Windows 11 Build 22621.754 is now in the Release Preview Channel

Remember KB5019509? It is a recent update that Microsoft released for the 22H2 version of Windows 11, also known as the 2022 update.

When we talked about this cumulative update, we also shared that it comes with File Explorer tabs, Suggested Actions, taskbar overflow, and a new way to open Task Manager.

In just a few seconds, you will see and understand why the above-mentioned update and the new KB5018496 (Build 22621.754) are similar in a lot of ways.

What changes after installing KB5018496?

Windows Insiders on the Release Preview Channel are being updated to Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621.754 (KB5018496).

Today’s build includes some updates to the Microsoft Account enrollment within Windows, including having to reconsent for biometrics.

On that note, Microsoft added a new consent form for those of you enrolled in Windows Hello Face and Fingerprint.

Now, you have new choices for your biometric data and you can keep storing your biometric data or open Settings to delete the data if you have not used your face or fingerprint for authentication in over 365 days.

Perhaps more importantly, some Insiders will start to notice search in the taskbar, and being able to launch Task Manager by right-clicking anywhere on the taskbar.

Let’s also take a look at the rest of the changelog and determine which changes will impact the OS the most.

• Added improvements to the Microsoft Account experience in Settings. For instance, you can manage your Microsoft One Drive subscription and related storage alerts.
• Enhanced search visual treatments on the taskbar to improve discoverability. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow. Some devices might notice different visual treatments as we gather feedback. To learn more about why you might be seeing these changes, see Search for anything, anywhere.
• Enhance the backup experience when using your Microsoft Account (MSA). Some devices might notice visual treatments for this enhancement. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow.
• Added Task Manager to the context menu when you right-click the taskbar. This feature rolls out in the coming weeks.
• Enabled the ms-appinstaller Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to work for the DesktopAppInstaller.
• Will not start daylight saving time in Jordan at the end of October 2022.
• Fixed an issue that affects Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) authentication hardening. It will automatically raise the authentication level for all non-anonymous activation requests from DCOM clients to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY. This occurs if the authentication level is below Packet Integrity.
• Fixed an issue that affects the Windows Search service. Indexing progress is slow when you use the service.
• Fixed an issue that affects cached credentials for security keys and Fast Identity Online 2.0 (FIDO2) authentications. On hybrid domain-joined devices, the system removes these cached credentials.
• Fixed an issue that might affect some types of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) connections. These connections might have handshake failures. For developers, the affected connections are likely to send multiple frames followed by a partial frame with a size of less than 5 bytes within a single input buffer. If the connection fails, your app will receive the error, SEC_E_ILLEGAL_MESSAGE.
• Fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD) Application Proxy connector. It cannot retrieve a Kerberos ticket on behalf of the user. The error message is, “The handle specified is invalid (0x80090301).”
• Fixed an issue that affects certificate mapping. When it fails, lsass.exe might stop working in schannel.dll.
• Fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge when it is in IE Mode. The titles of pop-up windows and tabs are wrong.
• Fixed an issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode. It stops you from opening webpages. This occurs when you enable Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) and you do not configure Network Isolation policies.
• Fixed an issue that affects title bars when you use third-party tools to customize them. The title bars did not render. This update ensures that title bars render; however, we cannot guarantee all text customizations will work as before.
• Fixed an issue that might cause vertical and horizontal line artifacts to appear on the screen.
• Fixed an issue that affects input method editors (IME) from Microsoft and third parties. They stop working when you close the IME window. This occurs if the IME uses Windows Text Services Framework (TSF) 1.0.
• Fixed an issue that might fail to sync the audio when you record game play using the Xbox Game Bar.
• Updated DriverSiPolicy.p7b for the Windows kernel vulnerable driver blocklist. This update includes drivers that are vulnerable to Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• Extended original equipment manufacturer (OEM) control of Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) enforcement for targeted hardware configurations.
• Fixed an issue that affects File Explorer. It is less dependable when you browse for Microsoft OneDrive folders.
• Fixed an issue that affects the button style BS_PUSHLIKE. Buttons that have this style are difficult to identify against a dark background.
• Fixed an issue in that stops the credential UI from displaying in IE mode when you use Microsoft Edge.
• Fixed an issue that affects Server Manager. It might reset the wrong disk when several disks have the same UniqueId.
• Addressed an issue that affects the CopyFile function. It returns ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE instead of ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND when it is called with an invalid source file.
• Fixed an issue that affects the Start menu. It stops working when you use keyboard commands to move pinned items to a folder at the end of a list.

Microsoft mentioned that there are absolutely no known issues for this Release Preview Channel build, so we’re just going to have to take their word for it.

What can I do if I can’t install KB5018496?

1. Press Win+ I to access Settings.
2. Select the System category and click on Troubleshoot.
3. Press the Other troubleshooters button.
4. Press the Run button next to Windows Update.

Don’t forget to report any other issues you might come across, in order for Microsoft to address and improve the overall OS experience for us all.

This is everything you can expect if you are a Windows 11 Release Preview Channel Insider. Leave a comment below if you found any issues since installing this cumulative update.