Windows 11 July patches fix 571 flaws

Microsoft has shipped the mandatory July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11, releasing KB5101650 for 25H2/24H2 and KB5099414 for 23H2. The updates include security fixes for 571 vulnerabilities discovered in previous months, along with a long list of usability, accessibility, networking, and Bluetooth improvements.

Users can install the updates through Start > Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for Updates, or download them manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

This is the seventh Patch Tuesday release of 2026. Because 25H2 is based on 24H2, both versions receive the same update, with no exclusive changes for either release. After installation, build numbers move to 26200.8875 for 25H2, 26100.8875 for 24H2, and 22631.7376 for 23H2.

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The most notable addition is Point-in-Time restore, now rolling out to all users, with extra controls for enterprise customers. Microsoft also reworked Widgets to be quieter by default, disabling hover-open behavior and reducing badges and notifications. The company says the update also improves Widget reliability, responsiveness, and visual quality.

On the accessibility side, Windows 11 now adds a screen tint option to reduce eye strain and gives Magnifier more precise zoom controls. Voice access and voice typing now support French, German, and Spanish, with real-time corrections for grammar, punctuation, and recognition.

What changed in File Explorer, Bluetooth, and printing

File Explorer gets several tweaks, including quicker actions such as Open file location and Ask Copilot when hovering over files in Home, now including support for work and school accounts using Entra ID. Microsoft also says File Explorer should launch faster, respond better when mounting disk images, and more reliably handle address bar paths with double backslashes and quotation marks.

Bluetooth is another big focus. Microsoft says the update improves pairing and microphone behavior for some audio devices, including making AirPods appear faster in pairing mode and improving microphone reliability on Beats Studio Pro headphones. It also reduces reconnect times after hibernation, improves LE Audio stability, and fixes some failed device removal messages.

The update also changes printer setup behavior: new printer installations will use Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) by default when supported, tied to Microsoft’s broader Windows Ready Print push.

Other fixes touch networking, Wi-Fi blue screens, WWAN, IPv6 VPNs, WSL mirrored networking with VPNs, display rendering across multiple monitors, location settings clarity, Search group policies, HD Audio driver reliability, and touchpad right-click zone sizing.

Microsoft says it is not aware of any new issues in this month’s Patch Tuesday release.

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