Windows 11 continues its steady evolution, and June 2025’s optional update—KB5060829, targeting version 24H2—demonstrates Microsoft’s dual focus on increased user customization and regulatory response. While not an automatic requirement for most users, this cumulative update preview, also known as Build 26100.4484, introduces several notable changes poised to shape both daily workflow and the broader Windows experience. For system administrators, Windows hobbyists, and ordinary users weighing when—or whether—to apply this update, a deep dive into new features, technical changes, file sizes, and compatibility is essential.
Among the more visible enhancements is improved support for taskbar scaling. For many, the ability to shrink taskbar icons has long been a top feature request—especially as display resolutions and window multitasking have made screen real estate increasingly valuable.
After applying KB5060829, users can access this feature via Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviours, where they’ll discover the new option, “Show smaller taskbar buttons.” Once enabled, icons contract in size, freeing more space for open app windows and, crucially, reducing the chance that frequently used icons collapse into the overlay menu (the so-called “arrow button menu”) that hinders navigation. The default behavior is subtle: icons auto-shrink only when the taskbar starts to fill, but there’s also a setting to force small icons permanently—or revert to previous behavior if desired.
This careful balancing act between legacy familiarity and modern flexibility is classic Microsoft, but it also comes with caveats. For one, altering icon size may impact accessibility for certain users, especially those with impaired vision or touch interaction needs. While Microsoft provides a simple “Never” toggle to restore the old overlay, system administrators will want to ensure company accessibility requirements are still satisfied before rolling out this update at scale.
On the technical side, the implementation circumvents legacy quirks seen in some third-party “classic taskbar” customizers, providing a cleaner, natively supported solution. Early testing by Windows enthusiasts confirms that the feature reduces visual clutter and, in multi-monitor setups, delivers a more consistent icon experience. However, some power users have flagged occasional graphical glitches, particularly when docking or undocking high-DPI displays—a wrinkle Microsoft says it is monitoring closely.
This surprising file size is not arbitrary. Microsoft bundles a raft of AI models and background files into the MSU package, even though their use may be restricted to newer “Copilot+ PCs” (more on this below). As a result, legacy and lower-spec devices still download unnecessary AI model data—potentially wasting bandwidth, storage, and increasing update time. For comparison, cumulative updates in the Windows 10 era often hovered below 700MB. This bloat raises legitimate concerns about Microsoft’s update strategy, with calls for more granular, modular distribution of non-essential components.
Direct download remains a core option for system integrators, organizations, or users who manage offline environments, providing full control over the patching process. Microsoft’s Update Catalog remains the official source for these .msu files, and users are strongly cautioned against third-party download links, which are a common vector for malware.
The update shifts the paradigm by making your chosen browser the de facto default not just for web links, but also for associated file types—such as PDFs—unless a user overrides this with explicit choices. Additionally, the browser designated as default is now auto-pinned to both the taskbar and Start menu. There is a toggle to opt out of this pinning, though Microsoft sets pinning as the default, a move designed to satisfy regulatory demands to reduce OS-level favoritism.
For European users, this new behaviour promises a more open ecosystem and easier browser switching. For IT managers in multinational companies, however, it introduces an extra policy management layer: deployment scripts and GPOs (Group Policy Objects) may need updating to ensure consistent app defaults, particularly if systems move between EU and non-EU regulatory regimes. For users outside the EU, the old defaults model remains in place—at least for now.
This context-aware workflow blurs the lines between AI assistant functionality and classic context menus. By integrating Copilot more tightly into the OS, Microsoft positions Windows 11 as both a work and creative platform. However, several constraints apply:
At present, the underlying functionality is not yet active (the update lays groundwork only), and Microsoft has confirmed it’s “coming soon”. For IT departments and support staff, however, this could herald a long-awaited return to the simplicity of Windows Easy Transfer, last seen in earlier Windows generations, but with updated security and wireless direct file transfer. The lack of immediate functionality may frustrate some early adopters, but its mere presence points to Microsoft’s roadmap.
