Microsoft Releases Optional June Updates for Windows 11

Microsoft has just released the optional June updates for Windows 11 versions 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2. As usual, the optional patches include several new features that will be gradually rolling out to all Windows 11 users in July with the release of the next Patch Tuesday updates.

Earlier this month, Windows Insiders on the Release Preview Channel already got to test new features coming to Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 next month. Here are the main highlights:

Screen tint: This new accessibility feature applies a color overlay across the entire display to reduce eye strain.

Point-in-time restore: This new recovery feature will help Windows 11 users to quickly roll back their PC, including apps, settings, and personal files, to a recent automatic restore point.

Windows Update improvements: It’s now possible to pause updates for up to 35 days and re‑pause them as needed.

Quieter Widgets: To reduce distractions, Widgets no longer open on hover, and Insiders will also see reduced alerts and an updated taskbar badge behavior. To to optimize memory use, Widgets will also have a smaller default memory footprint, especially on devices with lower memory capacity.

Magnifier zoom controls: Magnifier now offers preset step increments for zoom levels, and Insiders can also type an exact zoom percentage directly in the magnifier toolbar

Bluetooth connectivity improvements: Microsoft is improving compatibility with certain Bluetooth audio devices such as Apple’s AirPods, which will now appear faster in pairing mode. The update also improves the reliability of microphones on Beats Studio Pro headphones, and it also reduces the time it takes for Bluetooth audio devices to reconnect after Windows resumes from sleep.

Voice access and voice typing improvements: Insiders can now use the voice access and voice typing accessibility features in French, German, and Spanish.

Right-click settings on touchpads: On PCs with touchpads with a pressable surface, it’s now possible to customize the size of the right-click zone in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.

GIPHY integration: Following the deprecation of Google’s Tenor API, the emoji panel on Windows 11 (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY for GIF content.

Taskbar improvements: Notification counts and badge visuals now update correctly.

Let’s move on to Windows 11 version 26H1, which is only available out of the box on new PCs powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 series chips, such as Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro and Surface Laptop for consumers. As you may know, the version 26H1 of the OS already lagged behind older versions of the OS in terms of new features, and this is not changing with today’s optional update.

The just-released KB5095091 optional patch brings some of the new features included in the June Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 version 25H2 and 24H2. That includes the new NPU usage metrics in Task Manager, multi-app camera support, and the option to choose a custom name for the user folder on the Device Name page during Windows setup. Lastly, this update also includes underlying changes to improve download performance and bandwidth usage in the Microsoft Store app.