Windows 11 users facing Intune enrollment, File History, or network-share problems now have an optional fix — but everyone else may be better off waiting.
Microsoft has released the KB5101684 preview update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, raising the respective build numbers to 26100.8973 and 26200.8973. According to Microsoft, the non-security update includes 42 fixes and improvements covering device management, File Explorer, Windows Search, voice access, and Windows Hello.
Because KB5101684 is an optional preview release, users must install it manually unless they have enabled early access to the latest Windows updates. Its fixes are expected to be included in Microsoft’s August cumulative security update.
System stability meets practical interface refinements
The update addresses critical infrastructure bugs for enterprise and virtualized environments. Notably, Microsoft patched a flaw affecting mobile device management (MDM) enrollment via services like Microsoft Intune, which previously left newly provisioned devices falsely flagged as noncompliant.
Additional core fixes resolve SMB network share credential failures during automatic File History backups and eliminate incorrect Mark of the Web security warnings on mapped Distributed File System (DFS) drives.
For everyday consumer workflows, the patch focuses on refined navigation and accessibility:
- File explorer improvements: File sizes in Details view now dynamically scale to KB, MB, or GB instead of defaulting strictly to kilobytes. Users can also middle-click the Address Bar or Home page to open folders in new tabs.
- Enhanced search logic: Windows Search now incorporates broader fuzzy matching to correctly surface applications and relevant Settings pages despite typos or partial names.
- Voice access upgrades: Introduces Voice Isolation to filter out background speech and environmental noise, alongside added support for the Korean language.
- Biometric hardware expansion: Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now natively supports external peripheral fingerprint readers on desktop setups and Copilot+ PCs.
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Corporate deployment realities
Beyond surface-level polish, KB5101684 serves as a critical maintenance valve for enterprise IT infrastructure. Resolving Intune compliance glitches and SMB authentication failures removes immediate deployment roadblocks for systems managed over cloud and hybrid networks.
At the same time, Microsoft is using this cycle to expand targeting data for updating expiring Secure Boot certificates, ensuring hardware continues to meet strict security baselines ahead of upcoming platform transition deadlines.
While KB5101684 contains no documented known issues according to Microsoft’s release notes, IT administrators and everyday users should weigh the necessity of these fixes before deploying.
The standalone installers range between 4.9 GB and 5.3 GB due to bundled AI components and updated servicing packages. Because preview updates function as test grounds for broader deployments, mainstream users without pressing hardware or MDM issues can safely wait. All features and underlying fixes contained within this release will automatically deploy to all systems as part of the scheduled August Patch Tuesday update.
Read more: Windows 11 24H2 Support Ends Soon: What Users Need to Do Before October.