What’s New in Windows 11 KB5074105 (Builds 26200.7705 / 26100.7705) – January 29, 2026 Optional Update

Microsoft has released a new optional preview update KB5074105 for Windows 11. This update rolls out OS Builds 26200.7705 (Windows 11 version 25H2) and 26100.7705 (Windows 11 version 24H2) and focuses on new features, AI-powered improvements, and a large set of stability and reliability fixes.

This is a non‑security preview update, so it does not include traditional security patches. Instead, it brings upgrades for Copilot+ PCs, Windows 11 settings, accessibility, sign‑in, File Explorer, Secure Boot, and more. It also fixes issues with the Start menu, File Explorer crashes, and addresses various system stability issues.

How to Download Windows 11 KB5074105

KB5074105 is an optional update. It will not install automatically on most devices, so you need to trigger it manually.

Install KB5074105 via Windows Update

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” if it’s not already enabled.
4. Click Check for updates.
5. Look for “2026-01 Preview Update (KB5074105) (26200.7705)” or a similar description.
6. Click Download & install.
7. Restart your PC when prompted to complete the installation.

Alternatively, you can download the standalone .msu installer from the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it manually.

1. Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
2. Search for KB5074105.
3. Download the correct .msu file for your system (x64 or ARM64).
4. Double‑click the downloaded file and follow the on‑screen instructions.
5. Restart your device after installation finishes.

What’s New in Windows 11 KB5074105?

This update brings changes in two main areas:

• Copilot+ PCs and AI‑powered experiences
• General Windows 11 features, reliability, and security‑related improvements

Some features are rolling out gradually, so they may not appear on all PCs immediately.

Copilot+ PCs: Agent in Settings (More Languages)

On Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft is expanding the AI‑powered Settings Agent. This agent helps you find and change Windows settings using natural language.

With KB5074105, it now supports more languages, including:

• German
• Portuguese
• Spanish
• Korean
• Japanese
• Hindi
• Italian
• Chinese (Simplified)

This makes it easier for more users worldwide to manage their PC using everyday language instead of digging through menus.

Cross‑Device Resume: Continue Tasks from Your Phone

Microsoft is expanding Cross‑Device Resume, a feature first introduced in the May 2025 non‑security update (KB5058499).

With this update, you can continue certain activities from your Android phone directly on your Windows 11 PC, including:

• Resuming Spotify playback
• Continuing work in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
• Continuing a browsing session from your phone

There is also deeper integration with Vivo and Microsoft Copilot:

• Vivo Android phones can continue browsing from Vivo Browser on the PC.
• If you use a phone from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, vivo, or Xiaomi, you can open online files that were previously opened in the Microsoft Copilot app on your phone and continue working with them on your PC.

These files will:

• Open in the corresponding Microsoft 365 desktop app (if installed), or
• Open in your default web browser if the app is not installed.

Note: Offline‑only files stored on the phone are not supported.

Windows MIDI Services: Better Experience for Musicians

For creators and musicians, KB5074105 improves MIDI support in Windows:

• Enhanced support for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0
• Full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support with built‑in translation
• Shared MIDI ports across apps
• Custom port names
• Loopback and app‑to‑app MIDI
• General performance improvements and bug fixes

Microsoft also provides a separate App SDK and Tools package that unlocks inbox MIDI 2.0 features, and includes tools like MIDI Console and the MIDI Settings app. These downloads are currently unsigned, so Windows may show a security warning when you download or install them.

Narrator: More Control Over Spoken Feedback

The built‑in Narrator screen reader now gives users more control over how it announces on‑screen controls.

You can:

• Choose which details are spoken
• Adjust the order in which details are read out

These settings apply across the app experience and are designed to reduce extra speech and make Narrator easier to follow, especially for power users who rely on it every day.

Settings: New Device Card on Home Page

Windows 11 now shows a Device card on the Settings home page for users who sign in with a Microsoft account.

This card:

• Shows important PC specifications and usage details
• Provides a quick link to Settings > System > About for more detailed system information

Microsoft had paused this rollout in August 2025, and with KB5074105 it has resumed.

Smart App Control: Toggle Without Reinstalling Windows

Smart App Control (SAC) helps protect your PC by blocking untrusted or potentially harmful apps.

Previously, changing its state could require a clean install of Windows. With this update, you can now turn Smart App Control on or off directly:

• Go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control

This makes it easier for advanced users and admins to adjust protection without reinstalling the OS.

Voice Access: Easier Setup

Voice Access gets a redesigned, more friendly setup process that makes it easier to start using voice to control your PC.

