Windows 11 KB5044285 (23H2) out (direct download .msu)

Windows 11 KB5044285 update is now available for 23H2 and 22H2. This is the October 2024 Patch Tuesday mandatory release for Windows 11. Microsoft has published the update via Windows Update, but there are also direct download links for KB5044285 offline installers in .msu format.

The October 8 patch for Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 includes all the fixes and improvements of the September 2024 optional update. It also fixes the abrupt restart and BSOD errors that crept into the optional update. For those unaware, Windows Latest previously reported that a major bug in the last update caused PCs to crash with BSOD and GSOD. This has been fixed.

You should not run into major problems after downloading and installing Windows 11 KB5044285, which will automatically download and install in the coming hours or days unless you manually pause the updates. Like every security update, it will also require a restart and up to 4 minutes for installation.

You can manually check for it by navigating to Windows Update > Check for updates section. It’ll bump your PC to Windows 11 Build 22631.4317. If you’re on Windows 11 23H2, you’ll see the following update:

2024-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5044285)

For those on Windows 11 24H2, there is a separate update (KB5044284) that addresses similar bugs and adds a few new features.

Download Links for Windows 11 KB5044285

Windows 11 KB5044285 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and ARM-64 | Microsoft Update Catalog.

What’s new in Windows 11 Build 22631.4317

Unlike its Windows 11 24H2 counterpart, the October 2024 update for Windows 11 23h2 (KB5044285) skips a few changes found in its successor. However, it shares some improvements for the Taskbar, Start Menu, and Lock screen.

As soon as you update to Windows 11 Build 22631.4317, you’ll notice that there’s a new sign-out button in the Account Manager. After the update, the Sign-out button is now prominently visible in the Account Manager. Previously, you were redirected to click on the three dots button, but the button has been removed in favour of the shortcut itself.

The Start menu or Taskbar search results now have a file-sharing option. It allows you to open the Windows Share UI directly from the Search panel.

In other words, there is no need to visit the location in File Explorer to share it. You can do it directly from here. Windows Share gets rid of the search box at the top.

You can also manage your Copilot Pro subscription settings from the Accounts page in the Settings app.

Another noteworthy change is that the Delivery Optimization Settings page now conforms to the Windows 11 UI instead of the old design.

Here’s the full list of other fixes, features and improvements in Windows 11 KB5044285:

• Media controls now appear at the bottom center of the lock screen when media is playing.
• Windows 11 update has fixed an issue that prompted users for their PIN every time they opened an encrypted email in Outlook or other apps. Now, you need to enter your PIN only once.
• Microsoft has patched an issue where Task Manager stopped responding when switching from a high-contrast theme to a normal theme.
• In the case of Defender for Endpoint, an issue has been fixed where Work Folders files failed to sync when using this feature

According to the support document, Microsoft is currently not aware of any new issues, and the old bug that caused PCs to reboot or fail to reboot with BSOD/GSOD has been fixed with Windows 11 KB5044285.

We’ll keep you updated about the installation, performance, and any other major bugs in the October 2024 Patch for Windows 11 23H2.

What makes my PC stay on Windows 11 23H2?

Why are you getting KB5044285 today and not the Windows 11 2024 Update, the highly anticipated update of the year?

Microsoft told us that it’s still seeding the update to highly compatible devices that are unlikely to encounter problems.

In other words, if you do not see the update yet, it’s probably not fully ready for your hardware and configuration. It could be the lack of telemetry data that has convinced Microsoft to put the update on hold for your device or something else.

If you can’t wait for Windows 11 24H2, you can manually force an upgrade using the .ISO or Installation Assistant.

Speaking of Windows updates, the October 2024 Patch is the last update for Windows 11 version 22H2. Microsoft has ended support for Home and Pro editions, which means you’ll need to upgrade to 23H2 or 24H2 if you’re still stuck on 22H2.