- Microsoft has released update KB5077241 for Windows 11
- This update brings new features and fixes – and no AI!
- It will be automatically downloaded on March 10
It’s no secret that Microsoft has been struggling a bit lately, with recent Windows 11 updates seemingly breaking more things than they fix while adding AI features that many people hadn’t asked for. I hope its latest update can change that.
As Windows Central reports, Microsoft has made the Windows 11 KB5077241 update available for everyone to download. Although it is currently an optional update as it does not contain any urgent security fixes, it will be automatically installed during the next ‘Patch Tuesday’ which is March 10th.
Still, this update brings enough improvements that I want to install it ASAP, and I suggest most of you do too.
Here are the features I think are worth checking out as they can massively improve your Windows 11 experience:
New built-in network speed test
This is the feature that will probably be used the most for me and for anyone who regularly finds themselves typing ‘speed test’ into Google to check their internet speed. With the new update, Microsoft adds a network speed test to the taskbar, and it can be accessed via Wi-Fi Quick Settings or by right-clicking the network icon on the taskbar.
This should make it quick and easy to check your network speed, which can be really useful if you’ve noticed that your internet has been slow on your PC and want to find out why. If you’re installing a new router (hopefully one from our best router buying guide), it can also really help to check the speeds your devices are capable of in different parts of your house.
One thing that worries me is in Microsoft’s release notes it says: “The speed test opens in the default browser and measures Ethernet, Wi-Fi and cellular connections.” I hope it doesn’t mean it opens Microsoft’s Edge browser instead of the default browser you’ve chosen (like Chrome) and runs Bing’s speed checker.
While I’ve installed the update myself, this is what Microsoft calls a ‘gradual update’, which means that not all features will be available right away, and it looks like I’ll have to wait a bit longer to try out the speed test feature myself.
Pan and tilt camera control
Another welcome addition with this update is that you can control the pan and tilt for supported webcams via Windows 11’s Settings app. For advanced webcams that offer pan and tilt controls to help position the camera for the best possible view, this is a great feature to have.
Other improvements
In addition to adding new features, this update also aims to make Windows 11 more pleasant to use by fixing several issues.
That includes improving the reliability with which PCs wake from sleep – something I’m particularly happy to see, as across my many Windows 11 devices, including the Asus ROG Ally X gaming handhelds, I’ve found that when the devices wake from sleep (rather than turning them back on after being completely shut down), there can sometimes be issues with the handhelds not working or the unregistered devices working. roosters.
So any improvements here will be very welcome and should hopefully make Windows 11 feel more polished.
Other updates include improvements to the overall appearance of Windows 11 to make it look more consistent, tweaks to how Windows 11 connects and uses projectors and printers, and better login screen performance. The Windows Update settings page should also run better.
A good start, but there is much more work to be done
After enduring several recent Windows 11 updates that seemingly just add AI features that I rarely — if ever — want to use without fixing some of my major issues with the operating system, I’m relieved to see an update that I actually lack to install.
Windows 11 is far from perfect and I still have many issues with the OS and how it works
There are some nice new features and quality-of-life improvements, and while polishing some of Windows 11’s rough edges almost five years after the operating system was launched feels a little late, I’m glad that this appears to be an update where Microsoft is looking to improve Windows 11 for its users.
There is still a lot of work to do as Windows 11 is far from perfect and I still have many issues with the OS and how it works.
And while this update seems mercifully free of unwanted AI features, I still have some concerns that Microsoft hasn’t fully understood what people don’t like about Windows 11 at the moment. As I mentioned earlier, the built-in network speed test is a cool idea, but I’m worried that it will be used to force people to use Microsoft’s Edge browser and Bing search engine.
As my colleague Darren noted when he first reported on this update, Microsoft is changing the account section of the Start menu, which according to Microsoft now “includes a new option that directs you to the benefits page, making it easier to explore and manage your Microsoft account benefits,” which sounds suspiciously like another way for Microsoft to get Windows 11 users to sign up for one, if Office 1 services, such as users are not clamoring for, it is more ads in the operating system.
Despite these caveats, I feel more positive about this update than previous releases, and I hope it’s a sign that Microsoft is seriously addressing people’s issues with Windows 11. Now almost five years old, many people’s perceptions of Windows 11 have been settled, but there’s still a chance for Microsoft to win the naysayers – it just needs to release more updates like this.
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