🧠Windows 11 KB5062553 (Build 26100.4652): Deep Dive into July 2025’s Feature-Rich Update
The July 2025 cumulative update for Windows 11 version 24H2 isn’t just a routine patch—it’s a substantial evolution of the OS, blending performance boosts, accessibility upgrades, AI integration, and long-awaited quality-of-life improvements. Let’s unpack the update layer by layer.
đź§© Feature Enhancements
1. Smaller Taskbar Icons with Smart Scaling
New setting under Taskbar behaviors: “Show smaller taskbar buttons.”
Options: “Always,” “Never,” or “When taskbar is full” (default).
Icons shrink to fit more apps, but the taskbar height remains unchanged.
Visual indicator pills below icons are now wider and more visible.
2. Narrator’s Screen Curtain
Privacy-focused feature blacks out the screen while Narrator reads aloud.
Shortcut:
Caps Lock + Ctrl + C
toggles curtain on/off.Ideal for public spaces or shared environments.
Narrator also introduces guided prompts to help users discover new features.
3. Click to Do + Microsoft 365 Copilot (Copilot+ PCs only)
Right-click text or images to send directly to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Works across apps and surfaces, including images and documents.
Requires a Microsoft 365 license and Copilot+ hardware (40+ TOPS AI PCs).
4. Faster Archive Extraction in File Explorer
Performance boost of 10–15% for extracting
.7z
and.rar
archives.Most noticeable when handling thousands of small files.
ZIP files already optimized, so no major change there.
5. PC-to-PC Migration Preview
New Windows Backup interface shows pairing and landing pages.
Transfers files/settings locally over network—no cloud required.
Currently a placeholder; full functionality expected in future updates.
🛠️ Fixes & Stability Improvements
Gaming
Alt+Tab no longer causes resolution glitches or app freezes during fullscreen gameplay.
Firewall
Eliminates false Event Viewer logs (“Config Read Failed”) from June’s update.
Search
Windows Search loads faster; delay before usability reduced.
Printing
Printed lines now appear with correct thickness.
Display
Reduced screen flashes during GPU setting changes; fixed green tint bug.
Windowing
Resolved issues with window resizing after sleep; File Explorer no longer crashes when dragging windows.
Quick Settings
Top-row buttons now reliably respond to toggles.
Voice Access
Supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese; users can now add custom words to the dictionary.
🌍 Regional & Accessibility Updates
EEA Browser Defaults: In Europe, users can now set their preferred browser for more file types, including
.pdf
, with one click.Accessibility Menu: Quick Settings now includes descriptive labels for assistive tech like Narrator and Voice Access.
Color Filters: Sliders repositioned to keep previews visible while adjusting.
📦 Update Details
Update Name: KB5062553
Build Version: 26100.4652
Size: ~3GB (includes bundled AI models)
Availability: Automatic via Windows Update or manual via Microsoft Update Catalog
This update is a strategic leap forward, especially for users embracing AI workflows, accessibility tools, and multitasking. If you’re curious about how to enable or test any of these features, I can walk you through it. Want to try the new taskbar scaling or explore Narrator’s curtain mode?