Microsoft rolls out the Windows 11 August 2026 Security Update, KB5101684, on August 11, 2026, for versions 25H2 and 24H2. The update brings a wide set of small refinements rather than one flashy headline feature, touching File Explorer, Windows Search, Windows Hello, touchpad gestures, and power management. This piece breaks down what changes and how you can turn most of it on before Microsoft flips the switch for your device.
What’s new in the Windows 11 August 2026 update
Microsoft packs this release with incremental fixes across the shell and several built-in apps.
The company adds Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) support for external fingerprint sensors, an option to uninstall the Image Generation AI model from Copilot+ PCs, customizable touchpad gesture speeds, Voice Isolation for Voice Access, and Fluid Dictation for Voice Typing. Microsoft also updates the Account Control flyout in the Start menu and adds a parental controls notice to Windows Setup.
Security and AI control changes
Two of the more meaningful changes in this release deal with how much control you have over sign-in security and AI components.
Standard Windows Hello already encrypts sign-in data, but Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) isolates the biometric process inside a secure memory space away from the operating system. This protection was previously limited to devices with built-in sensors, such as Copilot+ PCs, but Microsoft now extends it to external fingerprint peripherals. You can find the option under Settings > Accounts > Sign in options.
On the AI side, you can now remove the Image Generation AI model through Settings > System > AI Components. Supported devices still lack a single master switch to turn off AI entirely, so this only addresses one specific model, but it responds to a common complaint about how deeply Microsoft has woven AI into Windows 11.
Alongside these two control changes, Microsoft also adjusts a couple of related visual surfaces. The Lock screen now shows only the Weather widget by default, making it less cluttered, and Taskbar notification badges switch from a fixed red color to your current accent color.
Accessibility and input improvements
Voice features and touchpad gestures both get more granular controls this month.
Microsoft turns off Fluid Dictation by default in Voice Typing and adds tooltips explaining how the feature works. Voice Access gains Voice Isolation, which filters out background noise and other speakers to improve recognition accuracy.
You can choose from three modes under Settings > Voice Access > Improve speech recognition: Voice Isolation, which needs a one-time setup and filters both background noise and nearby conversations; Remove background noise only, which suppresses sounds like typing without extra setup; and No filtering, which processes raw microphone input.
On the input side, Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad now lets you adjust the speed of scroll and zoom gestures. Microsoft also adds an accelerated scrolling option that speeds up scrolling as you repeat the gesture.
Shell and interface refinements
File Explorer, Windows Search, and the Start menu’s Account Control panel all get small usability fixes rather than new capabilities.
In File Explorer’s Details view, file sizes now display in the correct unit, such as KB, MB, or GB, instead of always showing kilobytes. You can also middle-click a folder from the address bar or Home page to open it directly in a new tab, and Microsoft fixes a gray flash that appeared while the Home page loaded and scrolled, along with improving thumbnail quality in the Recommended section.
In Windows Search, you can now trigger a search with just two characters, and the engine recognizes partial app names and typos more reliably. In the Settings app, Microsoft also reorders search results so the most relevant option appears higher on the list.
The Account Control flyout, the panel that opens when you click your profile picture in the Start menu, gets a badge that shows your current plan and account state at a glance, along with quicker access to plan benefits and storage usage details from OneDrive.
Power, update, and reliability fixes
The remaining changes focus on system behavior rather than visible features.
Display timeout, sleep and hibernate timers, and laptop lid action settings now apply automatically to every power plan instead of only the one currently active. Microsoft also brings back the option to configure battery percentage thresholds for Energy Saver directly in Power & battery settings.
Windows Update now shows more accurate progress estimates during installation, and Microsoft refines the post-update cleanup process to improve performance. Beyond Windows Update, the release improves explorer.exe reliability when opening Jump Lists, sharing files, and using Task View, and it strengthens sign-in and lock screen reliability on systems running low on memory. Print performance improves for IPPS printers, and clipboard reliability gets a boost in Remote Desktop and Azure Virtual Desktop scenarios.
Why some features stay hidden after you install the update
Microsoft rolls out many of the changes above gradually through Controlled Feature Rollout, so two devices on the same build can show different features.
- Microsoft enables features for a portion of devices at a time and expands the rollout once it confirms stability.
- Some features stay limited to specific regions or hardware configurations.
- ViVeTool IDs can stop working once Microsoft folds a feature permanently into the operating system.
You can bypass this gradual rollout and turn most features on immediately once the update is installed, using ViVeTool.
How to install Windows 11 August 2026 update
Before you can use ViVeTool to unlock hidden features, you need KB5101684 installed on your device. You can install it before or after Microsoft makes it generally available.
If the update has not yet reached general availability, enroll in the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program from Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. Link your Microsoft account, select Release Preview, agree to the terms, and restart. After rebooting, return to Windows Update, turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available, and check for updates.
Once the update becomes generally available, you can skip Insider enrollment. Open Settings > Windows Update, turn on the same toggle, and check for updates to download and install it.
How to unlock hidden features early
Once the update is installed, you can force most of the gradually rolled out features on manually using ViVeTool.
- Open the ViVeTool releases page on GitHub and download the latest ViveTool zip file.
- Right-click the downloaded zip and extract its contents to a folder.
- Copy the path to that folder.
- Open Start, search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and choose Run as administrator.
- Run
cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x, replacing the path with your actual folder location. - Run
vivetool /enable /id:61160789to enable virtually all the new features tied to this update. - Optionally run
vivetool /enable /id:61014711to specifically turn on File Explorer’s new file size display. - Restart your computer to apply the changes.
To reverse the changes later, repeat the steps above but run vivetool /disable /id:61160789 in step 6, or run vivetool /fullreset to clear every customization you made with the tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ViveTool command to enable the August 2026 features for Windows 11?
Run vivetool /enable /id:61160789 in an elevated Command Prompt after installing the update.
Does the ViveTool command unlock every new feature?
No. Some features stay unavailable even after running the command because Microsoft restricts them to specific regions or hardware, and others remain tied to server-side rollout controls.
Do I need ViveTool to get the new features?
No. Microsoft eventually enables every feature for all eligible devices on its own schedule through Controlled Feature Rollout. ViveTool only lets you access them sooner.
When does the Windows 11 August 2026 update release?
Microsoft rolls out KB5101684 on August 11, 2026, for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2.
Related Guides
- How to Fix Windows 11 Updates Not Downloading or Installing After KB5077181
- Microsoft Prepares KB5078127 Windows 11 Update for 24H2 and 25H2 Builds
- How to Fix Windows 11 Update Error 0x800f0983 (KB5066835 Failed)
- How to Fix Error Code 2147023293 (0x80070643) During Windows 11 Update on Older PCs
- Windows 11 WinUI Performance Update: Microsoft Tackles High RAM Usage in Native Apps
- Windows 11 KB5121767: Emergency Update Fixes Dell Shutdown and Overheating Issues
- Secure Boot Certificate Update Paused on Some Windows 11 and 10 PCs: What It Means