This approach is designed to insulate the broader Windows population from unexpected changes, while serving power users, developers, and IT staff who need to validate changes in advance of July’s Patch Tuesday. For organizations, the trade-off between early access and production system risk remains: optional cumulative previews often receive additional bugfixes before becoming mandatory in the subsequent monthly update cycle.
At the same time, optional update previews like this one provide valuable insights for power users, developers, and organizations willing to test the future early. With sharper focus on migration and usability, Microsoft is recalibrating Windows for a hybrid-cloud world, but remains encumbered by the need to balance innovation, security, regional law, and user control.
With July’s mandatory updates looming, and more “feature drops” expected in subsequent months, the landscape for Windows 11 users is both unsettled and full of potential. KB5060829 serves as an essential bridge: imperfect, ambitious, and unmistakably indicative of where Windows—and by extension, the broader PC ecosystem—is headed. On balance, it’s an update worth close scrutiny, careful rollout, and thoughtful feedback, as the next chapter of Windows continues to unfold.
Source: Windows Latest Windows 11 KB5060829 adds taskbar features, direct download for 24H2
Taskbar Scaling: Space-Saving, Customizable, and Controversial
Among the more visible enhancements is improved support for taskbar scaling. For many, the ability to shrink taskbar icons has long been a top feature request—especially as display resolutions and window multitasking have made screen real estate increasingly valuable.After applying KB5060829, users can access this feature via Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviours, where they’ll discover the new option, “Show smaller taskbar buttons.” Once enabled, icons contract in size, freeing more space for open app windows and, crucially, reducing the chance that frequently used icons collapse into the overlay menu (the so-called “arrow button menu”) that hinders navigation. The default behavior is subtle: icons auto-shrink only when the taskbar starts to fill, but there’s also a setting to force small icons permanently—or revert to previous behavior if desired.
This careful balancing act between legacy familiarity and modern flexibility is classic Microsoft, but it also comes with caveats. For one, altering icon size may impact accessibility for certain users, especially those with impaired vision or touch interaction needs. While Microsoft provides a simple “Never” toggle to restore the old overlay, system administrators will want to ensure company accessibility requirements are still satisfied before rolling out this update at scale.
On the technical side, the implementation circumvents legacy quirks seen in some third-party “classic taskbar” customizers, providing a cleaner, natively supported solution. Early testing by Windows enthusiasts confirms that the feature reduces visual clutter and, in multi-monitor setups, delivers a more consistent icon experience. However, some power users have flagged occasional graphical glitches, particularly when docking or undocking high-DPI displays—a wrinkle Microsoft says it is monitoring closely.
Download Options: Direct, Catalog, and an Unusual File Size
For those eager to try out KB5060829, two primary delivery mechanisms are available: Windows Update, and manual download via the Microsoft Update Catalog. While Windows Update delivers a streamlined, incremental patch—usually well under one gigabyte in size—those choosing the catalog MSU files will face hefty downloads, sometimes exceeding 3GB for Intel/AMD systems and slightly less for ARM-based machines.This surprising file size is not arbitrary. Microsoft bundles a raft of AI models and background files into the MSU package, even though their use may be restricted to newer “Copilot+ PCs” (more on this below). As a result, legacy and lower-spec devices still download unnecessary AI model data—potentially wasting bandwidth, storage, and increasing update time. For comparison, cumulative updates in the Windows 10 era often hovered below 700MB. This bloat raises legitimate concerns about Microsoft’s update strategy, with calls for more granular, modular distribution of non-essential components.
Direct download remains a core option for system integrators, organizations, or users who manage offline environments, providing full control over the patching process. Microsoft’s Update Catalog remains the official source for these .msu files, and users are strongly cautioned against third-party download links, which are a common vector for malware.
