Microsoft has released the optional KB5044384 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, which includes twenty-four changes, including a bug that caused the sfc /scannow command to always display corrupt file errors.
The October 2024 non-security preview update is designed for power users and IT admins to test upcoming changes to the operating system before next month's November Patch Tuesday.
You can install the KB5044384 Windows 11 update by going into Settings > Windows Update and clicking on 'Check for Updates." Since this is an optional update, you must install it by clicking the 'Download and install' link.
You can also manually download and install this non-security preview update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Windows 11 KB5044384 highlights
The KB5044384 preview update includes a total of twenty-four fixes and improvements and will update Windows 11 24H2 to build 26100.2161.
This month's non-security preview update comes with the following highlighted changes:
Gradual rollout
These might not be available to all users because they will roll out gradually.?????
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[Notifications] New! You can now stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipses (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there. Look for “Notification Suggestions” in the senders list. An entry will only appear in the list after you receive a notification.
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[Wi-Fi password dialog] New! The dialog now has the Windows 11 visual design. Go to Settings > Network & internet.
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[Narrator]
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New! This update adds a new Narrator shortcut. Press the Narrator key + Ctrl + X to copy what Narrator last spoke to the clipboard. This shortcut is useful when you want to quickly copy some content, like codes or numbers for use.
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New! It will now auto read the contents of an email message in the new Outlook. This is like the behavior in Outlook classic.
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[Gamepad keyboard] New! This update starts the roll out of a new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard. With it, you can use your Xbox controller to move around the screen and type. Button accelerators are also available; these include the X button for backspace and the Y button for the spacebar. For better movement patterns, the keyboard keys are aligned vertically.
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[Start menu] New! “All apps” has the new name, “All.”
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[ALT + Tab] Fixed: The screen goes black on some PCs for a few seconds when you switch between certain windows.
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[Scanning apps] Fixed: They don't detect certain scanners although they are connected.
Normal rollout
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[Web sign-in] Fixed: You cannot sign in to your account from the web because the screen stops responding.
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[Copilot key settings] New! You can configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. On new devices, the key opens the Copilot app. If you sign in to your account using a Microsoft Entra ID, the key opens the M365 app. You can make the key open a different app or open Search. To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Text input. To make the key open a different app, the app must be in a signed MSIX package. This ensures that the app meets security and privacy standards to keep you safe. If your PC’s keyboard does not have a Copilot key, changing this setting will do nothing.
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[WindowsDisk Cleanup app] Fixed: This update addresses some of the causes for the wrong free space estimates and improves its accuracy.
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[sfc /scannow command] Fixed: You get errors every time you run the command.
This update has only one known issue impacting Windows 11 24H2, which is gamers on Arm devices cannot download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.
Windows 11 24H2 (The Windows 11 2024 Update), the latest Windows version, was released on October 1 after first being tested by Windows Insiders and installed on Copilot+ PCs.
The new version of Windows comes with many new features, but as with all new major releases, some software and hardware compatibility issues prevent it from installing on various devices.
The Windows Message Center says that there are currently conflicts with some Asus models, Easy anti-cheat drivers, the Voicemeeter app, various wallpaper customization software, fingerprint sensor drivers, and Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers.
For devices that are utilizing these incompatible drivers or software, Microsoft has placed a compatibility hold that will prevent the device from upgrading to Windows 11 24H2.