Microsoft has started rolling out the new Windows 11 KB5089573 Preview Update for users running Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. But unlike many recent updates packed with AI features most people rarely use, this update focuses on something users have actually been asking for: making Windows 11 faster, smoother, and less frustrating to use.
The update is part of Microsoft’s broader “Windows K2” effort, an internal project focused on improving Windows performance, responsiveness, and reliability. According to Microsoft’s release notes, KB5089573 includes improvements for battery life, Windows Hello, USB reliability, accessibility, and overall system responsiveness.
Microsoft is also adding several genuinely useful features, including Shared Audio support that lets two Bluetooth devices listen to the same audio at once, the ability to choose a custom user folder name during setup, Task Manager improvements, faster Search, and fixes for laggy Start menu behavior and Bluetooth-related issues.
- Update name: KB5089573
- Release date: May 26, 2026
- OS Builds: 26200.8524 (25H2), 26100.8524 (24H2)
- Update type: Non-security preview update
Some features and changes roll out gradually, so they may not appear for all users at the same time, depending on region, device compatibility, and Microsoft’s staged deployment process.
Contents
What’s New in Windows 11 KB5089573
The KB5089573 update focuses on improving the overall Windows 11 experience. Instead of adding unnecessary flashy features, Microsoft is focusing more on performance, reliability, battery life, and smoother day-to-day usability.
The update also includes several useful new features, accessibility improvements, and bug fixes that many users will actually notice during daily use.
Some of the biggest highlights include:
- New Shared Audio support for listening on two Bluetooth devices at once
- Faster Start menu, Search, and app launching performance
- Better battery life and standby efficiency
- Improved Windows Hello sign-in reliability
- New Multi-App Camera support
- Smoother USB and docking station reliability
- Better accessibility improvements for Magnifier
- Faster and smarter Windows Search
- Ability to choose a custom user folder name during setup
- Multiple bug fixes for File Explorer, touch gestures, lock screen, and Bluetooth-related issues
Microsoft also says the update improves overall system responsiveness as part of its broader effort to make Windows 11 feel faster and more polished in 2026.
Your PC Just Got Faster
The biggest highlight of KB5089573 is improved Windows 11 performance. Microsoft says the update makes the Start menu, Search, Action Center, and app launching feel faster and more responsive.
The update also improves Windows Hello performance, helping fingerprint and face unlock work more smoothly after waking your PC from sleep.
Windows 11 is also getting a new Shared Audio feature that lets two Bluetooth headphones connect to the same PC simultaneously. This can be useful for watching movies, listening to music, or studying together without sharing earbuds. The feature uses Bluetooth LE Audio technology for smoother audio sharing.
To use it, just open your Quick Settings from the bottom-right taskbar, click Shared Audio, select your two paired headphones, and hit Start Sharing.
Windows 11 Finally Fixes an Annoying Setup Problem
For years, Windows automatically created your user folder name using a shortened version of your Microsoft email address during setup. For example, if your email was johnsmith123@email.com, Windows might create a folder like:C:\Users\johns
With KB5089573, Windows 11 now lets you choose a custom user folder name during setup instead of using the default. So if you simply want your folder name to be: C:\Users\John, you can finally do that.
This is a small change, but many power users and advanced Windows users have wanted this option for years.
Smart Quality-of-Life Improvements
KB5089573 also includes several smaller improvements that make Windows 11 feel smarter and less annoying during daily use.
- Smarter Sign-ins: If you use fingerprint or face unlock, Windows will now automatically make them your default sign-in methods whenever they’re available. However, if your face scan fails and you have to type your PIN 3 times in a row, Windows will smartly stick to the PIN option until you switch back manually.
- Supercharged Search: Windows Search is also getting better. The Search bar can now find and prioritize files using search terms as short as just two characters.
- Easier Storage Management: Previously, opening Storage settings could instantly trigger an annoying administrator permission (UAC) popup. Now, Windows will only show the prompt when you actually choose to view Temporary Files.
- Better Hard Drive Creation: When creating a “Dev Drive” or resizing your storage space, you can now type the size in Gigabytes (GB) instead of doing confusing math in Megabytes (MB).
- Cleaner Font Look: Microsoft also updated the classic Times New Roman font to improve the appearance of special accents and symbols, especially in Greek and Cyrillic text.
Fixes for Bugs, Battery, and External Hardware
Alongside the new features, Microsoft also fixed several annoying Windows 11 problems in KB5089573 to make everyday use smoother and more reliable.
- USB and Monitor Fixes: If you use a USB4 dock or an external monitor, you may have noticed instances where the display fails to wake properly after sleep mode.
Microsoft says this update improves reliability for USB4 docks, hubs, and external displays, helping monitors reconnect more consistently after standby. The USB system itself also received additional recovery and stability improvements to better handle unexpected hardware issues.
- Longer Battery Life:Windows 11 also fixes background issues that could silently drain laptop battery life during standby.
According to Microsoft, some apps and hardware components were unnecessarily keeping sensors and input systems active in the background. KB5089573 improves power management to reduce overnight battery drain and improve standby efficiency.
- Virtual Machine Fix: For advanced users running Virtual Machines (VMs), Task Manager will no longer display unusually high or inaccurate CPU speed readings after resuming from hibernation.
- Task Scheduler: Task Scheduler is also getting a small but useful improvement. Windows will now remember your column width adjustments between sessions, so you no longer need to resize them every time you open the app.
Security Updates and Better Admin Controls
KB5089573 also includes several security and management improvements for both regular users and IT administrators.
Better Camera Controls: Windows 11 now includes a new Multi-App Camera mode that allows multiple applications to access the same camera stream at once. Microsoft also added a Basic Camera mode designed to help troubleshoot webcam problems and improve camera stability.
For businesses and workplaces, IT administrators can now manage these camera settings across company devices using Group Policy.
Safer Booting: Microsoft is also rolling out new Secure Boot security certificates to eligible Windows 11 devices.
These updates help improve protection against low-level malware and boot-related security threats while maintaining a gradual and controlled rollout process for supported PCs.
How to Download Windows 11 KB5089573
This is an optional preview update and won’t install automatically. Here’s how to manually download and install Windows 11 KB5089573.
- Open Windows Settings using keyboard shortcut Win + I.
- Navigate to Windows Update > Check for updates.
Ensure you’ve enabled the “get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option.
- You will see something like Preview Update (KB5089573) (26200.8524)
- Click Download and install to start the process. It may take some time, depending on your internet speed.
- Restart your PC when prompted to complete the installation.
Windows 11 KB5089573 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and ARM-64 | Microsoft Update Catalog.
Double-click the .msu file to run the installer, then follow the prompts to complete the installation. Restart your PC to apply the update.
Should You Install KB5089573?
Here’s the simple answer:
- ✔ Install it if you want faster performance and the newest Windows 11 features
- ✔ Install it if you’re facing bugs or performance issues
- ❌ Skip it if you prefer maximum stability
Since this is a preview update, all these changes will arrive in the next Patch Tuesday update anyway.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: May 26, 2026—KB5089573 (OS Builds 26200.8524 and 26100.8524) Preview
- WindowsCentral: Windows 11 KB5089573 update that makes your PC genuinely faster and more responsive
- Pureinfotech: How to enable new features for Windows 11 June 2026 Update (KB5089573)
- Windows Forum: Windows 11 Optional Week D Previews: KB5089573 & KB5089570 Explained
