On March 14, 2024, Microsoft made available the Windows 10 build 19045.4233 as update KB5035941 in the Release Preview Channel of the Windows Insider Program, which includes a few new personalization features, fixes, and improvements that will roll out during the April 2024 update.
New desktop Spotlight
According to the official notes, the update KB5035941 brings the Spotlight feature to the desktop experience, allowing you to set wallpapers dynamically from the cloud as backgrounds from the Bing service, similar to the Spotlight feature for the Lock Screen.
You can enable Spotlight from Settings > Personalization > Background and choose the “Windows Spotlight” option from the “Personalize your background” setting.
This feature was originally announced with the release of build 19045.4116, but then the company removed it, and now it’s available again.
Lock Screen with more information
As part of the Lock Screen improvements, the system will be able to show content for sports, traffic, and finance in addition to weather.
You can enable this new experience from Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and choose the information you want to see on the screen before signing in.
Windows Hello for Business changes for admins
Starting with this release, network administrators can turn on the “DisablePostLogonProvisioning” policy in the Mobile Device Management (MDM) to disable the Windows Hello for Business prompt for Entra-joined computers.
Microsoft is also taking the opportunity to force users to upgrade to Windows 11 if the device meets the minimum requirements. However, you can skip this option to continue using Windows 10, but consider that the company will end support for the operating system on October 14, 2025.
Other fixes and changes for Windows 10
Regional updates:
- Supports Daylight Saving Time (DST) for Palestine, Kazakhstan, and Samoa.
- Changes the English name of the former “Republic of Turkey” to the “Republic of Türkiye.”
- Resolves time service configuration inconsistency between mobile device management (MDM)/Group Policy Object (GPO) and Windows Settings app.
- Updates Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles for certain mobile operators.
Policy fixes:
- Addresses issues where the existing AppLocker rule collection enforcement mode is not overwritten when merging rules with a collection without rules.
- Fixes Group Policy service failure after applying an audit policy using LGPO.exe.
General fixes:
- Addresses issues affecting the COM+ component, causing some applications to stop responding.
- Fixes issue where some apps and features become unavailable after upgrading to Windows 11.
- Resolves deadlock issue in CloudAP occurring during simultaneous sign-ins and sign-outs on virtual machines.
- Addresses a problem preventing access to a network resource from Remote Desktop sessions when Remote Credential Guard feature is enabled on Windows 11.
- Fixes Microsoft Edge failure to open on Surface Hub.
- Addresses issues with the Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) AmsiUtil class, including bypass detection and other long-term threats.
- Fixes touch keyboard not opening intermittently.
- Addresses loading issue with top-down bitmaps having negative height when using LoadImage().
- Fixes scanner unresponsiveness when connected via eSCL over USB.
- Addresses reliability issues affecting the Virtual Remote App product when using a custom shell to open it.
Install build 19045.4233
If you want to download and install the Windows 10 build 19045.4233, you can force the update from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, click the “Check for updates” button, and use the option to install the optional update.
In addition to the preview of the Patch Tuesday update for April, on March 12, the company released the March 2024 update with various security fixes, and the new changes are to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for users in the European Union. The DMA changes include the ability for users to uninstall virtually any application, including Microsoft Edge and Bing, turn off the news feed or add other news sources to the Widgets dashboard, disable Bing from the Taskbar search, and more.
