Windows 11 Gets Its First-Cumulative Update of 2026 What the Patch KB5074109 Is
Microsoft has released the first cumulative update of 2026, KB5074109 on Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. This patch introduces many features and system changes including enhanced integration with Copilot along with some gaming improvements.
Highlights of KB5074109
This update brings change across the operating system-from the taskbar through to File Explorer and the deep settings that run them.
Copilot Screenshot Integration
On eligible PCs, hovering an application icon in the taskbar will pop up a button that allows users to quickly send a screenshot of that application's window to Copilot for review or discussion. This is an optional feature that can be switched off in system settings.
Gaming and Interface Improvements
- Fullscreen Experience Game Mode: A new game mode that sports an interface design based on the Xbox home screen. This mode was previously limited to ASUS ROG Ally and also optimizes background processes for better gaming performance.
- Unified Dark UI: The update aims to fix dark UI inconsistencies and gives design uniformity across the operating system.
- Stuttering Fix: The fix is intended for stuttering issues that may occur when launching games on high-resolution monitors.
File Explorer & System Management
- New Recommendations Section: The Home tab in File Explorer gets a new Recommendations section. This section organizes files, folders, and shortcuts based on how frequently they are used rather than by date. To use this feature, users must be signed in with a Microsoft account.
- Advanced Options Menu: A new Advanced Options section has been added to the Settings app as a centralized location for managing sandboxes and Hyper-V.
Installation of the Update
The KB5074109 patch has been released and is ready for download and installation via Windows Update Center.