Regional Innovation: EU-Only App Defaults and Taskbar Pinning
Beyond cosmetic tweaks, KB5060829 brings a regionally targeted change mandated by European Union regulatory pressure. In the EU, users gain a much finer degree of control over default app handling for files and links. This is more than just a privacy or convenience boost: it’s a strategic response to antitrust scrutiny, ensuring that Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and others face a level playing field at OS setup and post-installation.The update shifts the paradigm by making your chosen browser the de facto default not just for web links, but also for associated file types—such as PDFs—unless a user overrides this with explicit choices. Additionally, the browser designated as default is now auto-pinned to both the taskbar and Start menu. There is a toggle to opt out of this pinning, though Microsoft sets pinning as the default, a move designed to satisfy regulatory demands to reduce OS-level favoritism.
For European users, this new behaviour promises a more open ecosystem and easier browser switching. For IT managers in multinational companies, however, it introduces an extra policy management layer: deployment scripts and GPOs (Group Policy Objects) may need updating to ensure consistent app defaults, particularly if systems move between EU and non-EU regulatory regimes. For users outside the EU, the old defaults model remains in place—at least for now.
Click to Do: Microsoft 365 Copilot Integration Expands
AI integration in Windows 11 remains a marquee development. KB5060829 broadens the “Click to Do” feature (previously available only on Copilot+ PCs), now supporting direct interaction with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Users can right-click on text, images, or other content, and instantly send data to Copilot or the Photos app for specific actions—blur removal, summarizing documents, and now, direct question answering through a Microsoft 365 subscription.This context-aware workflow blurs the lines between AI assistant functionality and classic context menus. By integrating Copilot more tightly into the OS, Microsoft positions Windows 11 as both a work and creative platform. However, several constraints apply:
- The full Click to Do experience still requires Copilot+ hardware, which leverages new NPU (Neural Processing Unit) chips for local AI processing—a hardware tier only available in the latest Windows devices.
- Access to Microsoft 365 Copilot features similarly demands a Microsoft 365 subscription, limiting its appeal for home and smaller business users without enterprise plans.
PC Migration: A Preview of Next-Generation Transfer Tools
Another innovation, though still in its placeholder stage, is Windows 11’s revised PC Migration feature, embedded in the Windows Backup app. The idea is simple on the surface: wirelessly transfer files, settings, and accounts between two PCs with a code-based pairing process. For years, Microsoft has relied on OneDrive and cloud sync for similar migration tools, but this feature promises a direct, local PC-to-PC option—especially valuable for users upgrading to a new device or handling sensitive data that cannot be uploaded to the cloud.At present, the underlying functionality is not yet active (the update lays groundwork only), and Microsoft has confirmed it’s “coming soon”. For IT departments and support staff, however, this could herald a long-awaited return to the simplicity of Windows Easy Transfer, last seen in earlier Windows generations, but with updated security and wireless direct file transfer. The lack of immediate functionality may frustrate some early adopters, but its mere presence points to Microsoft’s roadmap.
Cumulative Updates: Optional But With an Automatic Caveat
As with all “Cumulative Update Previews,” KB5060829 is strictly optional—users must visit Windows Update and manually select “Download and install” to apply it. The exception is users who have enabled the “Get all the latest updates as soon as they’re available” setting; for these users, the update may download and install in the background.This approach is designed to insulate the broader Windows population from unexpected changes, while serving power users, developers, and IT staff who need to validate changes in advance of July’s Patch Tuesday. For organizations, the trade-off between early access and production system risk remains: optional cumulative previews often receive additional bugfixes before becoming mandatory in the subsequent monthly update cycle.
Critical Assessment: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Risks
Strengths
- Customization and Usability: Improved taskbar scaling and smaller icon options modernize a perennial UI pain point, empowering users to tailor their workspace.
- Regulatory Compliance: EU-targeted changes demonstrate Microsoft’s willingness to comply with both the letter and spirit of antitrust regulations, encouraging browser competition and offering users real choice over defaults.
- AI Integration: The expansion of Click to Do and Copilot 365 integration steadily blurs boundaries between local OS and cloud-powered productivity, enhancing workflows—at least for those with modern hardware.
