Windows 10 Patch Tuesday updates are now live, here's what's new

Today is the second Tuesday of the month, meaning it is time for Patch Tuesday. This is the day that Microsoft releases cumulative updates for all supported Windows versions. For Windows 10, that includes the three latest versions – 2004, 20H2, and 21H1 – for consumers. Some older versions will be supported for those running Enterprise and Education SKUs, and Long Term Servicing Channel (LTCSC) customers.

Interestingly, Microsoft noted in its release health hub page that it is training its machine learning algorithms to automatically update users running Windows 10 version 2004 to version 21H1 - the latest version of the OS. The firm usually does this as a version nears the end of its support lifecycle and version 2004 still has around six months of mainstream support. Additionally, today's updates enable the News and Interests feature by default. However, it can be turned off if you do not like it.

As the three latest versions of the OS are built on the same codebase, this is the first Patch Tuesday that all supported consumer versions will be receiving the same cumulative updates. This means that the update for Windows 10 versions 2004, 20H2, and 21H1 is labeled KB5003637 and brings builds 19041.1052, 19042.1052, and 19043.1052, respectively. Those interested can download the update manually from the Update Catalog here. Build 19043.1052 is also rolling out to Windows Insiders running version 21H1 in the Beta and Release Preview channels.

These are the highlights for the update:

• Updates to improve security when using input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or pen.
• Updates to improve Windows OLE (compound documents) security.
• Updates for verifying usernames and passwords.
• Updates to improve security when Windows performs basic operations.
• Updates for storing and managing files.

The complete list of fixes for this update is as follows:

• This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

• Security updates to the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Management, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Authentication, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, Windows HTML Platform, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

However, if you are still running Windows 10 version 1909 – which is currently supported for Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise customers –, you will receive KB5003635 that bumps up the build to 18363.1621. Interested users can manually download the update from here. Here are the highlights of the update:

• Updates to improve security when Windows performs basic operations.
• Updates to improve Windows OLE (compound documents) security.
• Updates for verifying usernames and passwords.
• Updates for storing and managing files.
• Updates to improve security when using input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or pen.
• Updates an issue that might prevent you from signing in to some Microsoft 365 desktop client apps after installing the May 11, 2021 or later update and restarting your device.

And here is the complete list of fixes and improvements:

• Addresses an issue with an inconsistent shutdown during Windows Update that damages the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) repository. As a result, the Managed Object Format (MOF) Advance Installer fails.
• Addresses an issue that might prevent you from signing in to some Microsoft 365 desktop client apps after installing the May 11, 2021 or later update and restarting your device. You might also receive an 80080300 error or "We ran into a problem. Reconnecting…" when attempting to authenticate or sign in to Teams.
• Security updates to the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Management, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Authentication, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, Windows HTML Platform, and Windows Storage and Filesystem.

As mentioned earlier, there are older versions of the OS that are supported for specific customers in select SKUs. Here is a summary of the updates being made available to those users, along with information on the type of SKUs/channel that they are supported on:

As usual, these updates are mandatory and will be made available through Windows Update for all supported versions. Along with Windows 10, Microsoft is also releasing updates for Windows 8.1 users and those who have opted for Extended Security Updates for Windows 7.