New Update Windows 11 KB5120998 out with major new features (Preview Update)

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Windows 11 KB5120998 is now available, and it’s one of the biggest updates of the year, particularly if you care about the Taskbar, Start menu, and Search more than anything else. You can install it via Windows Update, or Microsoft has also posted direct download links for KB5120998 offline installers (.msu).

KB5120998 is an optional update, and it won’t download and install automatically for good reasons, but it’s almost as stable as the Patch Tuesday releases in most cases. It shows up as “2026-08 Preview Update (KB5120998) (26200.8973)” and can be downloaded by clicking on Download & install.

The update is automatically installed in the background if you have enabled the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle. In our tests, Windows Latest observed that KB5120998 bumps Windows 11 25H2 to Build 26200.9278 and version 24H2 to 26100.9278.

Windows 11 KB5120998 out with major new features, direct download links for offline installer (.msu)

Windows 11 KB5120998 is now available, and it’s one of the biggest updates of the year, particularly if you care about the Taskbar, Start menu, and Search more than anything else. You can install it via Windows Update, or Microsoft has also posted direct download links for KB5120998 offline...

www.windowslatest.com

 

[Bot]

Windows 11 KB5120998 out with major new features, direct download links for offline installer (.msu)

Windows 11 KB5120998 is now available, and it’s one of the biggest updates of the year, particularly if you care about the Taskbar, Start menu, and Search more than anything else. You can install it via Windows Update, or Microsoft has also posted direct download links for KB5120998 offline...

www.windowslatest.com

Potential inconsistencies in the quoted article

The text contains an internal mismatch:

• The update is identified as build 26200.8973 in the Windows Update title.
• The article then claims that it raises Windows 11 25H2 to 26200.9278, which is a different build number.

That should be verified against Microsoft’s official Windows 11 release-health page and the update’s Microsoft Update Catalog entry. I cannot independently confirm this future-dated update or the article’s claims from the information provided.

Also, enabling Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available generally allows Windows to receive non-security updates earlier, but it does not necessarily mean every optional preview update will install automatically. Preview updates can also contain bugs, so they are usually best delayed unless a listed fix is specifically needed.

Use Windows Update or the official Microsoft Update Catalog rather than third-party download mirrors, and create a restore point or ensure backups are current before manually installing an optional update.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I would not touch it. Ms has bitten me too many times before.

 

[nickstar1]

I would not touch it. Ms has bitten me too many times before.

Downloading it now and eagerly waiting for the sharks,Hahaha. I love living life dangerously.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Downloading it now and eagerly waiting for the sharks,Hahaha. I love living life dangerously.

I miss the old me, but now I cannot afford it. I need my machine to be in optimal condition to get things done.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Horrible update. Multiple install failures. Rollbacks & eventually a system restore. Even DISM & SFC can't solve this garbage. Avoid until fixed.

 

[Parkinsond]

Horrible update. Multiple install failures. Rollbacks & eventually a system restore. Even DISM & SFC can't solve this garbage. Avoid until fixed.

Some reported enlarged mouse pointer.

 

[Victor M]

I miss the old me, but now I cannot afford it. I need my machine to be in optimal condition to get things done.

Get a third machine. Any refurbished desktop/laptop. Costs $2xx on Ebay. 2016 or newer (has TPM). I use it to build + test hardening + experiment. And I collect drive images (Clonzilla for Llinux, Macrium for Windows) so I can resume any configuration. (for that, add $7x for portable HDD)

And I added a table to my office so it's L shaped so I can swivel my chair and work on it. Cheapest good-sized presentable table: banquet hall tables with folding legs $7x. But i opted for something that matches the decor. What does your setup look like?

 

[Berny]

Horrible update …. Avoid until fixed.

My option “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” is disabled …

 

[papabanana]

will download this update later and will check this new update. thanks!

 

[Sorrento]

After a full image today (need more coffee yet) I'll have a look and maybe image back ??

 

[Nautilus]

Just installed this update this morning it installed and rebooted fine , no noticeable lags / stutter whatsoever. Maybe i am one of the lucky few we will see what happens in the next couple of days.

 

[bob974]

Just installed this update this morning it installed and rebooted fine , no noticeable lags / stutter whatsoever. Maybe i am one of the lucky few we will see what happens in the next couple of days.

Installed without any problems. Everything works normally...

 

[Marko :)]

I usually don't install preview updates, but I did install this one out of curiosity. Nothing ground breaking for me. I keep my taskbar in default position, I didn't get additional Start menu settings and Bing in search is already disabled because I'm in the EU.

Everything works normally here.

 

[Marko :)]

Found the first bug.

I use touchpad instead of mouse on my laptop and I noticed website scrolling was way faster than what it used to be. Sometimes the scroll is normal, sometimes it's so fast it lands me at the bottom of the page. Uninstalled the update and scroll is back to normal.

This is why I advise everyone to stay away from preview updates and to disable get the latest updates as soon as they’re available so they don't install automatically on their own.

 

[lokamoka820]

Found the first bug.

I use touchpad instead of mouse on my laptop and I noticed website scrolling was way faster than what it used to be. Sometimes the scroll is normal, sometimes it's so fast it lands me at the bottom of the page. Uninstalled the update and scroll is back to normal.

This is why I advise everyone to stay away from preview updates and to disable get the latest updates as soon as they’re available so they don't install automatically on their own.

I haven't installed the update because I followed your advice to disable the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option on my end. However, the bug you mentioned is actually a feature of Microsoft Edge. Although it's not my daily browser, when I use it to check my email, I've noticed that scrolling depends on the speed of my finger movements on the touchpad, especially on the left edge of the browser. Perhaps Microsoft wants to make this feature available in all browsers on Windows.

Edit: I meant to say on the right edge of the browser, right on the scrollbar; even in this age, I still mix up right and left.

 

[Jonny Quest]

No problems with the installs on 2 laptops. Nothing to report, yet. But in disabling Avast during the install helped noticeably with the install speed. The Avast software analyzer was having a fun time scanning the install I also did the same with the other laptop, temporarily disabling F-Secure during the install helped as well.

And please, no posts of, "you should never do that, Microsoft could be installing malware or an infostealer that the AV would have picked up on"... I know you're out there

 

[Parkinsond]

No problems with the installs on 2 laptops. Nothing to report, yet. But in disabling Avast during the install helped noticeably with the install speed. The Avast software analyzer was having a fun time scanning the install I also did the same with the other laptop, temporarily disabling F-Secure during the install helped as well.

And please, no posts of, "you should never do that, Microsoft could be installing malware or an infostealer that the AV would have picked up on"... I know you're out there

Me after disabling MD before installing Windows update to stop re-enabling itself until I finish.

 

[vonvon]

3 computers (1 desktop and 2 small laptops), installation without any problems.

 

[Marko :)]

I haven't installed the update because I followed your advice to disable the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option on my end. However, the bug you mentioned is actually a feature of Microsoft Edge. Although it's not my daily browser, when I use it to check my email, I've noticed that scrolling depends on the speed of my finger movements on the touchpad, especially on the left edge of the browser. Perhaps Microsoft wants to make this feature available in all browsers on Windows.

Edit: I meant to say on the right edge of the browser, right on the scrollbar; even in this age, I still mix up right and left.

I don't have Edge installed, only Firefox and Brave... and it was present in both of them. After uninstalling the update, scrolling was also back like it was on both. I'll see once Microsoft decides to release stable version of the update if I'll have the same issue.