KB5095029

Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5095029 (Build 26220.8680) for Windows 11 version 25H2, available to insiders on the Beta channel. The main focus of this update is on reducing distracting factors in system operation, expanding accessibility features, and improving stability.

• Widgets become quiet by default. A new set of settings is being introduced for all users, designed to reduce unexpected notifications and visual interruptions. Now, by default, opening on hover is disabled, taskbar icons are disabled, and the widgets panel opens on first launch. On the lock screen, Weather remains the only default widget. The number of taskbar notifications that can be sent per day is limited, and the notifications themselves are restricted until the user opens Widgets and starts using them.
• Change of Widget icon color on the taskbar. For those who have taskbar icons enabled, the icon color now matches the Windows accent color, rather than always being displayed in red. This reduces the sense of urgency and the feeling that something requires immediate attention.
• Badges on Widgets navigation pane icons. It remains important to easily find missed information, so badges are now supported on Widgets navigation pane icons, showing the number of missed notifications from a specific dashboard. Badges are automatically cleared when leaving the dashboard, making it easier to track new items. If badges in the navigation pane are not needed at all, they can be disabled in settings.
• Interface adaptation based on user activity. The interface becomes calmer depending on how actively the user interacts with Widgets. For a user who barely uses Widgets, the interface is made calmer with taskbar icons disabled. For those who actively use Widgets and have already customized them, the changes are not applied. Features like taskbar icons can be enabled or disabled in Widgets settings, which are now a full-screen interface that simplifies reading.
• Optimization of memory usage by Widgets. As part of system-wide memory savings, Widgets now take into account device characteristics and user behavior patterns. This includes a smaller default memory footprint, faster memory release when Widgets are not in use, and limiting pre-launch on devices with less memory.

The update also introduces new features and improvements in the accessibility section.

• Screen color tint. A new accessibility setting has been added that overlays a color layer onto the entire display, softening its intensity so that eyes tire less throughout the day. If bright, saturated screens cause fatigue or increased eye sensitivity by the end of a long work session, screen color tint can help. To get started, open Settings > Accessibility (or press Win + U) and find Screen color tint under the Vision section. Here you can choose one of six preset colors or create a custom one, and adjust the tint intensity slider from light to full. Night light makes the image warmer, reducing blue glow that can interfere with sleep. Screen color tint reduces the overall intensity of the image, decreasing eye fatigue and light sensitivity during the day. They solve different tasks and can be used simultaneously: one is responsible for warmth, the other for intensity. Enabling screen color tint disables color filters, and vice versa. If you use color filters, screen color tint may need to be left turned off.
• Improved zoom in Magnifier. Magnifier gives more control over zooming. The exact zoom percentage can be entered directly on the Magnifier toolbar to reach the desired level. Preset steps (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200%, and 400%) have been added to the dropdown options list, allowing you to jump to the desired level with one click.

Other changes and improvements affect input, remote recovery management, File Explorer, and Windows Update.

• Emoji Panel update. The Emoji Panel (Win + period) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, making browsing and sharing GIFs smoother after the discontinuation of Tenor support.
• Remote recovery management. A remote recovery management plug-in has been added, expanding WinRE management capabilities for MDM providers.
• File Explorer address bar improvements. The address bar now supports paths with double backslashes and quotes (for example, C:\Users\user or "C:\Users\user"), improving compatibility with more input formats. Mounting of large ISO files has been accelerated—File Explorer no longer hangs during SmartScreen checks. The address bar suggestion dropdown has become more reliable and now stably closes after selecting an item.
• Fixes in File Explorer. An issue on the File Explorer home page where OneDrive files could be duplicated in the Favorites section has been resolved. Improvements have been made to renaming: an issue where text was repeatedly selected when renaming items in folder views has been fixed, as well as an issue where changing the case in a file name was not immediately reflected in folder views for items stored locally or in the cloud.

Installation of the update is performed through Windows Update. To do this, go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A computer restart is required to complete the installation.

In the previous version, error 0x800f0843, which occurred when attempting to install the past update, was also fixed.

The last 10 Windows updates: