Microsoft Ships July 2026 Patch Tuesday: 571 Fixes, Better AirPods Pairing, and a Quieter Widgets Panel
The mandatory Windows 11 update rolls up months of security holes and finally tames Bluetooth pairing gremlins. Here is what it actually changes on your PC.
Key points
- Microsoft released KB5101650 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, and KB5099414 for version 23H2, on July 2026 Patch Tuesday.
- The updates are mandatory and roll up fixes for 571 security flaws found in earlier months.
- After installing, Windows 11 24H2 moves to build 26100.8875, 25H2 to 26200.8875, and 23H2 to 22631.7376.
- The release improves Bluetooth pairing with AirPods, adds a screen tint accessibility feature, and makes Widgets less noisy by default.
- New printer installs now default to the Internet Printing Protocol, meaning printers set up without third-party driver software.
Microsoft pushed out its July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 today. If you use a Windows 11 PC, you will get this one whether you want it or not. It is marked mandatory.
The headline number is 571. That is how many security holes, meaning software flaws that could let attackers do things they should not be able to do, are patched by this rollup. Most were found in earlier months and are being cleaned up here in one bundle.
Two update packages are involved. KB5101650 covers Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. KB5099414 covers version 23H2. Because 25H2 is built on the same code base as 24H2, both get identical fixes. There is nothing exclusive to either one.
What will I actually notice after installing?
A calmer computer, mostly. The changes are small quality-of-life tweaks rather than dramatic new features, and they touch the parts of Windows people complain about most: Bluetooth, File Explorer, and the Widgets panel.
After the update, your build number changes. Windows 11 24H2 moves to 26100.8875. Windows 11 25H2 moves to 26200.8875. Windows 11 23H2 lands on 22631.7376. You can check this by typing "winver" into the Start menu.
To install, open Start, then Settings, then Windows Update, and click Check for Updates. You can also grab the files directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog if you prefer to install by hand.
The Bluetooth fixes
As first reported by BleepingComputer, this release puts real work into Bluetooth reliability. AirPods should now appear in pairing mode faster. Microphone reliability on Beats Studio Pro headphones has been improved. Voice calls over classic Bluetooth audio devices should be steadier.
There is also a small but welcome fix for mute buttons. If your headphones have a physical mute button, Windows will now keep that state in sync with the audio mixer on screen. No more wondering which one is actually in charge.
LE Audio accessories, a newer low-energy Bluetooth standard used by modern earbuds, should reconnect faster after being interrupted by a phone.
Widgets, File Explorer, and accessibility
Widgets no longer pop open when your mouse just passes over them. Notifications and taskbar badges are quieter by default. You can still turn everything back on in Settings if you liked it noisy.
File Explorer launches faster and handles disk images more smoothly. Hovering over a file now shows quick actions like Open file location and Ask Copilot, including for work and school accounts managed through Microsoft Entra ID, the company's cloud identity service.
A new Screen tint feature lets you lay a soft colour over the whole display to reduce eye strain. You will find it under Settings, then Accessibility. The Magnifier tool now accepts a zoom percentage typed directly in, rather than forcing you to click plus and minus.
Voice access and voice typing now work in French, German, and Spanish, with real-time grammar and punctuation cleanup as you speak.
Printing changes
New printer installations will default to the Internet Printing Protocol, a standard way for computers to talk to printers over a network without needing a special driver from the manufacturer. Microsoft has been steering users away from third-party printer drivers for a while, and this is another step in that direction.
You can turn the behaviour off in Settings, under Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners.
Install it when you get a quiet moment. Reboot when it asks. Your Bluetooth headphones will thank you.
