New Update Windows 11 25H2/24H2 get 1000 Hz+ refresh rate support, File Explorer improvements, and more

[Parkinsond]

Here are the features that Microsoft is rolling out gradually:

[Narrator] New! 1 Narrator provides rich image descriptions on Copilot+ PCs and now works with Copilot on all Windows 11 devices. Press Narrator key + Ctrl + D to describe the focused image or Narrator key + Ctrl + S to describe the full screen. Copilot opens with the image ready, allowing you to enter a prompt for a customized description. The image is shared only after you choose to describe it. On Copilot+ PCs, Narrator gives instant, on‑device descriptions, and you can select Ask Copilot for more detail.

[Smart App Control] New! You can turn Smart App Control (SAC) on or off without needing a clean install. To make changes, go to Settings > Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings. When turned on, SAC helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps. To learn more, see App & Browser Control in the Windows Security App. This feature was previously disclosed in January 2026 (KB5074105) and is now beginning to roll out.

[Account Settings]
New! Microsoft 365 Family subscribers can upgrade to a different Microsoft 365 plan from Settings > Accounts. To remove the upgrade option, turn off Suggested content in Settings.
New! This update improves the design of the dialog boxes in Settings > Accounts > Other users to match the modern Windows look and support dark mode. The visibility of the dialog box option depends on whether the device has a domain joined work or school account.

[Input] New! The Pen settings page includes refinements to the pen tail button options. The new “Same as Copilot key” option enables the pen tail button to open the same app as the Copilot key.

[Settings]
New! The Settings About page (Settings > About) has been improved to provide a more structured and intuitive experience, offering clearer device specifications and easier navigation to related device components, including quick access to Storage settings.
New! 2 The device information card on the Settings Home page simplifies key device specifications and improves consistency across the end-to-end flow from the Home Card to the Settings > System > About page, making information easier to scan and understand.
This update improves the reliability and performance of opening the Home in Settings.
This update improves the reliability of downloading required updates when you’re prompted in Settings > System > Advanced.

[File Explorer] This update improves the File Explorer experience.
You can more reliability unblock files downloaded from the internet in order to preview them in File Explorer.
You can use Voice Typing (Windows logo key + H) when renaming a file in File Explorer.
You can now sort the permissions entries in the Advanced Security Settings window for a folder in File Explorer by Principal.

[Display] This update includes Display reliability improvements.
Monitors can now report refresh rates higher than 1000 Hz.
When you use a native USB4 monitor connection, the USB controller can now enter its lowest power level while the PC is sleeping, which helps save battery life.
Auto rotation reliability has improved after resuming from sleep.
HDR reliability has improved for displays with non-compliant DisplayID 2.0 blocks.
Monitors with DisplayID now report a more accurate size when the WMI monitor APIs are used.
[Printing] Updated downlevel baseline support for printer connections to be Windows 10, version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (Build 14393).

[Safe mode] This update improves the reliability of loading taskbar components in safe mode.
[Voice Access] This update improves how numbers are detected and written when using Voice Access in English.
[Start menu] This update improves the reliability of applying the Start menu layout through Group Policy when desktopAppLink is present in the JSON.

[Remote Desktop] The Set-RDSessionCollectionConfiguration PowerShell command now recognizes DisableSeamlessLanguageBar.

[Audio] This update improves how short MIDI messages are handled in cases where an application is initialized without providing long message buffers.

[System File Checker] This update removes an extraneous error message you might unexpectedly see when running sfc /scannow.

[Windows Hello] This update improves Windows Hello Fingerprint reliability for certain devices.
And here are the features available to all users after installing the update:

[Application Control for Business] Improved: This update improves Application ID tagging in Application Control for Business policies. With this update, the system identifies which apps should receive tags more accurately and behaves more reliably.

[Narrator] This update improves the Natural Voices experience in Narrator. It also makes Natural Voices setup more reliable.
[Performance & Reliability] This update improves stability in Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) when you run x64 apps on ARM64 devices. These apps run more smoothly and respond as expected.

[Windows Update Deployment (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue in Windows 11, version 25H2, where updates installed using the Windows Update Standalone Installer (WUSA) might fail with error code ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME. This issue can occur when you double-click a .msu file or run WUSA from a network share that contains multiple .msu files.

You can download KB5079391 in Settings > Windows Update or from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update is optional, so feel free to skip it if you do not need any of the changes mentioned in the release notes.

https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-25h224h2-get-1000-hz-refresh-rate-support-file-explorer-improvements-and-more/

 

[BSONE]

I just updated this on my laptop. I disabled Smart App Control (SAC), but was unable to turn it back on. It looks this feature must still be on gradual rollout.

 

[Brahman]

I am unable to identify the difference between 60 and 120 Hz. I am curious how many of you see the difference?

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

I just updated this on my laptop. I disabled Smart App Control (SAC), but was unable to turn it back on. It looks this feature must still be on gradual rollout.

Try changing the corresponding registry key.

 

[Parkinsond]

Try changing the corresponding registry key.

It's supposed to be interchangeable without the need for registry editing later, but it will land to devices in waves.

 

[Parkinsond]

I am unable to identify the difference between 60 and 120 Hz. I am curious how many of you see the difference?

Noticeable only with rapid motion; games and action movies.

 

[Bot]

Windows 11 KB5079391 update rolls out Smart App Control improvements

Microsoft has released the KB5079391 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, which includes 29 changes, such as Smart App Control and Display improvements.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

This is an optional preview update, so the main point is that it is meant for early testing rather than essential patching.

What it is

• KB5079391 is a non-security preview cumulative update.
• These preview releases usually contain bug fixes, quality improvements, and feature adjustments that may later appear in the next regular Patch Tuesday update.
• Because it is optional, most home users do not need to install it immediately.

Why that matters

• Preview updates can be useful if they fix a specific issue you are experiencing.
• They can also introduce new bugs, since they are effectively pre-release quality updates for broader testing.
• If your system is stable, waiting for the fully rolled-out Patch Tuesday release is usually the lower-risk choice.

About Smart App Control changes

Smart App Control is Microsoft’s reputation-based protection feature in Windows 11. If Microsoft is adjusting it in this update, that is worth watching, but I would be careful about drawing conclusions until Microsoft’s official release notes document exactly what changed and whether there are any side effects.

Practical recommendation

• Install it now only if you want the listed fixes or need to test the changes early.
• Skip it for now if your PC is working normally and you prefer the more conservative path.
• Before installing any preview cumulative update, make sure you have a current backup or restore point.

For most users, waiting for the standard Patch Tuesday rollout is the safer approach.

 

[Parkinsond]

I just updated this on my laptop. I disabled Smart App Control (SAC), but was unable to turn it back on. It looks this feature must still be on gradual rollout.

It's here

 

[BSONE]

It's here
View attachment 296949

Thank you. Confirmed. I now have the ability to turn SAC On/Off.
This is something that I will use carefully though, and only disable if I need to install an app that I have vetted and have high confidence is not malicious.
Win 11 OS Build 26200.8117

 

[TairikuOkami]

I am unable to identify the difference between 60 and 120 Hz. I am curious how many of you see the difference?

See is a difficult word in this case, your brain can see it and it can cause a headache, dizziness, decreased vision. A phone can detect flickering via a camera, even on LEDs.
I have recently switched from 60Hz to 120Hz mobile, I can not see the difference, but I can feel it, my eyes are more relaxed. Like when I switched from 60Hz CRT to 85Hz.

Basically you are looking into this. It is sort of a public secret, that using white LEDs used in headlights and public lights can damage retina, decrease melatonin, etc.