There’s something familiar about Patch Tuesday—almost like the monthly reminder that Windows is quietly evolving behind the scenes. And this month, Microsoft has rolled out KB5072033, the final Patch Tuesday update of the year for both Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2.
Unlike flashy feature updates, this one arrives with a quieter purpose: strengthening security, tightening loose ends, and putting a polished finish on the OS before the holiday slowdown.
If your device hasn’t already updated automatically, it soon will. And once applied, your build numbers move to:
- Windows 11 25H2: OS Build 26000.7462
- Windows 11 24H2: OS Build 26100.7462
Before diving deeper, Microsoft has offered one small seasonal reminder:
Since operations slow down during the December holidays, there will be no non-security preview update later this month. So yes—this really is the last Windows 11 update of the year.
Let’s now walk through everything this update brings, step by step, and unravel what’s actually new behind the scenes.
🟦 Security Fixes: 36 Vulnerabilities Patched
Before features, Patch Tuesday always begins with security—and this month is no exception.
Microsoft confirms that 36 vulnerabilities have been patched across both 24H2 and 25H2 builds. All of them are labeled important, and the good news is that none are critical.
For anyone who manages sensitive work, or simply prefers peace of mind, this alone makes the update worth installing.
But beyond security, this patch folds in everything introduced earlier in the month in update KB570311, which brought 28 new features, UI refinements, performance boosts, and a handful of bug fixes.
Let’s revisit some of the major highlights.
🟦 New Features from Earlier This Month (Rolled Into KB5072033)
Sometimes features arrive quietly, and sometimes they arrive with a bit of personality. December’s feature set leans toward the latter—small but thoughtful changes that noticeably shape how Windows feels.
Before explaining each, let’s move into them gently, one section at a time.
🟦 Virtual Workspaces – A More Flexible Desktop Environment
Windows now lets you enable Virtual Workspaces directly from:
Settings → System → Advanced Settings
This feature broadens how users can organise projects, switch between work contexts, and maintain cleaner digital spaces. Creative professionals and multitaskers will especially appreciate this shift.
🟦 Improved Desktop Spotlight Controls
If you’ve enabled Desktop Spotlight, things just got easier.
A right-click now offers:
- Explore background
- Next background
Previously, you had to interact with the tiny icon on the desktop corner. Now, it feels appropriately integrated into your workflow—direct, simple, and intuitive.
🟦 Better Keyboard Backlight Handling
Supported HID-compliant keyboards now respond more smoothly, especially during brightness transitions and low-light adjustments. It’s subtle, but if you type a lot, you will notice it.
🟦 File Explorer Finally Gets Consistent Dark Mode
This is the moment many of us have waited for.
Legacy dialog boxes—those old white pop-ups that stubbornly resisted modern styling—finally adopt dark mode.
Try performing actions like:
- Empty Recycle Bin
- Copying or moving files
- Deleting items
The confirmation dialogs now match the theme beautifully. A welcome modernisation.
🟦 Keyboard Character Settings Moved to the Modern Settings App
If you head over to:
Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard → Keyboard character repeat
You’ll now find:
- Character repeat speed
- Delay controls
- Cursor blink rate
All of these previously lived inside the old Control Panel, and this shift is another slow step toward phasing out legacy UI elements.
🟦 Mobile Device Management in Bluetooth Settings
Under:
Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Mobile Devices
You can now pair and manage mobile devices more cleanly. This gradually aligns with Microsoft’s vision of Windows as a multi-device hub.
🟦 Quick Machine Recovery Gets Smarter
Inside:
Settings → System → Recovery → Quick Machine Recovery
The tool now performs a one-time scan by default rather than looping endlessly.
It feels lighter, faster, and less intrusive.
🟦 New OneDrive Icon on Settings Homepage
A small addition, but useful:
The Settings homepage and Accounts page now show a OneDrive indicator for quick cloud management.
🟦 Patch Tuesday Fixes Added This Week
After revisiting earlier features, let’s return to what KB5072033 specifically adds.
These fixes feel like housekeeping—quiet yet meaningful improvements to the day-to-day Windows experience.
🟦 1. Copilot Fix
Copilot wasn’t activating the Click-to-Do panel properly.
That glitch is now resolved—for supported Copilot+ PCs.
🟦 2. Networking Fix for Virtual Switches
Users running virtual machines will appreciate this:
External virtual switches were losing physical network adapter bindings after host restart.
This is now fixed, restoring expected Hyper-V behavior.
🟦 3. PowerShell Fix
An issue discussed widely by system admins has been addressed.
The update stabilises PowerShell operations that were failing under certain conditions.
🟦 The Big One: File Explorer Flashbang Is Finally Gone
For many users, this is the real headline.
Windows 11 had a frustrating bug where navigating between File Explorer pages—especially switching into Gallery—produced a blinding white flash.
Not anymore.
The “white flashbang” has been fixed in KB5072033.
Navigating between folders now feels smooth, consistent, and visually pleasant.
🟦 New Battery Indicator Arrives (Controlled Rollout)
Some users (myself included) finally received the new battery icon in the system tray:
- Larger and easier to read
- Dynamic colors (green when fully charged)
- Cleaner shape
- Optional battery percentage on taskbar
To enable percentage:
- Right-click the battery icon
- Select Power & Sleep Settings
- Toggle Battery Percentage ON
It’s a small but long-awaited improvement.
🟦 Final Thoughts: A Quiet but Meaningful Update
KB5072033 may not bring dramatic UI overhauls or headline-grabbing features, but it delivers something just as important:
stability, polish, and refinement.
From eliminating the File Explorer flashbang to introducing flexible workspace tools and strengthening security, this patch ends the year on a steady, reassuring note.
And with no preview updates coming in late December, this release stands as the final touch of 2025 for Windows 11 users.
Direct Official Microsoft Links
- Windows Update Catalog (KB5072033)
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/ - Windows 11 Release Health Dashboard
https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/
Disclaimer
Features may roll out gradually depending on region and device eligibility. Always back up important data before installing major system updates.
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