Microsoft has released the May 2023 optional cumulative update for Windows 11, version 21H2, focusing on resolving audio and printer installation problems. The KB5026436 update is a non-security preview release aimed at allowing administrators to test upcoming improvements before the June 2023 Patch Tuesday release.
The update addresses issues related to printer installation when connecting to Wi-Fi automatically, audio playback problems on specific processors, and Message Block (SMB) issues causing inaccessibility to SMB shared folders due to memory resource constraints.
This optional “C” update does not include any security-related fixes and offers users the choice to install it. To update, users can go to Settings > Windows Update or manually download the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
The KB5026436 update also includes additional fixes and improvements, such as resolving unexpected password expiration notices, fixing Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) failures in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), addressing application failures during specific actions, and resolving Windows Firewall issues for devices joined to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
Microsoft has adopted a schedule for non-security preview updates, releasing them during the fourth week of the month starting from April 2023. This timeframe allows users to consume the updates two weeks after the latest monthly security update and two weeks before the features become part of the next mandatory cumulative update.
The complete list of fixes and improvements can be found in the KB5026436 support bulletin published by Microsoft.