The new setup flow helps you:

• Download a speech model for your selected language
• Choose your preferred input microphone
• Learn what Voice Access can do on your Windows PC

This should reduce friction for first‑time users and make voice control more approachable.

Voice Typing: Adjustable Delay for Commands

There is a new option in Voice Typing called “Wait time before acting”.

This lets you adjust the delay before a voice command runs, which helps:

• Improve recognition accuracy for different speaking speeds
• Avoid accidental triggers if you pause or think while speaking

Windows Hello: ESS Support for External Fingerprint Readers

Windows Hello Enhanced Sign‑in Security (ESS) now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors, not just sensors built into laptops.

That means you can:

1. Plug in a supported external fingerprint reader.
2. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign‑in options.
3. Enroll your fingerprint under Windows Hello.

This is especially useful for desktop PCs and Copilot+ PCs that don’t have built‑in biometric hardware.

Start Menu, Kiosk Mode, Lock Screen, and File Explorer Fixes

KB5074105 also fixes several user interface and reliability issues:

Start Menu

• Fixes a problem where the warning message (when shutting down while other users are signed in) could be cut off at the edge of the Start menu.
• Fixes an issue where the Start menu might open on the wrong side of the screen when using Arabic or Hebrew as the display language and the taskbar icons are not centered.

Kiosk Mode

• Removes an incorrect error message that could appear after sign‑in on multi‑app kiosk mode:
• “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer.”

Windows Update / Windows Insider

• Fixes an issue where trying to join the Windows Insider Program from Settings > Windows Update could get stuck.

Lock Screen

• Includes underlying changes to help fix cases where the lock screen becomes unresponsive.

File Explorer

• Improves responsiveness when navigating network locations.
• Fixes an issue where folder renaming with desktop.ini and LocalizedResourceName did not correctly show custom folder names.

Login, Desktop Icons, and Input Fixes

This update also addresses several everyday usability problems:

• Fixes an issue where explorer.exe might hang the first time you sign in, especially when certain apps are configured as startup apps. This could cause the taskbar not to appear.
• Fixes a problem where desktop icons unexpectedly move when you open or rename files.
• Fixes reversed labels for keyboard character repeat delay in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Keyboard.
• Fixes an issue where the PC could stop responding when trying to run Windows Terminal elevated from a non‑admin account (User Account Control scenario).
• Fixes a problem that could cause Windows Sandbox to stop responding during startup and display error 0x800705b4.

Secure Boot, Security, and Other Technical Improvements

For more advanced users and IT admins, KB5074105 includes several low‑level fixes and security‑related changes:

• Secure Boot (Windows 11 24H2)
  • On devices that already have the Windows UEFI CA 2023 certificate in the Secure Boot database, this update replaces the older 2011‑signed bootmgfw.efi with a 2023‑signed version.
  • Microsoft warns that resetting Secure Boot databases or toggling Secure Boot on/off incorrectly can cause “Secure Boot violation” issues, in which case you may need Secure Boot recovery media.
• DPAPI Domain Backup Key Management
  • Adds controls for how often domain backup keys rotate automatically.
  • Strengthens cryptographic security and reduces dependence on older algorithms.
• Authentication and Display
  • Fixes a bug where the Password icon might not appear in Sign‑in options on the lock screen after certain prior updates.
  • Fixes black screen issues in some isolated multi‑user environments after a Windows upgrade.
• Graphics and Boot Reliability
  • Fixes a system error related to dxgmms2.sys that could trigger KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE on certain GPU configurations.
  • Fixes hangs during startup when Windows Boot Manager debugging is enabled (related to kdstub.dll and kdnet.dll).
  • Fixes an issue that might cause iSCSI boot to fail with an “Inaccessible Boot Device” error.
• Developer / SDK
  • Addresses issues with C Runtime (CRT) libraries in the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) that were flagged as non‑compliant by Microsoft’s BinSkim tool.

Final Thoughts

Windows 11 KB5074105 is a fairly large optional update that:

• Improves AI‑powered features on Copilot+ PCs
• Makes settings, Narrator, Voice Access, and Voice Typing more flexible and user‑friendly
• Extends Cross‑Device Resume so you can continue work from your Android phone on your PC
• Fixes many everyday issues with Start menu behavior, File Explorer, login, desktop icons, and more
• Strengthens Secure Boot, DPAPI key management, and improves reliability for advanced boot and graphics scenarios

If you are comfortable installing preview updates and want the latest features and fixes early, KB5074105 is worth trying. For more cautious users or production systems, you might prefer to wait until these changes ship in a regular Patch Tuesday release.