Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 get big update with new emojis, improved taskbar and more

This month’s non-security update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 is here under KB5077241, with build numbers 26200.7922 and 26100.7922. You will find there a long list of quality-of-logs improvements, bug fixes, and some new features.

Here is the changelog with everything that is rolling out gradually:

• [Emoji] New! The Emoji 16.0 release introduces a small, thoughtfully curated set of new emojis, one from each major category. These new emojis now appear in the emoji panel.
• [Backup & Restore] New! The first sign-in restore experience is now part of Windows Backup for Organizations, bringing this restore capability to more device types. This experience restores user settings and Microsoft Store apps automatically at first sign-in on Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices, Cloud PCs, and multi‑user environments. This capability helps create a consistent setup process during device refreshes, upgrades, or migrations.
• [Quick Machine Recovery] New! Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) now turns on automatically for Windows Professional devices that are not domain‑joined and not enrolled in enterprise endpoint management. These devices receive the same recovery features available to Windows Home users. For domain‑joined or enterprise-managed devices, QMR stays off unless it is enabled by the organization.
• [Taskbar & System Tray]
  • New! A built‑in network speed test is now available from the taskbar. Open it from the Wi‑Fi or Cellular Quick Settings, or by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray. The speed test opens in the default browser and measures Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, and Cellular connections. This feature helps check network performance and troubleshoot issues.
  • Improved: When your taskbar is set to uncombined, if you have an app open with many windows, they will no longer all move as a set to the overflow area when there is not enough space on the taskbar, and instead only the ones specifically within the set that don’t have space. With this change, the overflow area should no longer appear to display with lots of available space.
• [Accounts] New! A new entry point in the account menu on the Start menu now directs you to the benefits page (https://account.microsoft.com/). This update makes it easier to explore and manage the benefits associated with your Microsoft account.
• [Camera Settings] New! You can now control pan and tilt for supported cameras in the Settings app. The controls appear under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras, in the “Basic settings” section for your selected camera.
• [Built-in Sysmon] New! Windows now brings Sysmon functionality natively to Windows. Sysmon functionality allows you to capture system events that can help with threat detection, and you can use custom configuration files to filter the events you want to monitor. The captured events are written on the Windows event log, enabling them to be used with security applications and a wide range of use cases.
  • Built-in Sysmon is disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled. Go to Settings > System > Optional features > More Windows features > checking Sysmon or in PowerShell or command prompt:
  • Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Sysmon
  • To complete the installation, from PowerShell or the command prompt, run: sysmon -i
  • Note: If you’ve already installed Sysmon from the website, it must be uninstalled before enabling the built-in Sysmon.
• [Widgets] New! Widget Settings now opens as a full‑page experience in the Widgets app instead of opening in a dialog.
• [Desktop Background] New! You can now set .webp image files as your desktop background in Settings > Personalization > Background, as well as when right-clicking the image in File Explorer.
• [Search] Improved: Updated icon for the search process in Task Manager to now show a magnifying glass.

• New! Group headers now show the number of results, so you can quickly see when more results are available. Select a group header to see all results for that group and hide results from other groups.

• New! You can preview search results by hovering over a result and selecting Previewto see the content without opening it.

• [Storage Settings]
  • Improved: Updated some of the dialogs in Storage Settings to have a more modern design.
  • Improved the performance of scanning for temporary files.

• [Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT)] New! This update adds support for Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) on Windows 11 Arm64 devices. IT administrators can now install and use tools such as Active Directory Domain Services and Lightweight Directory Services Tools, Active Directory Certificate Services Tools, Server Manager, Group Policy Management Tools, DNS Server Tools, and DHCP Server Tools. These tools are available as optional features and can be installed through Settings > System > Optional Features or from Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.

• [Windows Update Settings] Improves the responsiveness of the settings page.
• [Login and lock screens] Improves the login screen reliability.
• [Nearby Sharing] Improves the reliability of sending larger files.
• [Projecting] Improves the reliability of displaying the project pane after pressing the Windows key plus P.
• [Printing] Improves the Windows print service (spoolsv.exe) to ensure smoother performance and prevent slowdowns during high‑volume printing.
• [File Explorer]
  • Improved: Added the extract all option to the File Explorer command bar when browsing non-ZIP archive folders.
  • Fixed: Holding Shift and clicking the File Explorer in the taskbar, or middle clicking, might open the current instance of File Explorer rather than another instance.
  • Improved reliability of displaying devices on the Network page of File Explorer.
• [Display]
  • Improved: Made display-related performance improvements to help reduce PC resume-from-sleep time on heavily loaded systems and other scenarios.
  • Improved: For laptops used with a docking station while the lid is closed, improved reliability of resuming from sleep when connecting to AC power, without needing to open the laptop lid.
• [Other] Addressed a few small visual issues, including when the taskbar was set to autohide, with the Windows Security pop-up credentials fields, and with the print dialog.

And here is what is rolling out to all right here and right now:

• [Secure Boot] With this update, Windows quality updates include additional high confidence device targeting data, increasing coverage of devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates. Devices receive the new certificates only after demonstrating sufficient successful update signals, maintaining a controlled and phased rollout.
• [BitLocker] Improved: This update improves BitLocker reliability. Your device no longer stops responding after you enter your recovery key.

You can download the update in Settings > Windows Update or from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Keep in mind that the update is optional and you can skip it if you want.