Windows 11 Weekly Roundup: KB5124010 Game Crashes, 24H2 Final Preview and New Surface PCs

This roundup covers what shipped, what's confirmed, what's only reported so far, and what Windows users and IT admins should do about each item.

KB5124010: the last preview update for 24H2​

Microsoft released KB5124010 on September 22 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Once installed, this optional non-security update will upgrade Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 devices to builds 26200.9550 and 26100.9550, respectively.

The update also marks a lifecycle milestone. The September 2026 non-security preview update KB5124010 is the final preview update for Windows 11, version 24H2. Supported editions of version 24H2 will continue to receive monthly security updates in accordance with their servicing lifecycle. The dates matter: Home and Pro editions reach end of updates on October 13, 2026, while Enterprise and Education editions remain supported until October 12, 2027. If you run 24H2 Home or Pro, you have about two and a half weeks to plan your move to 25H2.

What's new​

According to Microsoft's release notes, the main additions are:

• Copilot key remapping. Users can also remap the Copilot key on their Windows devices via a new Windows 11 setting to function as the Right Ctrl or Context Menu key. This matters to people who lost a real Right Ctrl key when Copilot keys arrived, and to accessibility workflows built around that key.
• Emoji 17.0. The new set includes a distorted face, a fight cloud and a hairy creature. Press Windows + . to open the emoji panel.
• Touchpad controls. Precision touchpads get single-finger edge scrolling and automatic scrolling under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
• File Explorer preview changes. For HTML files, a new Preview anyway button lets you acknowledge the warning and preview the file. Non-HTML files, such as PDFs, are now previewed automatically. This eases the preview restriction on files downloaded from the internet that frustrated many users last year.
• Windows Recovery improvements. WinRE can reuse eligible saved Wi-Fi profiles during recovery, while Microsoft is also adding remote management support for MDM providers.
• Other additions. There's a new Tips widget, an "Open apps maximized" accessibility setting, a refreshed Magnifier toolbar and many Bluetooth reliability fixes, including a fix for a 0x139 crash while streaming Bluetooth audio.

One feature is going away. The KB5124010 update also discontinues the "PC-to-PC Migration" experience with Windows Backup. Microsoft now recommends Windows Backup for moving files and settings to a new PC.

Installing the update doesn't guarantee you'll see every feature right away. Several headline features are subject to Microsoft's gradual rollout, so they may not appear immediately after installation.

Known issues admins should check​

The feature list isn't the main concern for enterprise admins. Microsoft lists two known issues that began with the September 8 security update and carry into this preview:

• Domain trust failures on Credential Guard machines. It can break the domain trust relationship on Credential Guard–protected machines, locking out interactive domain sign-ins in environments below Windows Server 2025's Domain Functional Level. Microsoft says the updates now honor existing Machine Identity Isolation enforcement settings, and that feature is only supported with domain controllers at Windows Server 2025 DFL or higher. The workaround is to turn off Machine Identity Isolation using whatever method enabled it (Intune, Group Policy or the registry), restart, and then repair the secure channel with Test-ComputerSecureChannel -Repair -Credential (Get-Credential). Microsoft plans to temporarily block enforcement in a future update.
• USB Audio Class 1.0 failures. A second issue leaves some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices throwing Error Code 10, and both will carry into the October 13 Patch Tuesday build. Microsoft hasn't published a workaround yet.

How to install it​

Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates and select the update from the list. It won't install itself unless you've turned on the "get the latest updates as soon as they're available" switch. The update is also available through the Microsoft Update Catalog for users who need to install it manually. If you install it from the Catalog, Microsoft's notes say the Arm64 package needs a checkpoint cumulative update (KB5043080) installed first. DISM finds and installs it for you if both files are in the same folder.

Reported problem: games crashing after KB5124010​

Neowin reports that players of Battlefield 6, Battlefield 2042 and Wardogs have seen crashes shortly after launch on systems with KB5124010 installed. Anti-cheat compatibility is the suspected cause. Microsoft hasn't acknowledged the issue, and it isn't in the update's known-issues list. Several affected users say uninstalling KB5124010 fixed the problem.

A few points to keep in mind:

• This is a set of user reports, not a confirmed bug. Nobody has established how widespread it is or which hardware and software combinations are affected.
• Uninstalling the update is a workaround reported by users. It isn't a fix from Microsoft or the game developers.
• Removing the update is low-risk because it's a non-security release. Its changes will arrive with the October 13 Patch Tuesday update anyway. The real question is whether this compatibility problem is fixed by then.

If you play competitive shooters and haven't installed KB5124010, the simplest option is to wait. If you already installed it and your games crash, go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates to remove it.

KB5124006 for Windows 11 26H1​

Windows 11 26H1, the version tied to newer Arm-based hardware, got its own preview on the same day: KB5124006, build 28000.3086. KB5124006 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview build 28000.3086 (26H1) - Sept. 22 is how Windows community trackers list it.

Many of these interface changes reached other Windows 11 versions earlier. Microsoft's notes list:

• Taskbar position and size. You can move the taskbar to the top, left or right of the screen, and there's a new Small size under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. The search box and small taskbar only work in the top and bottom positions.
• Start menu options. You can choose a small or large Start menu. "Recommended" is renamed "Recent," you can hide your name and profile picture, and Pinned, Recent and All each get their own toggle.
• Windows Search. The search home screen is simpler, results show more clearly where they come from, and a new toggle under Settings > Privacy & Security > Search controls whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear.
• File Explorer. File Explorer Home opens faster.

