Windows 11 KB5053656 update released with 38 changes and fixes

March 28, 2025

Windows 11

Microsoft has released the KB5053656 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 with 38 changes, including real-time translation on AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs and fixes for authentication and blue-screen issues.

The KB5053656 update is part of the company's "optional non-security preview updates" schedule, which pushes updates at the end of each month to let Windows admins test bug fixes, improvements, and features that will roll out during next month's Patch Tuesday release.

However, unlike regular Patch Tuesday cumulative updates, monthly non-security preview updates do not include security updates.

On Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel CPUs, KB5053656 adds live captions and real-time translation with support for translating more than 44 languages into English.

This preview update also fixes an issue that can trigger a PDC_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT bug check (blue screen) when resuming from sleep and several bugs causing Kerberos and FIDO Cached Credential authentication to stop responding in some scenarios.

You can install it by opening Settings, clicking on Windows Update, and then on 'Check for Updates.' Because this is an optional update, you will be asked if you want to install it by clicking the 'Download and install' link.

You can also manually download and install the KB5053656 preview update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Windows 11 KB5053656 highlights

Once installed, this optional cumulative release will update Windows 11 24H2 systems to build 26100.3624.

The March 2025 preview update comes with additional fixes and improvements, some of the more significant ones highlighted below:

New! Finding your documents, photos, and settings across Windows 11 is easier on Copilot+ PCs with improved Windows Search, powered by semantic indexing models and traditional lexical indexing.
[Application installation] Fixed: The MsiCloseHandle API experiences prolonged execution time when handling MSI files containing many files.
[Boot menu] Fixed: If an update stops responding and rolls back, it might result in an unnecessary and non-functional boot menu entry. This fix stops devices from encountering this issue in the future. If you have already experienced this issue, you can manage extra boot entries in the Boot section of System Configuration (msconfig).
The Location History feature, an API that Cortana used to access 24 hours of device history when location was enabled, is being removed. With the removal of the Location History feature, location data will no longer be saved locally. The corresponding settings are also removed from the Settings > Privacy & security > Location page.

Microsoft is aware of two known issues with KB5053656, one causing some Citrix components to block the January 2025 Windows security update from installing (a temporary workaround is available on this Citrix documentation page).

The second affects Roblox players on Windows Arm devices and prevents them from downloading the game from the Microsoft Store (as a workaround, they can download Roblox directly from www.roblox.com).

Windows 11 24H2 is now in broad deployment and is available to all seekers via Windows Update, with Redmond now rolling out the Windows 11 2024 Update to all eligible Windows 10 22H2 PCs.

In mid-January, Microsoft also started force-upgrading all eligible, non-managed systems running the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 22H2/23H2 to Windows 11 24H2.