On December 10, Microsoft released a new update for Windows 11. For version 23H2, it’s labeled KB5048685, and for 24H2, KB5048667. This mandatory update will download and install automatically. However, you can manually install it via the “Windows Update” section in the system settings. Notably, this is the final security update for the year. The update and security fixes introduce several new features and improvements to Windows 11’s functionality.
One noticeable change is the option to display a shorter date format in the system tray. Users can also choose to hide the display of seconds, freeing up some space on the taskbar. To enable this, navigate to Settings > Date & Time and activate the “Show abbreviated date and time” option. If you’d prefer not to see the notification icon, you can disable it under Settings > System > Notifications by toggling off the “Show notification bell icon” setting.
Another noteworthy feature is the introduction of “jump lists,” allowing users to launch pinned taskbar apps with administrator privileges. These jump lists, accessible by right-clicking on an app icon in the taskbar, display recently opened files related to that application. To open a file from the list with admin privileges, simply hold Ctrl + Shift while clicking the file.
A similar context menu is now available in the Start menu, offering various options. For instance, the jump list for the “Snipping Tool” app provides shortcuts for taking screenshots and setting timers.
After installing this update, you can copy files to an Android smartphone or tablet directly from File Explorer or the desktop, without needing a USB connection. Minor updates have also been made to the settings pages for dynamic lighting, keyboards, and mice. Additionally, in Windows 11 build 22631.4602, you can now prevent your PC from sending diagnostic data to Microsoft by adjusting the settings in the Custom Experience section.
Microsoft notes that these new features will roll out in stages.
