Windows 11 KB5040442 update released with 31 fixes, changes

Microsoft is rolling out the KB5040442 cumulative update for Windows 11 23H2, which includes up to thirty-one improvements and changes. The changes include a new feature that adds back the "Show Desktop" button, which Copilot replaced.

This update was released as part of Microsoft's July 2024 Patch Tuesday and is mandatory to install as it contains security updates for a variety of vulnerabilities.

You can go to Start > Settings > Windows Update and click  'Check for Updates' to download the update.

This update can also be downloaded directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

If you don't manually install the updates, Windows will automatically download and schedule them to be installed when you're not actively using the PC.

What's new in the Windows 11 KB5040442 update

Installing the KB5040442 update will change the Windows 11 version 22H2 build number to 22621.3880 and the Windows 11 version 23H2 to 22631.3880.

This months' update comes with many improvements, with some of the highlighted ones below:

• New! This update adds a new Game Pass recommendation card on the Settings home page. This home page shows on Home and Pro editions when you sign in to Windows using your Microsoft account. The card appears if you actively play games on your PC.

• New! The show desktop button is on the taskbar again by default. To change this, right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings. At the lower part of the page, you will find Taskbar behaviors. 

• New! This update affects File Explorer. You can now create 7-Zip and Tape Archive (TAR) files using the context menu. When you right-click a file, a Compress to item gives you ways to compress a file using tools like gzip, bzip2, and more. There is also a new compression wizard in Additional options. It will help you choose more formats and add details. You can use different types of compression to add many files to archives in other TAR formats. You can also change the compression level and choose the types of data to store in each archive.

• New! This update adds support for Emoji 15.1. Windows supports Unicode symbol-like shapes for family groupings. But Windows will keep using people for them. Also, you can choose the right or left facing direction for some people emoji. The new emoji are:

  • Horizontal and vertical head shake

  • Phoenix

  • Lime

  • Brown mushroom

  • Broken chain

• New! You can now copy files from the Windows Share window. Just click the new Copy button.

• New! This update starts the rollout of the new account manager on the Start menu. When you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you will get a glance at your account benefits. This feature also makes it easy to manage your account settings.

• New! This update makes it easier to see when you have selected files or folders in File Explorer. Because of this change, a thin, black border now appears around the item you have selected.

• New!  We are advancing the Copilot experience on Windows. The Copilot app is now pinned to the taskbar and behaves like an app. This gives you the benefits of a typical app experience. For example, you can resize, move, and snap the window. For existing Windows 11 PCs, the timing of availability and delivery method will vary. This might not be available to all users because it will roll out gradually. 

  Important This feature only applies to new Windows 11 PCs and new Copilot+ PCs that ship to the European Economic Area (EEA) and other markets where Copilot is available.

• New! This update improves the Virtual Filtering Platform (VFP) within Windows nodes. Now, VFP has more support for packet drop collection. This will make it easier to troubleshoot issues.

• This update affects the sort order of processes in Task Manager. Performance is better when you change the order.

• This update changes the units for DDR speed from MHz to MT/s.

• New!  You can now use OneDrive as a RemoteApp in Azure Virtual Desktop.

• This update addresses an issue that affects GPUs. They do not enter the idle state that stops them from consuming power.

Please note that some of these features are being gradually rolled out.

As for known issues, Microsoft says it's aware of two known issues with this release.

The first affects enterprise users who may have problems upgrading from Windows Pro to a valid Windows Enterprise subscription.

Microsoft also warns that you might not be able to view or interact with the Windows 11 taskbar after installing this update on the Windows N edition. The issue also occurs if you turn off "Media Features" from the Control Panel.

You can find the full changelog on Microsoft's support website.