- Migration Foundations: Laying groundwork for streamlined PC-to-PC migration signals renewed user focus, especially for enterprise deployments and sensitive data environments.
Weaknesses
- Update File Size Bloat: The inclusion of non-applicable AI models in MSU packages inflates update sizes for all users, taxing bandwidth and storage without clear benefits for legacy systems. The inability to opt-out compounds frustrations in low-bandwidth environments.
- Staggered Feature Rollouts: With regional exclusivity (EU app defaults) and hardware exclusivity (Copilot+ requirements), the experience is highly fragmented. Many users will see little tangible benefit until wider rollout.
- Placeholder Frustrations: The PC Migration feature’s half-implemented state may confuse users expecting immediate functionality or lead to additional help desk queries.
- Potential Accessibility Concerns: Smaller icons may hinder usability for vision-impaired or touch-oriented users, necessitating careful rollout and education.
Risks and Uncertainties
- Stability: Early reports of graphical glitches, particularly with multi-monitor dock/undock scenarios, highlight the perennial risk with Preview-level patches.
- Privacy: As “Click to Do” and Copilot gain system-wide contextual hooks, data governance, consent, and audit requirements increase—especially in regulated sectors. Organizations must review data handling policies for Copilot integration.
- Long-term Update Strategies: Microsoft’s bundling approach for AI models may portend a trend toward larger, less modular updates—a reversal of the “Windows as a Service” model prized for its agility and granularity.
Applying KB5060829: Best Practices and Recommendations
For Individual Users
If your daily workflow relies on a crowded taskbar or you’re eager to preview the latest features ahead of public release, manually installing KB5060829 via Windows Update is low-risk—provided you have a recent backup and don’t mind occasional cosmetic bugs. If you’re outside the EU or lack a Copilot+ machine, you’ll see fewer visible changes; for such users, waiting for the next mandatory Patch Tuesday may be prudent.For IT Professionals and Enterprise Admins
- Evaluate taskbar and app default changes in a test environment, especially for EU-based deployments or organizations reliant on standardized browser workflows.
- Review update file size and delivery to ensure bandwidth and deployment times are acceptable. Where possible, use Windows Update rather than Catalog downloads to minimize bloat.
- Communicate clearly to end-users about placeholder features (such as PC Migration) and expected timelines for availability.
- Audit accessibility impacts, particularly for departments with visually impaired staff, before enabling new scaling behaviors by default.
For Developers and Ecosystem Partners
- Monitor how new taskbar scaling and icon size APIs affect third-party taskbar utilities or customization tools. There may be compatibility issues requiring fast patching or refactoring.
- For browser vendors and app developers, the new EU-focused defaults handling presents an opportunity to reinforce presence in Windows environments—provided your installer dialogs and GUIs adapt gracefully to the new logic.
Looking Ahead: What This Update Signals for Windows 11’s Future
KB5060829 is more than just a bugfix roll-up: it serves as a window into Microsoft’s evolving strategy for Windows 11 and beyond. The blend of user customization, AI augmentation, and regulatory compliance encapsulates the trilemma facing modern operating systems. As Microsoft weaves AI deeper into the OS—often ahead of regulatory and privacy guidelines—file size concerns and fragmented feature availability may only intensify.At the same time, optional update previews like this one provide valuable insights for power users, developers, and organizations willing to test the future early. With sharper focus on migration and usability, Microsoft is recalibrating Windows for a hybrid-cloud world, but remains encumbered by the need to balance innovation, security, regional law, and user control.
With July’s mandatory updates looming, and more “feature drops” expected in subsequent months, the landscape for Windows 11 users is both unsettled and full of potential. KB5060829 serves as an essential bridge: imperfect, ambitious, and unmistakably indicative of where Windows—and by extension, the broader PC ecosystem—is headed. On balance, it’s an update worth close scrutiny, careful rollout, and thoughtful feedback, as the next chapter of Windows continues to unfold.
Source: Windows Latest Windows 11 KB5060829 adds taskbar features, direct download for 24H2
