KB5041655 brings significant changes to Windows 11's OOBE, but Microsoft doesn't say what changes

In a recent update that will catch the attention of Windows 11 users, Microsoft has rolled out a new Out of Box Experience (OOBE) update for versions 22H2 and 23H2, tagged under the code KB5041655. This update enhances the initial setup experience of Windows-based machines, making the first encounter with Windows 11 smoother and more intuitive.

For those who might not be familiar, the OOBE is the process you go through when you first boot up a new computer. You’re greeted with setting up basic configurations, logging into your Microsoft account, and, let’s be honest, declining a bunch of ads for Microsoft 365, Game Pass, Edge, and more.

Now, if you prefer to keep things simple and ad-free, you might find the OOBE updates a bit of a mixed bag. However, there’s a silver lining. You can skip most of these steps by setting up your computer offline using the oobe\bypassnro command, which not only lets you dodge the ads but also the OneDrive Known Folder Backup feature that tends to be more annoying than helpful.

In KB5041655, Microsoft is somewhat mysterious about what precisely the new OOBE update includes. The official statement only mentions that it “improves the Windows 11, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2 out-of-box experience (OOBE).”

This update improves the Windows 11, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2 out-of-box experience (OOBE). This update applies only to the Windows 11 OOBE process and is available only when OOBE updates are installed.

Microsoft

If you’re curious about the details, you can dive into the support page but don’t get your hopes up for finding anything groundbreaking.

On a more practical note, alongside this OOBE update, Microsoft also released non-security updates for Windows 11, which include various fixes and feature changes. It’s important to note that these updates are optional and unrelated to security, so it’s up to you whether you want to install them. Given the history of updates occasionally causing more headaches than they solve, some users might opt to stick to mandatory updates only.