Windows 11 KB5050021 is now available for Windows 11 23H2. It is the first patch/security release of 2025. As always, you can grab it from Windows Update, or Microsoft has also published direct download links for KB5050021 .msu, which is a great way to update systems offline.
KB5050021 security update brings a lot of quality-of-life improvements while reinforcing the system’s security. Among the newly added features, the shortened date and time in the system tray area and the ability to access your Android phone storage from File Explorer are noteworthy ones that we’ll discuss in a bit.
Since the Windows 11 KB5050021 is a mandatory update, it should automatically download and install on your PC. Don’t ignore it because of the critical nature of the update. You can check for it using the Windows Update page in the Settings app.
When you check for updates, you’ll see “2025-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5050021)“, which will bump the OS Build to Windows 11 Build 22631.4751 after installation.
Download Links for Windows 11 KB5050021
Windows 11 KB5050021 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and ARM | Microsoft Update Catalog.
When you use our links, you’ll automatically land on the Microsoft Update Catalog, where you need to select the Download button next to the supported CPU.
You can confirm your PC specs from Settings > System > About. It’s that simple.
If you’re on Windows 11 24H2, you’ll get a different update, KB5050009, which has identical features but a different build number.
What’s new in Windows 11 Build 22631.4751?
Windows Latest installed and tested KB5050021 immediately after it was released to the general public on Tuesday morning.
First and foremost, the changes we’re discussing here aren’t exactly new because they began rolling out in December 2024 with Patch Tuesday. However, only some users received the changes. Windows Latest understands that January 2025’s release will bring these features to more people.
The first and foremost visible change is the shortened date and time layout in the system tray. It consumes a lot less space than the original one and looks better, in our opinion. After months of testing, it finally makes its way to the Windows 11 23H2 stable channel.
As shown in the above screenshot taken after installing Windows 11 KB5050021, you can change its settings by right-clicking on it and selecting the Adjust date & time option. Then, toggle the Show abbreviated time and date checkbox to enable it.
Another great feature that we love is accessing the phone storage via File Explorer without plugging in any wires.
The wireless option is great for moving small files around, and we won’t suggest it for anything too large.
Best for small images and documents, and it also shows the phone storage stats in the address bar. The setup is very simple. Simply connect your phone using Phone Link and then enable the Show mobile devices in File Explorer option in the Managed Devices section to get the feature.
Microsoft previously rolled it out to some users in October, but now it’s available for everyone with Windows 11 23H2 KB5050021.
Next up is the Start menu, which now has a small jump list improvement. When you click on a system app like the Snipping Tool, you’ll notice more app-related options in the context menu. It’s convenient for some quick actions like using a timer for snapshots in Snipping Tool’s case.
After installing Windows 11 KB5050021, we also observed a notable change with the Task Manager, which now adopts the modern dialog boxes. This brings the app more closer to the new UI. You’ll see this when you try to disconnect a user from the Users page in the app.
All these pages support dark mode now.
Last but not least, if you use the Dynamic Lighting feature, you’ll spot a new warning message if there are no compatible devices connected with the 23H2 PC.
There are other small bug fixes for patching the PP USB printer system freeze and Windows activation woes after replacing the motherboard issue.
Prepare to move on from version 23H2
It’s also worth noting that Windows 11 23H2 is now in the last year of its support cycle.
Windows 11 24H2 is officially available now, with more PCs moving to it after a botched update rollout due to multiple bugs.
As Windows Latest observed today, Microsoft has finalized Nov 11, 2025, as the official date for the Windows 11 23H2 retirement. 22H2 is already out of the picture now.
Unlike other version updates, Microsoft is approaching the rollout cautiously after fifteen-plus-odd issues with the Windows 11 24H2 release. If you don’t see the 24H2 yet, it’s probably because Microsoft is fixing something that will cause inconvenience for your PC after the upgrade.