.
For example, the “Always” option will keep the Emoji button persistent in the System Tray. On the other hand, the “While typing” option will only make the button available when using a text field or when working with a word processing or note-taking application.
Voice Access enhancements
The quality update refines the Voice Access feature, enabling it to understand voice commands more easily without requiring a fixed syntax. For instance, users can now say, “Can you open Edge app,” and the system will recognize and execute the command to open Microsoft Edge. If the system doesn’t understand a voice command, it can now provide real-time suggestions based on the last utterance.
Additionally, Voice Access now supports Simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), expanding its accessibility to a broader user base.
Task Manager with new CPU logic
Windows 11 build 26100.3613 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 show the “CPU Utility” column, which is located in the “Details” tab.
Lock Screen customizable widgets
Starting with the release of update KB5053656, Windows 11 is making changes to the “Lock Screen” settings page. The “Lock screen status” setting will be removed and replaced with a new “Your widgets” setting for devices in the European Economic Area (EEA).
You can turn the “Your widgets” setting on or off to show or hide the widgets in the Lock Screen. When you open the settings, you can add, re-arrange, and remove widgets.
It’s important to note that the Lock Screen can now show a variety of widgets, not just weather, watchlist, traffic, and sports.
Furthermore, Microsoft is also introducing a new “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen” policy in the Group Policy Editor to allow administrators to control this feature from Computer Configurations > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets.
Also, this update gives developers the ability to build dynamic and interactive widgets with existing web content.
Other fixes and improvements
The update KB5053656 for Windows 11 also pushes these changes:
Certainly, here’s the complete list with all items, each on a single bullet point:
- File Explorer: Fixed an issue where the “see more” (…) menu in the command bar opened in the incorrect direction.
- Remote Desktop: Fixed a problem preventing Remote Desktop from utilizing UDP, forcing it to use only TCP.
- Screen Orientation: Addressed an issue where screen orientation could unexpectedly change after waking 2-in-1 devices from sleep.
- Application Installation (MSI): Improved the performance of the
MsiCloseHandleAPI when processing MSI files containing a large number of files, reducing prolonged execution times. - Boot Menu: Prevented the creation of extraneous and non-functional boot menu entries after failed update rollbacks. Existing extra boot entries can be managed through System Configuration (msconfig).
- Authentication: Corrected Kerberos authentication failures that occurred in specific scenarios when RC4 encryption was used. Resolved an issue where FIDO Cached Credential Logon could fail on Hybrid Domain Joined devices. Also, this update fixed a bug that could lead to account lockout after a password change when opening certain apps if the account lockout policy is enabled.
- System Reliability: Fixed an underlying issue that could cause a “blue screen” (PDC_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT bugcheck) when resuming from sleep mode.
- Networking: Corrected the virtual NIC description in Network Connections (ncpa.cpl), which previously displayed incorrect characters.
- Color Profiles: Ensured that the correct color profile list was displayed for the selected monitor in Settings > System > Display > Color Management.
- Color Profiles: Resolved an issue where color profile settings were not applied after resuming from sleep.
- Display Kernel: Fixed an issue affecting High Dynamic Range (HDR) content playback on Dolby Vision capable displays, where users may see regular HDR instead of Dolby Vision, missing specific content indicators.
- TULIP: Fixed an issue where window captions may be truncated on an ANSI window.
- PowerShell: Resolved an issue where critical PowerShell modules required for device configuration were not executed under Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies.
- OOBE: Addressed an issue that prevents the ESP from running every time a new user logs onto the device even when configured by policy.
- Cryptography: Fixed an issue affecting Credential Roaming, resulting in certificates and keys not being roamed into Active Directory and not being made available on users’ machines.
- File Systems (Filters): Resolved an issue for users with profiles redirected to a network Virtual Hard Disk (VHD or VHDX), where a specific failure could lead to a system crash.
- Graphics: Fixed an issue where certain third-party apps could cause a Settings crash from the graphics settings page.
Microsoft also notes the dedication of the “Suggestions actions” feature, and it’s removing the “Location History” feature that the company used to track your location for Cortana.
Windows 11 23H2 April 2025 update (build 22631.5116)
These are the non-security fixes and changes expected to arrive with the April 2025 update for Windows 11 23H2.
File Explorer new improvements
As part of the Windows 11 update KB5053657, File Explorer improves the text scaling support for File Open and Save dialogs and Wizard dialogs when changing the settings from Settings > Accessibility > Text size.
Settings with Top Cards
On the “About” page for the Settings app, Microsoft is now working on the “Top Cards” view at the top of the page to highlight some of the key hardware specifications, such as storage, graphics card, installed memory, and processor details.
On the “Home” page for commercial customers, the company is adding new “Your Accounts” cards that will display the accounts connected with the Windows 11 account.
Also, in the “Accounts” section, for Japanese users, the Settings app will now show the user’s first name first instead of last.
Gamepad keyboard layout
In this release, the development team is adding a new Gamepad layout for the on-screen keyboard to make it easier to navigate and type using the Xbox controller.
The new layout maps specific buttons, such as X, Y, LB, RB, LT, and others, to common keys like Backspace, Space, Left and Right, and numbers. It also introduces a slightly different keyboard design with a vertical alignment.
Taskbar with dedicated Emoji button
Microsoft is working on a new entry point to access the Emoji panel from the System Tray in the Taskbar. The option appears on the “Taskbar” settings page, and when enabled, you will notice a new icon in the System Tray, depending on the option.
For example, the “Always” option will keep the Emoji button persistent in the System Tray. On the other hand, the “While typing” option will only make the button available when using a text field or when working with a word processing or note-taking application.
Task Manager with new CPU logic
Windows 11 build 22631.5116 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 show the “CPU Utility” column, which is located in the “Details” tab.
Other improvements
The update KB5053657 for Windows 11 also pushes these improvements:
- Faster File System Notifications: This update adds support for a new Filter Manager function that reduces I/O operations and speeds up directory change notifications for applications.
- Enhanced Asian Language Fonts: The addition of the Noto font family improves web browsing for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages, providing clearer and more modern text.
Furthermore, Windows 11 removes the suggested actions that appear when copying phone numbers or future dates.
Other fixes
In addition, Microsoft is rolling out these fixes:
- Remote Desktop: Issues preventing “Get-Help” troubleshooters from running in Remote Desktop sessions have been resolved.
- Reliable Mobile Connectivity: Corrected IOT APN settings for Connected PCs to ensure proper mobile data connections.
- Printer: Resolved an issue where printers using IHV drivers produced incorrect or unwanted text.
- File System: Fixed a system crash issue for users with profiles redirected to network VHD/VHDX drives, and it addressed a stop error that could occur during normal use with profiles redirected to network VHD/VHDX drives.
Installation process
To download and install this Windows 11 build, enroll your device in the Release Preview Channel through the “Windows Insider Program” settings from the “Update & Security” section. Once you enroll the computer in the program, you can download the build from 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.
Update March 19, 2025: This content has been updated with new information, and it’s been revised to ensure accuracy.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech (est. 2010). With over 21 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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