Windows 11 KB5074105 Focuses on Smart App Control Flexibility and New MIDI Services

Microsoft has released KB5074105 for Windows Insiders on the Release Preview channel, delivering builds 26100.7701 and 26200.7701 with a broad set of new features and refinements now rolling out.

While improvements to Cross-Device Resume headline the update, Microsoft is also introducing upgrades across accessibility, security, creative tools, and system setup.

KB5074105 brings MIDI, Voice Typing, and Smart App Control improvements

Major MIDI upgrades arrive on Windows

One of the most significant additions in KB5074105 targets creative workflows. Windows MIDI Services now brings enhanced support for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0, along with full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 compatibility through built-in translation.

The update enables shared MIDI ports across apps, app-to-app MIDI communication, loopback functionality, custom port naming, and multiple performance improvements aimed at lower latency and higher reliability.

Microsoft delivers the App SDK and Tools package as a separate download. It enables in-box MIDI features and includes utilities such as MIDI Console and the MIDI Settings app. Since these packages are currently unsigned, users may encounter security warnings during download or installation.

Narrator gains granular control options

Narrator now lets users control exactly how on-screen elements are announced. New settings allow users to choose which details Narrator speaks and the order in which it delivers them. We already saw this feature in KB5072043 in the Beta and Dev channels.

These preferences apply system-wide and help reduce unnecessary speech while improving clarity and usability across apps.

Settings app adds a new device overview card

Microsoft is also refreshing the Settings home page with a new Device card. The card displays key PC specifications and usage details and provides a direct shortcut to Settings > System > About for full device information.

The feature appears when users sign in with a Microsoft account. Microsoft has resumed its rollout after pausing it during the August 2025 release.

Smart App Control no longer requires a clean install

Smart App Control now offers a long-requested improvement. Users can toggle Smart App Control on or off without reinstalling Windows.

The setting lives under Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control. When enabled, Smart App Control helps block untrusted or potentially harmful applications, marking a major usability upgrade over previous versions.

Voice Access and Voice Typing see usability improvements

Voice Access now includes a streamlined setup flow that guides users through downloading the correct speech model, selecting an input microphone, and learning core features.

Voice Typing adds a new “Wait time before acting” option. This setting lets users adjust how long the system waits before executing spoken commands, improving flexibility for different speaking speeds and boosting recognition accuracy.

Windows Hello expands fingerprint support

Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors, as first seen in KB5065797. This expansion allows secure biometric sign-in on desktop systems and devices without built-in fingerprint readers, including Copilot+ PCs.

Users can configure the feature through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options using a supported ESS fingerprint reader.

Security and Secure Boot change

This version updates the Boot Manager on devices using the Windows UEFI CA 2023 certificate. This change replaces the older 2011-signed bootmgfw.efi with a new version signed in 2023, aligning Secure Boot components with updated certification standards.

Microsoft warns that resetting the DB or enabling Secure Boot after this change may trigger “Secure Boot violation” errors on some systems. In rare cases, recovery requires creating Secure Boot recovery media to restore normal boot functionality.

On the security side, Microsoft has added support for DPAPI domain backup key rotation management. This allows administrators to define automatic key rotation intervals, strengthening cryptographic protection while reducing reliance on older encryption algorithms.

It’s worth mentioning that KB5074105 fixes a wide array of issues, and we covered them all in a separate guide.

For users who want access to features even earlier in development, Microsoft also recommends checking out KB5074169 in the Beta channel, which includes additional changes still under active testing.