- Windows K2 introduces the Low Latency Profile, improving short-burst performance to make app launches and core shell experiences like Start and Search feel significantly faster.
- The update enhances overall system responsiveness with improvements to input handling, Explorer stability, clipboard performance, and desktop icon loading behavior.
- Windows K2 strengthens hardware reliability with USB4 and USB3 fixes, HID optimizations, and better docking and standby behavior, improving consistency on modern PCs and laptops.
- The release improves platform efficiency and stability with better power management, sensor hub optimization, and expanded Task Manager visibility for NPU workloads.
On Windows 11, Microsoft is now rolling out build 26200.8524 (KB5089573) in the stable channel as an optional install for the June 2026 update. This means anyone can download an early preview of the first major Windows K2 updates scheduled to arrive on June 9, 2026. At the time of this writing, this is still a non-security update.
The update appears as “2026-05 Preview Update (KB5089573) (Build 26200.8524)” and introduces a number of new features and improvements focused on making Windows 11 faster and more responsive.
For example, this release begins the gradual rollout of the Low Latency Profile, a new system optimization designed to speed up actions such as launching apps and opening experiences like the Start menu. Windows Search is also receiving additional performance improvements.
Beyond the performance changes, Microsoft is adding new capabilities and refining existing experiences, including Shared Bluetooth LE Audio support, multi-app camera access, improved NPU monitoring in Task Manager, profile folder customization during Setup, and more.
In this guide, I’ll highlight the most interesting changes included in the June 2026 Security Update as Microsoft continues addressing some of Windows 11’s biggest pain points.
Windows K2 changes coming in June 2026
These are the most significant changes and additions that Microsoft is gradually rolling out as part of the June 2026 Patch Tuesday update.
Low Latency Profile
Starting with the June 2026 Security Update, the company is rolling out the Low Latency Profile feature as part of the Windows K2 initiative, a technique that the system uses to spike the CPU to its maximum frequency for one to three seconds to speed up specific tasks, such as launching apps and features like the Start menu.
In the official notes, the company isn’t calling it Low Latency Profile. Instead, it notes that this update accelerates app launch and core shell experiences such as Start menu, Search, and Action Center
Shared Audio via Bluetooth LE Audio
Windows 11 is also introducing a new “Shared Audio” feature that allows two people to listen to the same audio from a single computer simultaneously.
The feature uses Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology to stream audio to two compatible Bluetooth devices (such as earbuds or headphones) simultaneously, making it easier to share music, movies, or other media without speakers.
Users can enable the feature from the Quick Settings panel by selecting “Shared Audio,” choosing two supported paired devices, and starting the audio session.
There’s also a new Taskbar indicator that appears whenever audio sharing is active. This visual cue makes it clear that your sound is being shared and provides one-click access to the sharing settings.
Task Manager with expanded NPU monitoring
Task Manager is gaining several improvements focused on AI hardware monitoring and system diagnostics.
On computers equipped with an NPU (mostly Copilot+ PCs right now), the app now includes optional columns to track NPU usage, NPU engine activity, and dedicated or shared NPU memory across the “Processes,” “Users,” and “Details” pages.
Windows 11 will also display neural engines integrated into the GPU on the “Performance” page to provide a broader view of AI-related workloads. In addition, Microsoft is adding a new “Isolation” column that shows which apps are running inside an AppContainer sandbox.
The update also fixes an issue causing incorrect process speed readings on virtual machines after resuming from hibernation.
Camera with multi-app support
As part of the improvements rolling out with the KB5089573 update, Microsoft is making available new advanced configuration settings for webcams on the “Camera” settings page, including “Multi-app Camera” and “Camera Basic Mode.”
The “Multi-app Camera” feature lets you stream the same camera across multiple apps. On the other hand, the “Camera Basic Mode” feature enables the camera to be used in debugging mode to troubleshoot problems.
For managed devices, enterprise administrators can configure both Multi-App Camera and Basic Camera modes through Group Policy under Camera settings.
Windows Setup with custom folder name
Microsoft is also updating the setup experience with a new option to choose a custom name for the user profile folder during installation. The option appears on the page to configure the device name, allowing users to set the folder name before completing setup rather than relying on the automatically generated name.
