Download Windows 11 22H2 KB5029351 Preview Update With Hover Behavior On Search Box Gleam [August 2023]

Microsoft releases a non-security preview update every 4th Tuesday of each month. This allows them to make any further changes and fixes before next month’s Patch Tuesday release.

For August 2023, Microsoft has released KB5029351 for Windows 11 v22H2. This update includes several new features including a hover behavior over the search box gleam and improvements to the app default and app pinning methods. Installing this update will upgrade the operating system’s build to 22621.2215.

You can choose to install this update on your Windows 11 PC today using the direct download link shared below, or through Windows Update. Alternatively, the new features and improvements will automatically install in September 2023’s Patch Tuesday release.

KB5029351 Release Summary

• KB Article: KB5029351
• OS Version: Windows 11 version 22H2
• Build: 22621.2215
• Size: 400.8 MB
• Release Date: 22nd August 2023

New in KB5029351

There is a long list of new features and improvements in KB5029351. However, since it is a preview update, it does not include any security updates for the OS.

Below is a list of new items in KB5029351:

• This update adds a new hover behavior to the search box gleam. When you hover over it, the search flyout box will appear. You can adjust this behavior by right-clicking the taskbar. Then choose Taskbar settings to change your search box experience.
• This update adds new functionality that affects app defaults. For defaults, Microsoft will introduce a new Settings deep link URI for applications to take their users directly to the appropriate location in Settings for the user to change their defaults.
• This release adds a new policy called “Enable optional updates.” Administrators can use it to configure the monthly, optional cumulative updates for commercial devices.
• This update supports daylight saving time (DST) changes in Israel.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the search icon. When you selected it, the Search app did not open.
• This update improves the reliability of the Search app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the TAB key. Using it to browse search results requires additional actions.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Narrator. It does not correctly identify the search box on the taskbar and search highlights within the search box.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the search box size. Its size is reduced in tablet posture mode on Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Book devices.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Group Policy Service. It will not wait for 30 seconds, which is the default wait time, for the network to be available.
• This update adds a new API for D3D12 Independent Devices. You can use it to create multiple D3D12 devices on the same adapter.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a WS_EX_LAYERED window. The window might render with the wrong dimensions or at the wrong position. This occurs when you scale the display screen.
• This update addresses an issue that affects print jobs that are sent to a virtual print queue. They fail without an error.
• This update addresses an issue that causes high CPU use. This occurs when you enable the “fBlockNonDomain” policy.
• This update addresses an issue that affects disk partitions. The system might stop working. This occurs after you delete a disk partition and add the space from the deleted partition to an existing BitLocker partition.
• This update addresses an issue that causes Windows to fail. This occurs when you use BitLocker on a storage medium that has a large sector size.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop sessions. Sometimes you receive a wrong error message when you try to sign in to a session.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Start menu icons. They are missing after you sign in for the first time.
• This update addresses an issue that affects settings. They do not sync even if you turn on the toggle on the Windows Backup page in the Settings app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resultant Set of Policy (RSOP). The Windows LAPS “BackupDirectory” policy setting was not reported.
• The update addresses an issue that affects those who use Windows Update for Business. After you are asked to change your password at sign-in, the change operation fails. Then you cannot sign in.

With these fixes and improvements, there are currently no known issues with this release. However, there are a few with stable updates to Windows 11. You can read more about them here:

Windows 11 Known Issues and Fixes

Download and install Windows 11 KB5029351

This optional non-security update can be installed through Windows Update and standalone installers.

We have given the direct download links to the standalone installers below, using which you can install the update on your respective Windows 11 version, or you can simply update to the latest build using Windows Update through the given guide below.

Offline Installers

Download KB5029351 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 64-Bit [400.8 MB]

Download KB5029351 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 ARM64 [523.3 MB]

To install the update, simply run the downloaded MSU file and Windows will automatically install the update. To download any other updates related to any of the above, please check the Microsoft Catalog.

Windows Update

To install this update via Windows Update, you need to be running Windows 11 version 22H2. To check your version of the operating system, type in “winver” in the Run Command box and press Enter.

Once ensured you have the right OS version, perform the following steps to install KB5029351:

1. Navigate to the following:

   Settings app >> Windows Update

2. Here, click “Check for updates.”

   

3. Click “Download and install” under the available optional update.

   You will see the following update available under Optional quality update available:

   2023-08 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5029351) is available

4. [Conditional] If you haven’t opted to get the latest Windows updates as soon as they are available, you may see a dialog box pop up. Choose whether you want to opt in or not.

   

5. Once the update is downloaded and installed, click “Restart Now.”

   

Once the computer restarts, the update will be successfully installed. To confirm this, check the updated build number by typing in “winver” in the Run Command box.

Rollback/Remove Windows 11 Cumulative Update

If you do not wish to keep the installed update for some reason, you can always roll back to the previous build of the OS. However, this can only be performed within the next 10 days after installing the new update.

To roll back after 10 days, you will need to apply this trick.

Cleanup After Installing Windows Updates

If you want to save space after installing Windows updates, you can run the following commands one after the other in Command Prompt with administrative privileges:

dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

Block KB5029351 from installing

Although this is an optional update, which means that it won’t install without you manually pressing any buttons. However, you can completely block it from installing, both temporarily or permanently, using these steps:

1. Download the “Show or hide updates” tool from Microsoft.

2. Run the utility and click Next to start the scanning process.

   

3. Next, click the “Hide updates” button.

   

4. Select the updates you want to block and click Next.

   

   This automatically hides the update from Windows Update and it will not be installed during the next update process.

5. Click the Close button.

If you want to unhide or show hidden updates, run the tool again and select “Show hidden updates” instead of “Hide updates.” The rest of the process is the same.

Final analysis

KB5029351 is an optional, non-security update Microsoft has released to test the new features and improvements beforehand. Unlike most other early preview updates, this one does not include any issues which Microsoft is currently aware of. However, we shall get a clear picture of the issues after user feedback.

KB5029351 does not patch any security vulnerabilities but is definitely worth installing. As mentioned above, it includes a plethora of new features, improvements, and fixes for the Windows 11 operating system. After having tested it out ourselves, we recommend that you update your OS today.

Windows 11 optional non-security update history

KB Article	OS Version	Build	Release Date	Significant Changes	Announcement
KB5031455	22H2	22621.2506	26-Oct-23	Introduces Moment 4 features that are enabled by default, fixes issues with touchscreen amongst others	Microsoft Announcement of KB5031455
KB5030310	22H2	22621.2361	26-Sep-23	– Introduces new features of Windows 11 23H2 – Made major fixes and resolved issues	Microsoft Announcement of KB5030310
KB5029351	22H2	22621.2215	22-Aug-23	– Improves app defaults and app pinning – Includes hover behavior to search box gleam	Microsoft Announcement of KB5029351
KB5028254	22H2	22621.2070	26-Jul-23	– Addresses issues with push notifications – Fixes issues with VPN connectivity	Microsoft Announcement of KB5028254
KB5027303	22H2	22621.1928	27-Jun-23	– Includes all Moment 3 features and improvements, including the option to show seconds in the taskbar clock. – Improves the sharing of a local file in File Explorer with Microsoft Outlook contacts – Several additions and changes to the Settings app pages.	Microsoft Announcement of KB5027303
KB5026446	22H2	22621.1778	24-May-23	– Fixes speech recognition known issue, adds total OneDrive storage view in Accounts Settings page, adds Bluetooth LE to supported hardware. – Introduces a new issue with 32-bit apps while saving, attaching, and moving them.	Microsoft Announcement of KB5026446