The latest Windows 11 update, KB5039302, brings a slew of enhancements and fixes that aim to refine user experience and functionality. Among the most notable changes, the show desktop button makes a return to the taskbar by default, providing users with a quick way to minimize all open windows. This feature can be customized through the Taskbar settings, allowing for a more personalized desktop environment.
Taskbar Improvements and File Explorer Enhancements
In addition to the taskbar improvements, File Explorer now supports the creation of 7-Zip and TAR files directly from the right-click context menu. This new capability introduces a range of compression tools, enabling users to compress files using formats like gzip and bzip2. A new compression wizard in the Additional options menu further assists users in selecting formats and adjusting compression levels, making it easier to manage large archives.
The update also addresses several issues that have been affecting users:
- Snipping Tool: Fixes audio distortions when recording videos on certain PCs.
- Touch Keyboard: Resolves an issue preventing the entry of special characters when using the Japanese 106 keyboard.
- USB Devices: Fixes a problem where ejecting USB devices using the Safely Remove Hardware option fails if Task Manager is open.
New Features and Enhancements
The update introduces several new features aimed at enhancing user experience:
- Game Pass Recommendation Card: A new card on the Settings home page for Home and Pro editions, visible when signed in with a Microsoft account. It provides game recommendations based on your gaming activity.
- Emoji 15.1 Support: Adds support for new Unicode symbol-like shapes for family groupings, with options to choose right or left-facing directions for some people emoji.
- File Copying: A new Copy button in the Windows Share window simplifies file copying.
- Account Manager Rollout: Begins the rollout of a new account manager on the Start menu, offering a glance at account benefits and easier management of account settings when signed in with a Microsoft account.
While these updates bring significant improvements, not all features are available to everyone immediately. For instance, enhancements to Task Manager are currently accessible only to select users but will be rolled out more broadly in the coming days.
Microsoft has acknowledged a known issue affecting enterprise users upgrading from Windows Pro to Windows Enterprise subscriptions. This bug may cause OS upgrade operations to fail, displaying an 'Access denied error (error code 0x80070005)' in the LicenseAcquisition scheduled task. The company is actively working on a fix, which will be released via a future Windows update.
For those interested in exploring all the changes and improvements, the complete changelog is available in the KB5039302 support bulletin.
