Microsoft Releases October 2024 Patch Tuesday Updates

Microsoft has just released the October 2024 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10. For Windows 11 users, there are three separate updates for the versions 24H2, 23H2/22H2, and 21H2 of the OS, with the latter also reaching its end of service today.

Let’s start with the KB5044284 update for Windows 11 version 24H2, which has just started rolling out non non-Copilot+ PCs. This month’s update includes several new features that will roll out gradually, and you can find more details about the biggest changes below:

Taskbar: You can now share local files directly from the search results that appear in the Search box on the taskbar.

Start Menu: The “Sign out” option now appears on the account manager when you open the Start menu, and a new ellipses (…) button makes it easier to change to a different user.

Lock screen: Microsoft has redesigned the media controls on the lock screen and moved them to the lower bottom center of the screen.

Energy use: There is a new energy recommendation to turn off high dynamic range (HDR) on Settings > Power & battery > Energy recommendations. Windows 11 will also start showing reminders to plug in your device when battery drops below 20% while Energy Saver is set to “Always On”.

Mouse settings: The Settings app is adding new options for turning off enhanced mouse pointer precision and changing the direction in which the mouse scrolls.

Copilot Pro subscritions: These subscriptions can now be managed in the Accounts page of the Settings app.

With this update, Microsoft also fixed an issue causing Task manager to stop working when switching display themes. Another bug that was causing the Remote Desktop Gateway Service to stop responding has also been addressed.

For Windows 11 users still running the versions 23H2 and 22H2 of the OS, today’s KB5044285 patch includes most of the changes from the KB5044284 update above, plus some other changes that will also roll out gradually. That includes the removal of the search box from the Windows Share window, plus a new design for the Delivery Optimization Settings page in Settings to match the Windows 11 design language.

For users still running the original version of Windows 11 (21H2), today’s KB5044280 patch is the final one and it’s highly recommended to upgrade to a newer version of the OS. The release notes for this update only mention security improvements.

Lastly, Windows 10 users can download the KB5044273 patch for the version 22H2 of the OS. This update brings a new background color for the left pane of the Start menu to better highlights commands on the menu. Some users may also notice that their profile picture has been moved to a new position.

That’s it for today’s Patch Tuesday updates. If you’re not seeing Windows 11 version 24H2 available for your device yet, be aware that Microsoft has identified six compatibility issues that may be blocking the update on your device. The latest version of Windows 11 will be rolling out gradually, and you may increase your chances of getting it early by turning on the Windows Update toggle to get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.