Optional July Updates for Windows 11 Are Now Available

Microsoft released yesterday the optional July 2026 updates for Windows 11 versions 26H1 and 25H2/24H2. The new bits bring gesture controls for precision touchpads, plus minor improvements for Windows Search, File Explorer, and other Windows components.

This isn’t new, but Windows 11 version 26H1, which is only shipping on new PCs powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Series chips, continues to lag behind the versions 25H2/24H2 of the OS in terms of new features. The optional KB5101681 patch for Windows 11 version 26H1 enables the new Screen tint accessibility feature, the “quieter” Widgets experience, and the ability to pause Windows Updates for up to 35 days. All these features and more started rolling out earlier this month with the July Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2.

The July optional update for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5101684) includes new features that will start rolling out to the public with next month’s Patch Tuesday update. Here are the highlights:

New gesture controls for precision touchpads: On PCs with precision touchpads, there are new controls for adjusting the baseline speed for scroll and zoom gestures and enabling accelerated scrolling for faster navigation through long documents in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.

Windows Hello improvements: Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors.

Widgets improvements: Taskbar notification badges now use the Windows accent color instead of appearing red. To reduce distractions on the Lock Screen, the Weather widget will now be the only one to be shown by default.

Windows Search improvements: This update improves app search and Settings relevance to better handle typos and partial names for finding installed apps and relevant settings.

Voice Access improvements: The Voice Access accessibility feature now supports Voice Isolation to reduce interference from other speakers and background noise.

Windows Update improvements: This update improves calculation of update progression in Windows Update Settings. It also improves clean-up logic to optimize system performance after installing an update.

Power improvements: This update restores the ability to set a threshold for when the energy saver feature should enable within Settings > System > Power & Battery.

Again, all these new features and improvements will start rolling out gradually to all Windows 11 users with next month’s Patch Tuesday updates, which will be released on August 11.