Microsoft has released cumulative update KB5094981 (Build 26220.8575) for Windows 11 version 25H2, intended for insiders on the Beta channel. This build includes new functionality for Windows Update, as well as fixes aimed at restoring audio functionality, improving graphical interface stability, and eliminating system freezes.
- Windows Update. Added the ability to extend the update pause as many times as needed, giving users more flexibility in controlling patch installation.
- Audio. Fixed an issue where audio did not work for some insiders after installing recent builds.
- Settings. Addressed an issue affecting the reliability of the Settings > Apps > Installed apps section after installing recent builds.
- General reliability. Resolved freezes that occurred in the previous build when working with search, Notepad, and several other scenarios.
Some features under active development that Microsoft preliminarily presents to insiders may not be fully localized. Localization will be completed as features are finalized. If you notice localization issues in your language, report them through the Feedback Hub app.
Installation is done through Windows Update: go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. A computer restart is required to complete the installation.
| Feature / Change | Performance Increase or Decrease | Optimization | PC Speed | Gaming Optimization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ability to extend the update pause as many times as needed | ⚪ No direct impact (avoids forced update background load) | 🟡 Medium (scheduling flexibility prevents intrusive resource usage during work/gaming) | 🟢 Slight improvement during active hours (prevents sudden disk/CPU spikes) | 🟢 Positive indirect (user can block updates during gaming sessions, eliminating FPS drops) |
| Fix for audio not working after installing recent builds | ⚪ No direct impact | 🟢 High (restores functional driver stack without software workarounds) | ⚪ No impact | 🟢 Critical fix (restores positional audio and communication in multiplayer games) |
| Fix for Settings > Apps > Installed apps reliability | ⚪ No impact (UI fix) | 🟡 Low (speeds up uninstall/repair of bloatware that consumes background resources) | ⚪ No direct impact | 🟡 Low (allows faster cleanup of conflicting gaming software) |
| Fix for freezes in search, Notepad, and other scenarios | 🟢 Improved (eliminates UI thread blocking that hung the system) | 🟢 High (prevents explorer.exe hangs that locked file operations) | 🟢 Noticeable improvement (input lag and system stalls resolved during light tasks) | 🟡 Medium (prevents background freezing that caused micro-stuttering in games) |
Find and Change Settings
| Setting | Where to find | How to change |
|---|---|---|
| Extend Update Pause | Settings > Windows Update > Pause updates | To extend the update pause, open Settings > Windows Update and click the Pause updates button. You can now click it multiple times to extend the pause duration as needed. To resume updates, click the Resume updates button. |
| Audio Output | Settings > System > Sound | To fix audio not working after a build install, open Settings > System > Sound and verify that the correct output device is selected. If audio still fails, run the audio troubleshooter or restart the Windows Audio service via Services. |
| System Reliability (Search/Notepad Freezes) | Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters | To resolve freezes in Search or Notepad, open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. For Notepad freezes, repair or reset the app under Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Notepad > Advanced options. |
Official announcement on the Microsoft website.
The last 10 Windows updates:
| Update | Build | Version | Windows | Channel | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KB5121157 | 28020.2818 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-31 |
| KB5121158 | 28120.2824 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-31 |
| KB5121794 | 26300.9278 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Preview | 2026-08-27 |
| KB5121132 | 28120.2760 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-21 |
| KB5124040 | 26220.9223 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-21 |
| KB5124042 | 26340.9233 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-21 |
| KB5121106 | 28020.2731 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-17 |
| KB5121109 | 28120.2738 | 26H1 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-17 |
| KB5124036 | 26220.9202 | 25H2 | Windows 11 | Beta | 2026-08-17 |
| KB5124038 | 26340.9212 | 26H2 | Windows 11 | Experimental | 2026-08-17 |