October Patch Tuesday Updates Bring Taskbar Changes on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Microsoft has just released the October 2022 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10. The company has started rolling out Windows 11 version 22H2 to more users last week, and those of you already running the latest version of the OS can download the build 22621.674 (KB5018427) today.

This update brings more dynamic Widgets content to the taskbar, including finance and sports updates. When opening the Widgets board while a badge is showing up on the taskbar, users will see a banner at the top of the board providing more details about the notification.

Microsoft said that it would bring File Explorer tabs, a new taskbar overflow menu, and more new features to Windows 11 version 22H2 in October, though today’s KB5018427 patch doesn’t include them. “We plan a phased rollout timed with the October optional non-security preview release for these features and then they will be made broadly available in the November 2022 security update release,” Microsoft explained last month.

If you’re still running Windows 11 version 21H2, the build 22000.1098 (KB5018418). This update also brings dynamic Widgets content on the taskbar, as well as what Microsoft describes as “enhanced Search visual treatments on the Taskbar to improve discoverability.” This second feature is currently only available for a subset of users, and Microsoft plans to push it to more users in the coming months.

Microsoft also released the KB5018410 patch for Windows 10 versions 21H2, 21H1, and 20H2. This update brings two new features, the first one is the ability to search for the controls for news and interests on the taskbar by simply right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Taskbar settings. The second change is that all taskbar orientations now support news and interests, just like the horizontal taskbar.

Even though we’re now in October, there’s still no sign of Windows 10 version 22H2 for non-Insiders. Microsoft has also yet to detail what’s new in this update, as all new features are currently turned off for Windows 10 Insiders.

Update 2:30 PM ET: I updated the post to clarify that File Explorer tabs and other new Windows 11 22H2 features will be available later this month via an optional update, then the public rollout will start next month with the November Patch Tuesday update. Thanks, Michael Reinders for spotting the info 🙂