Microsoft introduced an important change in 2022: function updates are no longer only available for the annual Windows version updates, but also with the optional updates and on the patch day. We’ll see what’s new for Patch Day in December.
Microsoft is now basically releasing important innovations and optimizations at any time, but always together with security and maintenance updates. The new cycle provides that new features are initially launched with monthly optional updates. Then every user can choose whether he wants to try out the new features or not.
On the regular patch day on the second Tuesday of the month, all the content of the optional update will also be distributed to other users. According to Microsoft, however, it is not planned to release the new functions to all users at once, but only gradually.
Changes to come
We have already reported on the most important new features of the optional update from November 29th. This content has now been adopted for December Patch Day. The main change that all Windows 11 users will benefit from is a change for storage warnings for Microsoft OneDrive subscribers. Microsoft is now introducing a new overview of the total storage capacity of all OneDrive subscriptions. You can find more information about this at the end of the article in the release notes for the update.
What’s new for Windows Spotlight
Other innovations relate to the Windows Spotlight features. Microsoft combines Windows spotlight with themes on the personalization page. This makes it easier to identify and enable the Windows Spotlight feature. The new feature will be made available gradually.
Microsoft also provides a number of bug fixes. Among other things, the Windows team addresses problems with Explorer, certain applications, and the input method editor (IME). Microsoft writes about the changes in the Knowledge Base:
KB5020044
- New! OneDrive subscribers get storage warnings in the Settings app. The alerts appear when you are approaching your storage limit. They can also manage their storage and purchase additional storage if needed.
- New! It offers the entire storage capacity of all OneDrive subscriptions. You can also view total storage on the Accounts page in the Settings app.
- New! It combines Windows point of view with themes on the personalization page. This makes it easier for you to identify and enable the Windows Spotlight feature.
- New! It adds a new mobile device management (MDM) policy for organization messages. It gives your organization the ability to enroll tenant devices to receive custom messages from you. For example, you can use Intune to write the messages. They are rendered in Windows.
- Fixes an issue affecting some modern applications. It prevents them from being opened.
- Addresses an issue affecting some devices managed by an organization. We improve the reliability of app installs for them.
- It addresses the suspension of Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the Republic of Fiji for this year.
- Addresses an issue affecting Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) authentication hardening. We automatically increase the authentication level for all non-anonymous activation requests from DCOM clients to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY. This occurs when the authentication level is below packet integrity.
- Addresses an issue affecting on-premises Unified Update Platform (UUP) customers. This removes the block preventing them from receiving offline language packs.
- An issue affecting process creation is fixed. Security audits cannot be created for them and other related audit events.
- Fixed an issue affecting Cluster Name Objects (CNO) or Virtual Machine Objects (VCO). Password reset fails. The error message is: “Error resetting AD password… // 0x80070005”.
- Resolves an issue affecting transparency in multi-level windows. This occurs when you are in locally integrated high-definition remote applications (RAIL) mode.
- It fixes a known issue affecting the Input Method Editor (IME). Certain applications may become unresponsive. This occurs when you change the input mode of the IME using keyboard shortcuts.
- Addresses an issue affecting microphone streams that use the Listen To feature to route to the speaker endpoint. The microphone stops working after you restart the device.
- Addresses an issue that can affect applications running under the Windows Lockdown Policy (WLDP). They may no longer work.
- Addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Defender when it is not the primary antivirus. Microsoft Defender cannot disable passive mode. This issue occurs when you disable Smart App Control (SAC).
- It adds .wcx to the list of dangerous extensions that some app control policies disallow.
- Addressing an issue affecting Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Automated investigation blocks live response investigations.
- Addresses an issue affecting landscape mode printing in Microsoft Edge. The printout is incorrect. This issue occurs when you use Microsoft Defender Application Guard.
- It fixes an issue that causes Explorer to stop working. This occurs when you close context menus and menu items.
- It fixes an issue that may cause certain apps to become unresponsive. This occurs when you use the File Open dialog box.
- It fixes an issue that sometimes affects Explorer when you open a file. Due to this problem, there is high CPU usage.
- Fixes an issue affecting Settings app log enablement. The app cannot open a page under the Accounts category.
- Addresses an issue affecting a computer account. Using non-standard characters can end the cleanup of OOBE (Out of Box Experience) accounts.
- It fixes an issue affecting the CopyFile function. Sometimes error 317: ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND is returned.
- An issue affecting the Windows Firewall service is fixed. It will not start if you enable the Override Block Rules option.
- Fixes an issue affecting the performance of some games and applications. This issue is related to GPU performance debugging features.
- It fixes an issue affecting cumulative update installations. They fail and the error code is 0x800f0806.
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