Microsoft rolls out KB5036979 (OS Build 19045.4355) for Windows 10 to everyone

Microsoft released an optional patch, KB5036979, for Windows 10 for everyone on April 23, 2024, which brings the OS build to 19045.4355. As it is an optional update, it will not download on its own.

With this update, you will get account-related notifications for Microsoft accounts in Settings > Home section. The feature was earlier released in the Preview Channel for Windows Insiders using version 22H2 on April 15, 2024.

Microsoft accounts connect Windows to your apps, back up all data, and help manage your subscriptions. The update also makes the Widgets on the lock screen more reliable and of improved quality. This patch also fixes the issue of Bluetooth connections not being stable.

Furthermore, the update brings changes to Windows Search, making it more trustworthy and intuitive to find an app once you install it from the Microsoft Store, thereby giving you a customized search experience.

Here are the improvements added to the update:

• New! Starting April 23, 2024, the LCU will no longer have the reverse differentials. The client will generate the reverse update data. This change will help to reduce the LCU package size by about 20%. This change also offers a few advantages. It:
  • Reduces bandwidth usage
  • Provides faster downloads
  • Minimizes network traffic
  • Improves performance on slow connections.
• This update addresses an issue that affects apps licensing. Because of this, Copilot in Windows (in preview) does not work as you expect.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when your device resumes from Modern Standby. You might get the stop error, “0x9f DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE.”
• This update addresses a race condition that might stop a machine from starting up. This occurs when you set up a bootloader to start up multiple OSes.
• This update affects media allocations. It improves their memory granularity for some hardware setups. This lowers overcommitment. Also, performance is more efficient.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an accelerator backing store management path. A memory leak occurs that affects some devices.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the container networking Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It returns the wrong Virtual Subnet ID (VSID) for external ports.
• This update affects hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). It accepts drivers that are now compatible.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Protected Process Light (PPL) protections. You can bypass them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). A memory leak occurs when it retrieves mappings.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). Its Post Authentication Actions (PAA) do not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occur at restart.

The Redmond tech giant says that if you have installed all the updates prior to this, only the new update in this package will be installed on your machine.

Currently, the KB5036979 update is optional, but it will become a mandate with the Windows 10 May 2024 Patch Tuesday.

If you have Windows 10 22H2 or older version on your computer, you can install the patch today. To install the update, launch the Settings app, then navigate to Windows Update, then click Check for Updates.

However, if you want to install the update manually, you can go to Microsoft Update Catalog, search for KB5036979, and click Download. Then, run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Once you install the update, you will get a notification to sign in to your Microsoft account to back up files and photos to the cloud to keep them safe.

You can either click the X button to make the alert disappear or click Sign in now, which will redirect you to the Windows Backup window.

If you want to disable notifications, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security>General. Now, look for the Show me notifications in the Settings app. When off, required notifications are still shown option, so disable it. Toggle off all the options to turn all the alerts on your device.

What do you think about these latest changes & updates, given that Windows 10 is approaching its end of life? Share your opinions with our readers in the comments section below.