ByWindows 11 KB5050092 is available now. This is the newest optional update for Windows 11 23H2, which shares most of the changes with Windows 11 24H2’s patch. As usual, you can find it via Windows Update, but if you don’t see it or want to update multiple PCs, Microsoft has posted direct download links for KB5050092 offline installers.
KB5050092 is an additional update for Windows 11 23H2. This will not show up on Windows 11 24H2 if you’ve already upgraded, but you’ll get a different update called KB5050094, which has the same set of changes we’re going to discuss in this article.
First and foremost, today’s optional update for Windows 11 23H2 is titled “2025-01 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5050092)”, and this is the year’s first big optional update. There are tons of good stuff, including support for “Resume”, which is similar to Apple’s continuation.
In our tests, Windows Latest observed that KB5050092 adds a new “Resume” switch to Settings under the System tab. As the name suggests, it allows you to start something on one device and continue on this PC, and OneDrive powers it for now. However, there are possibilities that other apps could be allowed to use Resume in Windows 11.
But how does the OneDrive-based Restart or Apple Continuity-like feature work? We observed that when the PC is locked, and you open a file on your Android or iPhone, then read something on your phone, and sign in to your PC, you’ll be able to continue working on that file.
You will pick up from where you left off. This happens through Edge and Windows 11 native notification. When you click the alert, it opens OneDrive in Edge or your standard browser.
Download Links for Windows 11 KB5050092
Windows 11 KB5050092 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and ARM (.msu) Microsoft update catalog.
The size of the KB5050092 update is 780.2 MB on Intel / AMD hardware and 907.6 MB on Snapdragon.
What is new in Windows 11 Build 22631.4830
If you’re on Windows 11 23H2, today’s optional update will advance your installation to Windows 11 Build 22631.4830. In the case of Windows 11 22H2, you’ll get Windows 11 Building 22621.4830, but this will not make any difference because they contain the same changes. No difference.
I’ve already discussed the OneDrive and Windows 11 integration for the “Resume” or Apple-like continuity feature above, so let’s talk about the other improvements.
After the update, you can quickly see previews of apps pinned to the taskbar and running in the background by hovering over the icons. This is not a new feature, but we are getting some animations and performance improvements here.
Then, there’s a new icon for Windows Studio Effects, so you can control the effects, but remember – it only shows up on NPU-based PCs.
File Explorer gets better tab restoration
One of the changes that I like in KB5050092 is support for improved File Explorer’s tab restore. For those ignorant, Windows File Explorer has a feature that automatically restores Explorer windows when you reboot your PC and go back to the desktop.
The idea is to restore your workflow, but the problem with the approach has been that it fails to restore the tabs. These changes today. KB5050092 switches on support for tab restore in File Explorer, and it works well.
We were surprised by how it is capable of remembering Windows with different tab selections and restoring it all quickly as you reboot Windows 11.
As you can watch above, I also recorded a video to showcase the new File Explorer feature.
In addition to better tab restoration, File Explorer now lets you create a “New Folder” from the left sidebar. Previously, the option did not appear on the left sidebar. Don’t confuse it with the main screen. We are talking about the left sidebar/command pane.
Additionally, search is now better because it does not stop working when you are in the middle of searching for something.
Here is the complete list of features, fixes, and improvements in Windows 11 KB5050092 for version 23H2:
Date and time will not get updated correctly when you copy a file or folder from one location and paste it into another.
Fixed a bug where icons did not update when you changed themes.
Taskbar is now vanilla (default) when you use Windows Backup to restore your previous backup during the OBe screen on a new PC. This will not make any changes to how the backup is done, but for some reason, Microsoft does not want to restore the taskbar from the backup.
Digital / Analog converter (DAC) now works again. It was broken after the January 2025 updates, but it has been fixed, allowing you to use your headphones with a DAC audio jack again.
USB audio will not fail with “This device cannot start“, anymore.
The camera is now recognized if you use it through the USB.
The CPU index number now displays correctly.
That’s it. This is the full list of everything important in Windows 11 23H2 update. For now, Microsoft is not aware of any new critical issues, but we’ll update the article if we notice something strange.
