Optional CU for Windows 11 released (KB5016691)

On August 25, 2022 Microsoft has released a new optional Cumulative Update (CU) for Windows 11 x64 and ARM64, bringing the build number to 10.0.22000.918. This ‘D’ release occurs under KB5016691. On August 16, 2022 the same KB got another update as a ‘C’ release, but with a slightly lower build number 10.0.22000.917). Both updates were released to the Release Preview Channel, but only the one with version 10.0.22000.918 was also published as a public (non-Insider) release.

Bundling multiple updates with a different build number and/or release date under the same KB is certainly not uncommon and does makes sense: these updates are related (10.0.22000.917 gets tested in the Release Preview Channel and a week and a half later a slightly different one gets directed to the public Windows 11 (but of course to the Release Preview Channel as well).

Although the D release is for non-Insiders, it still has some kind of testing context in a way, explaining why this update is a so-called optional or preview update (yes, “preview” is indeed very confusing here as it’s also targeted for non-Insider releases), so it’s not installed automatically. The content of such an update, which is non-security related in this stage, typically gets propagated to the ‘B’ release CU (so on Patch Tuesday), together with security related content. Such a ‘B’ release however is not optional and will be installed automatically.

Important:

• SMB Compression can occur now for files of every size.
• The ability to do remote language management.
• Enhanced Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s ability to identify and intercept ransomware and advanced attacks.
• An issues with Microsoft Edge’s IE mode has been resolved.
• An USB printing issue got fixed.
• Same for Bluetooth audio.
• Addresses an issue that prevents Windows 11 SE from trusting some Microsoft Store applications. This might prevent you from downloading the untrusted app.
• Servicing stack update (SSU) 22000.910. Note that this part cannot be uninstalled (you can remove the latest cumulative update (LCU) part however).

You can install the update through these update channels:

• Windows Update (WU)
• Microsoft Update (MU)
• Microsoft Update Catalog

And no, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) isn’t included.

Roundup of all the update’s metadata:

• Channels:
  • Release Preview Channel
  • General Availability Channel
• Build: 10.0.22000.918
• Target release context: Windows 11 21H2
• KB: 5016691
• Release date: August 25, 2022 => ‘D’ release (released in the 4^th week of the month)
• Update titles:
  • X64:
    • WU/MU: 2022-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5016691)
    • Microsoft Update Catalog: 2022-08 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5016691)
  • ARM64:
    • WU/MU: 2022-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for ARM64-based Systems (KB5016691)
    • Microsoft Update Catalog: 2022-08 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 for ARM64-based Systems (KB5016691)
• Update channels:
  • Windows Update (WU)
  • Microsoft Update (MU)
  • Microsoft Update Catalog
• For the previous update (10.0.22000.917) – Official announcement in the Windows Insider blog @Windows Blogs: Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.917 to the Release Preview Channel