Those who upgraded to Windows 11 version 24H2 using my tip will have noticed that they didn’t receive a Patch Tuesday update last week, though Microsoft delivered them for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2.
Well, it’s here now: If you open Windows Update, you’ll find that 2024-06 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 (KB5039239) is sitting in the queue, waiting for its moment in the sun.
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According to the release notes, KB5039239 updates Windows 11 to build 26100.863 (from 26100.712, if you installed last month’s preview version of this update). It also notes, amusingly, that “Windows 11 version 24H2 is only available for Copilot+ PCs devices,” which we know is not the case.
Officially, KB5039239 brings Copilot as an app, as noted in the preview version of this update. And it fixes issues with Bluetooth and BattlEye anti-cheat, though that latter issue only impacted Windows 11 on Arm.
While this update is uneventful on the PCs we all have, it’s at the center of the recent Recall drama: The reason it was delayed past Tuesday is that Microsoft was working against the clock to “fix” Recall in time for this coming Tuesday’s Copilot+ PC. But there wasn’t enough time for that, and so Microsoft punted and announced that it would delay Recall). Going forward, it will test this controversial new AI feature with a tiny subset of the borderline useless Windows Insider Program before shipping it in preview publicly later in 2024.
What this means to Copilot+ PCs is that customers will turn on their new PCs for the first time, install KB5039239 during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE), and enjoy a clean, Recall-free experience. In other words, Windows 11 build 26100.863 is the initial, stable version of 24H2.
Oh, and if you’re on the Release Preview for some reason, the roll-out of this build, that is, of 24H2, has likewise resumed, Microsoft confirmed.
And that means we’re back on track.
Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2 are all up-to-date, Microsoft will semi-properly test Recall over the next few months, and I’m sure we’ll see other new 24H2 features pop-up for all Windows 11 users ahead of its second, more widespread release this October. Just in time for Windows 11 22H2 to be retired.