Microsoft is rolling out the August 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 today, delivering KB5121003 to both 24H2 and 25H2 versions. The update bumps builds to 26100.9165 and 26200.9165 respectively, and bundles security fixes alongside a batch of practical feature improvements that were previewed in the optional KB5101684 release two weeks ago.
This month’s update is a meaty one. Beyond the usual security patches — coming off July’s record-breaking 570-vulnerability Patch Tuesday — there are genuine quality-of-life changes worth knowing about.
File Explorer finally shows file sizes properly
One of the most overdue fixes: File Explorer’s Details view now displays file sizes in appropriate units — KB, MB, and GB — instead of cramming everything into kilobytes. If you’ve ever squinted at “4,194,304 KB” and done mental math to figure out that’s 4 GB, this one’s for you. You can also now middle-click folders in the address bar to open them in new tabs.
Windows Search gets smarter
Search now works with queries as short as two characters and handles typos and partial app names significantly better. If you’ve been typing “sett” and getting nothing useful, that should improve. Settings results also surface higher in search rankings now, which makes finding buried options less painful.
Windows Hello works with external fingerprint readers
Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports external fingerprint sensors, not just built-in ones. This means desktop users and anyone with an older laptop can plug in a USB fingerprint reader and get the same hardware-backed biometric security that was previously limited to devices with integrated sensors. Enable it through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
Touchpad gestures get more control
Laptop users get new touchpad customisation: adjustable base speeds for scroll and zoom gestures, plus an accelerated scrolling option that speeds up repeated gestures. If the default scroll speed has always felt too sluggish or too twitchy, you can now tune it to your preference.
Voice Access and dictation improvements
Voice Access gains Voice Isolation, a noise-filtering feature that cuts out background noise and nearby conversations during voice commands. It requires a one-time setup, though there’s also a simpler background noise removal option that works without configuration. Korean language support has been added to Voice Access as well.
Power management and system changes
A welcome change to power settings: customisations to display timeouts, sleep, and hibernate timers now apply across all power plans, not just the active one. Previously, switching power plans meant losing your custom timeout settings. Battery percentage configuration is also returning to Energy Saver settings.
Other changes include improved Windows Update progress estimates (those percentage bars might actually be useful now), a cleaned-up lock screen that shows only the Weather widget by default, and enhanced system sounds in dark mode.
Uninstalling AI models on Copilot+ PCs
If you own a Copilot+ PC and don’t use the on-device AI features, you can now uninstall the Image Generation AI model through Settings > System > AI Components. We covered this in detail in our guide to removing AI features from Windows 11.
How to install the update
Head to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. KB5121003 is a mandatory security update, so it will install automatically if you haven’t paused updates. As always, it’s worth saving your work before restarting — and if you’re cautious, waiting a day or two to see if any issues emerge with this build isn’t a bad idea, especially given that July’s update was the largest in Windows history.
Microsoft says it is not currently aware of any known issues with this update.
Sources: Pureinfotech, gHacks
