Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2, build 26200.8246 available: What's new in the April update
Microsoft has started distributing the mandatory cumulative updates for April 2026's Patch Tuesday, identified by the codes KB5083769 (for versions 25H2 and 24H2) and KB5082052 (for version 23H2). For users running the latest releases (24H2 and 25H2), the packages are mirror and bring the system to build 26200.8246 or 26100.8246, while version 23H2 progresses to build 22631.6936. Installation occurs automatically via Windows Update, but manual downloading from the Microsoft Update Catalog remains possible.
Among the new features, one particularly concerns Smart App Control (SAC). Previously, modifying the settings of this security feature required a clean installation of the operating system. With today’s update, the transition between activation states can now be managed directly in Settings > Windows Security > App and browser control, simplifying protection against untrusted software without forcing a PC reset.
Windows 11: What changes with the April update
The integration of artificial intelligence continues with the update to the Narrator (voice assistant). On PC Copilot+, the system can now provide detailed descriptions of locally processed images. This feature has been extended to all Windows 11 devices through interaction with Copilot (shortcut Voice Assistant key + Ctrl + D). By pressing the key combination, the focused image is sent to Copilot, allowing the user to request further details via customized prompts.
The Settings app receives various structural refinements: the "About" page has been reorganized to make device specifications more readable, integrating quick links to storage management. The home of Settings also sees an improvement in informational tabs, with greater visual consistency across the different system menus. For users who utilize a pen, the option to map the back button of the stylus to the same function as the Copilot button has been introduced.
On the hardware support front, Microsoft has updated the display management stack. Windows 11 can now officially handle refresh rates above 1000 Hz, anticipating the needs of next-generation gaming monitors. Additionally, energy efficiency has been improved for native USB4 connections: the controller can now enter a low power level when the computer is in sleep mode, optimizing battery life for laptops.
Bug Fixes
Several historical and annoying bugs have also been resolved, such as the one related to the sfc /scannow utility, which previously could return erroneous error messages even in the absence of corruption in the system files. Improvements have also been made to the reliability of automatic rotation after waking from sleep and managing HDR metadata for displays with non-compliant DisplayID 2.0 blocks.
Security: 167 vulnerabilities fixed and two zero-days under attack
The security patch load for this month is particularly heavy, with 167 vulnerabilities resolved. Among these, eight critical flaws and two zero-days stand out.
The most dangerous vulnerability is CVE-2026-32201, a spoofing flaw in Microsoft SharePoint Server that is currently being exploited in real attacks. An attacker can exploit the lack of input validation to access sensitive information or modify data, although they cannot block access to resources.
The second zero-day, CVE-2026-33825, concerns a privilege escalation in Microsoft Defender. This flaw, already public before the patch's release, allows obtaining system-level privileges (SYSTEM). The fix is distributed through the malware platform update to version 4.18.26050.3011.
Microsoft also recommends immediately updating the Office suite, as remote code execution (RCE) bugs in Word and Excel that can even be triggered via the preview pane in File Explorer have been fixed.