The 26H1 notes also include several items for admins:

• Administrator protection starts rolling out. It gives admins just-in-time elevation and is turned off by default. You can enable it through OMA-URI in Intune or through Group Policy.
• WMIC is gone. It's no longer available as a Feature on Demand on 26H1. WMI itself is still supported. Any old scripts that call wmic.exe should move to PowerShell's CIM cmdlets.
• Windows Autopilot device preparation device association is now generally available.
• ML-KEM post-quantum key exchange can now be used on its own for TLS, in addition to the hybrid groups added earlier.

26H1 is also affected by the same domain-trust and USB Audio Class 1.0 known issues.

Insider builds​

Neowin reports three Insider builds this week:

• Experimental build 26340.9577, with Start menu and Narrator improvements
• Beta build 28020.3112, with more mouse pointer customization options
• Experimental build 28120.3122 for 26H1, with internal polish and no new features

We couldn't find Microsoft's release notes for these specific builds, so treat the details above as Neowin's summary until the official notes appear.

New Surface hardware: cheaper Snapdragon X2 Plus models​

On September 23, Microsoft announced a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface Laptop, both using the six-core Snapdragon X2 Plus, plus a Surface Mouse with built-in haptic feedback. Microsoft calls them a generational update to its existing lightweight designs. It claims up to 18% better battery efficiency, more than 60% faster graphics and 95% faster on-device AI. These are Microsoft's own comparisons, based on its test conditions, and should be treated that way until independent reviews are out.

Neowin describes the new machines as cheaper alternatives to the Surface models introduced in June, with similar specs for a few hundred dollars less. We haven't confirmed exact prices or matching configurations. If you're comparing models, check the full spec sheet. The "X2 Plus" name means a lower tier than the chips in Microsoft's more expensive models.

Copilot for work gets Home, Code and Autopilot​

On September 25, Microsoft announced a redesigned Copilot for work built around three areas:

None of this is generally available yet. Microsoft says Home and Code will start rolling out to its Frontier program in the coming weeks, and Autopilot moves to private preview at the end of September. For IT admins, the most useful detail is that Microsoft describes Autopilot as running under tenant identity, permissions, auditing and governance controls, with central approval of plugins. Those controls will get close scrutiny from anyone who has to approve an agent that works unattended. Neowin also reports that Microsoft is testing changes in Excel, but it gave few details.

Xbox restructures again and cuts 268 jobs​

In an employee message published September 22, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty announced that 268 roles were being cut across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and Xbox Game Studios management and central teams. He said this brings the previously announced restructuring about three-quarters of the way to completion.

The biggest changes:

• Activision takes over Rare and World's Edge. It will also develop the next major Halo game with a new team that's separate from Call of Duty.
• Halo Studios shrinks to a smaller group that supports existing Halo games and the community.
• King takes on Microsoft Casual Games.

Neowin also reports that Obsidian is moving under Bethesda and that Playground Games and Turn 10 are merging into one studio. Bethesda has said Obsidian will keep its leadership, creative identity and current roadmaps. Separately, Undead Labs is leaving Xbox to become independent. According to Neowin, State of Decay 3 is in alpha, a closed beta is planned for later this year, and the game is still expected to launch on Game Pass on day one.

Other news this week​

• ARC Raiders gets its biggest update yet, Frozen Trail, on October 8. It adds a new region, new enemies, customizable Outposts and a paid Premium Pass. A dedicated PvE matchmaking test runs October 13–20, but Embark hasn't promised the mode will stay.
• Bungie will bring back selected removed Destiny 2 campaigns, destinations and raids in remastered form. It also admitted Marathon hasn't reached as many players as it expected.
• Nvidia released GeForce Game Ready driver 617.14, according to Neowin, and says GeForce NOW is coming natively to Google's new laptops this fall.

What to do now​

• 24H2 Home and Pro users: Plan your upgrade to 25H2 before October 13.
• Gamers: Hold off on KB5124010 if you play Battlefield or other titles that use anti-cheat, at least until the crash reports are explained.
• Domain admins: Check for Machine Identity Isolation enforcement on Credential Guard devices before the October Patch Tuesday update deploys it widely.
• 26H1 fleets: Find any scripts that still depend on WMIC.

The October 13 Patch Tuesday release will fold in most of these changes, and possibly the reported game-crash problem too if it isn't fixed first.

Update: Microsoft confirms KB5124010 crash issue tied to AC-3 audio (October 5, 2026)​

Microsoft has now confirmed the KB5124010 crashes. Its Windows release health dashboard says some games and applications using Windows’ built-in AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio decoding may fail to launch, close unexpectedly, or crash when audio-related features such as music playback are used.

That narrows the earlier anti-cheat theory: the issue is an audio-decoding compatibility problem, not a confirmed Battlefield-specific fault. Microsoft says affected software can include games, media players and some productivity apps, while many modern applications are unaffected because they use their own audio components.

Microsoft is working on a fix but has not provided a delivery date. Until then, users affected by crashes can uninstall this optional preview update; organizations should avoid broader KB5124010 deployment where legacy applications depend on Windows AC-3 decoding.