February 2025 Windows 11 Updates: What's New

Microsoft
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Microsoft has rolled out the February 2025 Patch Tuesday updates for supported Windows 11 and Windows 10 versions. Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 23H2 receive similar enhancements, including improved taskbar app previews, a new Windows Studio Effects icon in the system tray, and more.

Windows 11 version 24H2 receives update KB5051987, while version 23H2 gets update KB5051989. These updates include several notable improvements.

Updates and New Features

Here’s a breakdown of the key changes included in the February 2025 Patch Tuesday updates:

  • Taskbar App Previews: Improved previews and animations now appear when hovering the cursor over taskbar apps.

  • Windows Studio Effects: PCs with a neural processing unit will display a new icon in the system tray when using apps that support Windows Studio Effects. Clicking the icon opens the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings; hovering shows the app using the camera.

  • File Explorer Improvements: The “New Folder” command is now in the context menu when right-clicking items in the left pane.

  • Mouse Performance Improvements: Fixes address issues causing the mouse cursor to disappear, stutter, or become transparent.

  • Time Zone Settings: Users can change time zones in Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time without needing administrator privileges.

  • OneDrive Continuity (23H2 only): Windows 11 now prompts users to resume work on OneDrive files recently accessed on their phones. To enable these cross-device resume notifications, sign into OneDrive and your PC with the same Microsoft account. Note that work and school accounts are not currently supported.

  • Windows Share (23H2 only): Users can share directly to apps supporting Windows sharing by right-clicking local files in File Explorer or on the desktop.

  • Magnifier App: A new CTRL+ALT+Minus sign keyboard shortcut quickly switches between the current zoom and 1X zoom. New buttons to reset zoom have been added.

For Windows 10 version 22H2 users, update KB5051974 automatically installs the new Outlook for Windows client, replacing the deprecated Windows Mail and Calendar apps. A new app icon appears in the Apps section of the Start menu, near the classic Outlook app if installed.

Using Windows Update

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Click on Windows Update in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Click the Check for updates button.

Step 4: If updates are found, they will download and install automatically. You may be prompted to restart your computer to complete the installation.

Downloading from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Step 1: Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Step 2: In the search box, enter the KB number for the update you want to install (e.g., KB5051987).

Step 3: Locate the correct update for your system architecture (e.g., x64, ARM64).

Step 4: Click the Download button next to the appropriate update.

Step 5: In the pop-up window, click the .msu file link to start the download.

Step 6: Once the download is complete, double-click the .msu file to run the installer.

Step 7: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.

Step 8: Restart your computer when prompted to complete the installation.

These updates ensure that users have the latest features and security improvements. Keeping your system up to date is crucial for a secure and efficient computing experience.