Microsoft has just released updates KB5035941 and KB5035942 for Windows 10 and Windows 11, which bring some interesting new features in addition to correcting various bugs. Here’s how to take advantage of it now!
Tuesday is Microsoft’s favorite day for the publication of Windows updates and it was therefore yesterday, March 26, 2024, that the Redmond firm rewarded its users with two new patches for Windows 10 and 11. Numbered respectively KB5035941 and KB5035942, these updates are “Previews” of the future Patch Tuesday scheduled for April 9 and bring a multitude of small improvements and bug fixes. No earth-shattering or revolutionary new features, but additions in small touches, notably certain functions announced as part of Moment 5 for Windows 11 and changes induced by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for users located in the European Economic Area.
To obtain and install these updates now, without waiting for Patch Tuesday in April 2024, go to Settings > Windows Update and start checking for updates. Depending on your version of Windows, you should be offered one of the following updates:
- Windows 10: 2024-03 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64 Systems (KB5035941)
- Windows 11: 2024-03 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64 Systems (KB5035942)
If none of these updates are offered to you after searching through Windows Update, check that the option Receive the latest updates as soon as they become available is activated, as in the screenshots above, then do a search again.
Windows 11 KB5035942: the new features of Moment 5 available for everyone
Cumulative update KB5035942 for Windows 11 is more extensive than it seems at first glance, as evidenced by the long list of changes and fixes available on the official Microsoft release note. In addition to a host of various bugs corrected, this update brings several interesting new features, some of which were announced as part of Moment 5 and compliance with the Digital Market Act (DMA), which we talked to you about in more detail in this article. As nothing is ever simple with Microsoft, some of the new features had already been deployed via update KB5034848 of February 29, 2024, but not all (some having to be activated manually after installation) and not for all users. This update therefore brings the changes of KB5034848 for everyone and adds a few extras, among which we find:
- The addition of new widgets to the Windows lock screen (the one where you enter your password) to display sports news, traffic forecasts and even financial information.
- Improving the settings and performance of the Nearby Sharing function, which we presented to you in this article.
- The ability to choose an alternative search engine for the Start menu, although this requires installing a third-party application via the Microsoft Store, as Microsoft indicates on the official page on this subjectand none seem available to date.
Note that for some of these new features, Microsoft indicates the deployment to all users will be done gradually. It is therefore possible that you will not have access to these new functions immediately after installing update KB5035942… As said previously, everything is always confusing and chaotic with Microsoft and its updates.
Windows 10 KB5035941: a fairly rich update for a system at the end of its life
Less rich in new functions than its big sister for Windows 11, the cumulative update KB5035941 for Windows 10 still includes a large number of bug fixes and various improvements, the exhaustive list of which can be consulted on the dedicated Microsoft page. On the new side, we again find the new widgets for the lock screen, but also the addition of Windows Spotlight which allows you to discover and randomly display new wallpapers, and the possibility of changing the engine search for the Start menu, with the same current limitations as those mentioned in the previous paragraph on update KB5035942 for Windows 11. And once again, Microsoft specifies that not all new features are immediately available to all users and that They will be deployed gradually…
Nothing revolutionary for the venerable Windows 10, but it is pleasant to see that Microsoft continues to take care of the penultimate version of its operating system by correcting malfunctions, improving its performance and adding a few new features. , despite its announced end of life. As a reminder, after October 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive any updates, whether functional or security. Until then, you will therefore need to upgrade your computer (if it is compatible) to the latest version of Windows, the next major version of which is expected in fall 2024.