KB5033243, KB5032305: Every Windows 11 version (23H2, 22H2, 21H2) received Setup improvement

Microsoft released Windows 11 version 23H2 at the end of October. Alongside the 2023 update, Microsoft also released dynamic updates to improve the Windows Recovery (WinRE), the Out of Box Experience (OOBE), as well as the Setup files.

This past week Microsoft released the Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 10 and also for Windows 11 for the month of November. Speaking of Windows 11, besides Patch Tuesday, the tech giant also released a new dynamic update to improve the Setup files of Windows 11 23H2. The update also applies to version 22H2 as well. This makes sense as the new feature update is mostly the same at the core system files level.

Microsoft writes in its support article:

KB5033243: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2: November 14, 2023

Summary

This update makes improvements to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2.

Microsoft simultaneously also released dynamic updates for Windows 11 21H2. It writes:

KB5032305: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 21H2: November 14, 2023

Summary

This update makes improvements to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 21H2.

In a Tech community blog post about Windows 10 Dynamic Updates, Microsoft explained Dynamic Updates in more detail regarding its various components and uses. These packages include fixes to Setup.exe binaries, SafeOS updates for Windows Recovery Environment, and more:

As soon as a Windows 10 feature update initiates, whether from media or a Windows Update service-connected environment, Dynamic Update is one of the first steps invoked. Windows 10 Setup reaches out to an Internet-facing URL hosted by Microsoft to fetch Dynamic Update content, then applies those updates to your OS installation media.

Content acquired includes:

• Setup Updates: Fixes to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates.
• Safe OS Updates: Fixes for the "safe OS" that are used to update Windows recovery environment (WinRE).
• Servicing Stack Updates: Fixes that are necessary to address the Windows 10 servicing stack issue and thus required to complete the feature update.
• Latest Cumulative Update: Installs the latest cumulative quality update.
• Driver Updates: Latest version of applicable drivers that have already been published by manufacturers into Windows Update and specifically targeted for Dynamic Update.

In addition to these updates, Dynamic Update will preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. These are not updates to LPs and FODs, but reacquisition to ensure the user has these elements present with the update completes.

These updates are installed automatically but they are also available from the Microsoft Update Catalog website at the following links: KB5032305 / KB5033243.