Good news! Windows 11 users, particularly those operating on versions 22H2 and 23H2, now have access to a significant C-Update: KB5046732. Let me pull back the curtain for a moment—this update isn't just a bland, routine download you're likely to forget about the moment after installation. It’s packed with enhancements, refinements, and a few intriguing new features that might be the boost your Windows experience has been craving. Let's unpack it all.
While it skips the critical security patches expected in B-Updates (Patch Tuesday releases), this update isn’t short on improvements to your overall Windows experience.
This subtle but mighty change is a win for the IT pros out there safeguarding entire workforces on Windows. Translation: If your workplace thrives on enterprise-level security, go shake the hands of whoever at Microsoft thought this through.
Interested in skipping the early rollout drama but still crave patched stability? Hold off for January's batch-only rollout.
Think of it like finally upgrading from yesteryear’s flip phone to today’s sleeker smartphones. If that analogy wasn’t apt—it might just be how your system tray date/time will now feel.
Are you keen to test-drive it or happy to wait out the chatter from early adopters? Got any favorites from this massive new slate of changes? Let us know! Your fellow Windows enthusiasts probably have some killer tricks bubbling from this update too!
Source: Neowin Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 get KB5046732 with File Explorer, Start menu improvements, and more
What's a C-Update Anyway?
For those less familiar, "C-Updates" are Microsoft’s monthly optional non-security updates released in the third or fourth week (hence the "C" moniker). These serve as previews of changes scheduled to roll out broadly during the following month's Patch Tuesday. They're not mandatory, meaning you can snooze on this one if you’re wary of optional updates—though, honestly, you’d be missing out.While it skips the critical security patches expected in B-Updates (Patch Tuesday releases), this update isn’t short on improvements to your overall Windows experience.
Key Highlights of KB5046732
1. File Explorer
- Send Content Directly to Android: Excited about seamless cross-device functionality? Well, File Explorer now allows you to share content with Android devices, straight through context menus. Want a slice of this feature? Your PC must be hooked up to the Phone Link app.
- UI Tweaks: Some annoying kinks in the UI received fixes. For example, the search box layout in smaller windows was awkwardly cut off—no more! Also, spacing in the left navigation pane is adjusted to bring balance to visual elements.
2. Start Menu Overhaul
- Jump Lists are Back: Ever pinned an app to the Start menu and wondered why you can’t quickly access common actions? Now you can! Right-clicking pinned apps pulls up Jump Lists for quicker access.
3. Taskbar & System Tray
- Simplified Date/Time Options: The system tray now has a shorter format for date and time. Need the full version back? It’s just a toggle away in Settings. Mischievous notification bell not appearing? That’s likely due to Do Not Disturb settings, but you can fix that within mere clicks.
- Focus on Hidden Icons: Automatically hiding the taskbar caused the search box to shrink into an icon, which was visually inconsistent—fixed!
4. Improved Input Method Editor (IME)
- If you work in Chinese or Japanese characters, immersive full-screen moments have been frustrating with the IME toolbar hanging around—a pesky immersion breaker. Now, this nifty update lets the toolbar stay hidden during full-screen mode if you’re actively typing.
5. Dynamic Touchscreen Controls
- Hate accidental edge swipes when using a touchscreen laptop? A new Touchscreen Edge Gesture toggle settings menu lets you disable left or right edge gestures. It’s about time!
6. The Mouse Gets Smart (Finally!)
- Precision jumping all over your screen? A new option now allows users to turn off "enhanced mouse pointer precision." Plus, you can tweak your mouse's scroll direction in settings—a welcome touch for those personal preference warriors.
7. Glances at Dynamic Lighting
- Got RGB accessories hooked up for that sweet gamer aesthetic? Dynamic Lighting gains user-centered updates. The control toggles now display placeholder text when a compatible peripheral is disconnected, nixing confusion.
The Impressive Underdogs
- Internet Printers: Annoyed when your printer or IPP USB device froze? Fixed.
- Bluetooth: Devices like hearing aids now properly perform with Bluetooth LE audio streaming. For real, though—this took longer than we’d like to admit.
- Task Manager on Trend: Dark Mode feeds makeovers to Disconnect and Logoff dialogs. Also, disk types now show in the Performance section (cue: SSD v. HDD nerd wars).
New Security? Nope. But Better Protection Anyway!
While KB5046732 isn’t flaunting shiny new security patches, it packs a serious security feature: IFilters in Less Privileged App Containers (LPAC). Windows Search now isolates IFilters in LPACs, which are hyper-restrictive runtimes. These containers are the Fort Knox of code execution spaces—keeping risky compromises of system components at bay.This subtle but mighty change is a win for the IT pros out there safeguarding entire workforces on Windows. Translation: If your workplace thrives on enterprise-level security, go shake the hands of whoever at Microsoft thought this through.
Gradual Rollout vs. Normal Rollout Explained
Some features are heading to your PC's proverbial doorstep immediately. Microsoft calls them "Normal Rollout" updates. Others, tagged under "Gradual Rollout," are more exclusive initially, trickling out to systems over time as testing feedback emerges. (So if a friend posts about how cool the Forward-effect lighting waves are, try not to feel the FOMO—it's probably coming soon.)Examples:
- Gradual Rollout: The IME toolbar hiding decisions.
- Normal Rollout: Bluetooth LE Updates or Jump List Admin Shortcuts (Hold Shift + CTRL for pro-level vibes).
How to Get KB5046732
Eager to tinker with these updates? Here’s your cheat sheet to installation:- Head to Windows Update Settings:
- For versions 22H2 and 23H2, the update’s build numbers are 22621.4541 or 22631.4541.
- Prefer Manual Downloads?
- Seek the update via the Microsoft Update Catalog. But beware: manual instals are for the more tech-savvy or control-hungry Windows lovers.
Hold Up—Do You Even Need to Install It?
Optional updates are exactly that—optional. If your current setup is humming along smoothly or downtime installations irritate you, you can skip this update until January. Just remember there won’t be non-security updates in December due to Microsoft's holiday "minimal operations."Interested in skipping the early rollout drama but still crave patched stability? Hold off for January's batch-only rollout.
Closing Thoughts: A Carefully-Calibrated Step Forward
KB5046732 mixes quality-of-life sparkle with enterprise-centric robustness. These updates tailor-fit modern Windows work and play: your Dynamic Lighting setup now feels purposeful, Bluetooth audio streaming’s rough quirks vanish, and Taskbar tweaks inject both usability and clarity.Think of it like finally upgrading from yesteryear’s flip phone to today’s sleeker smartphones. If that analogy wasn’t apt—it might just be how your system tray date/time will now feel.
Are you keen to test-drive it or happy to wait out the chatter from early adopters? Got any favorites from this massive new slate of changes? Let us know! Your fellow Windows enthusiasts probably have some killer tricks bubbling from this update too!
Source: Neowin Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 get KB5046732 with File Explorer, Start menu improvements, and more