If you skip this step, the operating system will continue to create the profile folder using the default naming convention. As expected, custom folder names must still comply with standard Windows 11 naming rules.
Windows Search improvements
This release also improves Windows Search. Starting with the June 2026 update, the search experience can now find and prioritize files using as few as two characters, making shorter queries more effective when searching locally.
The change should improve discoverability for files and folders with abbreviated names, especially for users who rely heavily on keyboard search workflows from the Start menu or File Explorer.
Windows Hello performance improvements
Microsoft is also rolling out several improvements for Windows Hello in this update. The company says it has optimized the Windows Biometric (WinBio) service to reduce latency when resuming a device from Modern Standby, which should help face and fingerprint sign-ins respond faster after the computer wakes.
In addition, Windows Hello face or fingerprint authentication will now remain the default sign-in method on the lock and sign-in screens whenever biometric authentication is available, even if you previously used another option. However, if you use your Windows PIN three consecutive times, the system will continue defaulting to the PIN until you manually switch to a different sign-in method.
The update also fixes an issue that could cause Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security authentication to fail unexpectedly because of missing secure enrollment metadata.
Magnifier accessibility upgrades
The company is improving the accessibility experience on Windows 11 with several updates for Magnifier.
The app now delivers clearer and more consistent announcements when used alongside a screen reader, including notifications for zoom level changes, view mode switches, color inversion, and when Magnifier is turned on or off.
The company is also adding support for magnifying permitted protected content and improving the smoothness of movement while using Magnifier in lens mode.
USB4 and USB reliability improvements
Windows 11 improves reliability for USB4 docks and external displays, ensuring they turn on more consistently, especially when resuming from standby.
It also improves USB3 recovery and resiliency, helping the system better handle unexpected hardware issues.
Overall, this addresses long-standing stability issues affecting laptops and docking setups.
Input and shell responsiveness fixes
The update improves touch keyboard reliability across the sign-in screen, password fields, and password changes.
It also enhances clipboard history performance, making navigation faster and more responsive.
Explorer.exe stability improves when closing the input switcher, and desktop icons load more reliably, reducing delays and icon omissions.
These changes align with Windows 11’s broader focus on responsiveness.
Storage and Dev Drive management improvements
Dev Drive configuration is now more flexible, allowing sizes to be set in GB instead of MB when creating a new virtual hard disk drive.
Storage settings also reduce unnecessary UAC prompts, streamlining system management.
These changes improve the experience for developers and advanced users working with isolated or high-performance storage setups.
Wallpaper and accent color improvements
Windows 11 improves automatic accent color matching for more consistent visual styling when changing background desktop images.
Wallpaper persistence is also improved across upgrades and system reboots.
These refinements address long-standing inconsistencies in desktop personalization behavior.
Microsoft Store performance improvements
The Microsoft Store benefits from faster downloads and improved bandwidth handling. Error reporting is also improved when downloads fail due to Windows Update group policy restrictions.
This results in a more reliable app installation and update experience.
Power and battery optimizations
Power efficiency is improved by increasing resiliency against apps that keep the sensor hub active unnecessarily.
HID and input stack behavior are optimized by reducing unnecessary transfers during standby, improving stability and battery life on laptops and tablets.
Pureinfotech’s Take
This feels like one of those updates where Microsoft is quietly laying down infrastructure rather than chasing flashy features. The Low Latency Profile is the real signal here. It’s the company finally admitting that “feel” matters as much as raw performance numbers, especially for core shell interactions like Start and Search. If this behaves consistently in real-world use, it could meaningfully improve that sense of sluggishness that still lingers in parts of Windows 11.
What I find more interesting, though, is the direction across the board. Everything here points to smoothing out friction. USB reliability, input behavior, Explorer stability, and even clipboard performance all target the small annoyances users hit dozens of times a day. Individually, they’re small, but together they shape how responsive the operating system feels.
At the same time, I would stay cautious about expectations. Microsoft has a long history of rolling out “responsiveness improvements” that vary depending on hardware, drivers, and OEM tuning. So while the intent is solid, the real-world gain won’t be uniform across all devices.
However, I like the consistency of this push. Windows K2 is clearly not about reinventing the operating system, but about tightening it. And that’s usually where the most noticeable long-term improvements come from.
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.
You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].
