Microsoft has released the optional cumulative update KB5120998 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. It includes 35 changes and fixes before their potential release to all users as part of the following month’s Patch Tuesday updates. The update brings devices to builds 26200.9278 and 26100.9278, respectively.
This release is a preview update intended primarily for IT administrators and users who want to test quality fixes and new features early. As an optional monthly update, it does not include security fixes and should not be treated as a replacement for regular security updates.
Major Changes to the Taskbar and Start Menu
KB5120998 allows the taskbar to be moved to the bottom, top, right, or left of the screen through the personalization settings, while most customization options, such as not combining app icons, continue to work in the different positions.
The update also adds a smaller taskbar option that reduces its height and icon size to provide more space on devices with small screens. The Start menu gains sizing options, along with the ability to independently show or hide the Pinned, Recommended, and All sections, as well as hide the account name and profile picture.
Administrator Protection and Testing for System Administrators
Microsoft has also begun rolling out the Administrator protection feature, which allows administrative tasks to be performed with temporary privileges when needed. The company explains that the feature is not an “official security boundary,” but is intended to strengthen protection against privilege-escalation attacks by separating user profiles.
The feature is disabled by default and can be enabled using OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or through Group Policy. This part therefore matters more to administrators of managed environments than to home users, and enabling it requires an administrative decision and testing before broad adoption.
What Changes in Practice?
The update improves Windows search indexing. The system can automatically index the most frequently used folders to show their files in subsequent search results, with the ability to control this behavior through the privacy and search settings. It also addresses resume behavior after updates, so the computer returns to sleep mode if the user had manually put it there, even when automatic sleep is set to Never.
Windows also adds support for participating applications to coordinate their updates with Windows Update through the Windows Update Orchestration Platform, while improving resilience and recovery from background issues related to VPN processes that could cause applications to stop responding.
WMIC Removal and Support Warnings
Starting in August 2026, Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 will no longer include the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line tool, known as WMIC. The tool had already been removed by default from new installations and will no longer be available as an optional feature, requiring a review of scripts or management procedures that rely on it.
Microsoft also warned that a limited number of consumer and business devices may restart one additional time during the installation of the August update and updates in the following months because a Secure Boot certificate is being applied as part of the Secure Boot update process.
KB5120998 can be installed through Windows Update by searching for the update and then selecting Download and install, or it can be downloaded manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft warned that the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 24H2 will stop receiving updates after two months, while mainstream support for the Enterprise and Education editions will continue until October 2027, with users recommended to upgrade to Windows 11 25H2.