Windows 11 KB5044384 makes 24H2 more user-friendly (download .msu directly)

Windows 11 KB5044384 is the first optional update for Windows 11 24H2, and as I thought, it’s actually a pretty nice release. It fixes all the important bug fixes in the update and can be installed via Settings > Windows update. Microsoft has also released direct download links for KB5044384 offline installers (.msu format).

I don’t think we need to explain this, but remember that KB5044384 is an optional update for Windows 11 24H2 and therefore should not be automatically downloaded or installed on your system. All changes in the Windows 11 October 2024 optional patch will take effect as part of an automatic patch on November 12 (Patch Tuesday).

So what was fixed and improved in the first optional patch for Windows 11 24H2? In our testing and as confirmed by Microsoft, we found that Microsoft has finally fixed the 8.63GB reporting error where Disk Cleanup and Windows Storage reported that Windows Update caching is hijacking your storage.

A bug where SFC/Scannow did not work has also been fixed. There are other fixes too, but we’ll talk about them later in this article. If you’re using Windows 11 24H2 and checking for updates, you’ll see the following patch as an optional download:

Preview of Cumulative Update 2024-10 for Windows 11 version 24H2 for x64-based systems (KB5044384)

To install it, you can click “Download and Install”. If you don’t want the update, ignore the warning or click the Close button.

Download links for Windows 11 KB5044384

Direct download links for Windows 11 KB5044384: 64-bit and ARM | Microsoft Update Catalog.

What’s new in Windows 11 Build 26100.2161?

Windows 11 24H2 Build 26100.2161 has fixed several critical Windows 11 24H2 issues, including the 8.64GB cache error we just mentioned.

But what else was fixed? In our testing, Windows Latest found that the SFC/Scannow error has been resolved. Previously, a bug in Windows 11 24H2 caused SFC/scannow to incorrectly identify WebView2-related fixes as mismatched. As a result, SFC/scannow attempted to repair the corrupted files on every scan.

This issue has now been resolved with Windows 11 KB5044384. The issue was first reported by Windows Latest and then confirmed by Microsoft in an update to its support document. As of October 24th, the issue has been resolved with the optional patch.

Microsoft also promises improved “accuracy” for Disk Cleanup, which is a bonus change in the update.

Another rather annoying bug that results in a black screen when using Alt+Tab has been fixed in the update. For those who don’t know, Alt+Tab, which remains the best way to multitask on Windows 11 and switch between apps, showed a black screen after some people upgraded to 24H2.

In our testing, when we pressed ALT+Tab in certain apps or games, we noticed that our screen went black or black for a few seconds before responding to my keyboard shortcut. This has been fixed (finally!).

Speaking of new features, Windows 11 Build 26100.2161 adds a feature that lets you quickly take control of notification suggestions. For those who don’t know, Microsoft recently enabled a feature that reminds you to turn off app notifications using a different notification.

This was quite annoying as it often warned people to turn off notifications if they didn’t interact with that app’s specific warning. Now you will see a new “…” in the “Turn off notification suggestion” popup with the option to either turn off these alerts or go to Settings > System > Notifications.

You’ll find these apps in a new Notification Suggestions section. The entry is only created when you receive a warning from the system.

Windows 11 KB5044384 also allows you to remove the Copilot key and replace it with something else. You can change the Copilot key to open Windows Search or some other apps, including third-party ones, but the app must be a .msix package. .exe apps would not work.