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| Microsoft’s KB5077241 optional preview update for Windows 11 adds a taskbar internet speed test and native Sysmon support. |
If you’ve been looking for a reason to check for updates today, Microsoft has quietly rolled out a rather interesting one. The company has released KB5077241, an optional preview update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. If you install it, you’ll be running on OS Builds 26100.7922 or 26200.7922.
Because this is a "preview" update—often referred to by enthusiasts as the "C" release—it won’t hijack your computer and force an install overnight. Instead, it’s sitting in the Windows Update menu waiting for those who are curious enough to click the "Check for optional updates" button.
But is it worth the click? Based on the changelog and early impressions, there are a handful of quality-of-life changes that might actually make your daily computing feel a little snappier.
The Headliner: A Speed Test in Your Taskbar
One of the most immediately useful features arriving with KB5077241 is a native internet speed test built directly into the taskbar.
Previously, if you wanted to check why your Zoom call was pixelated or why a webpage was loading slowly, you’d have to open a browser and head to Ookla or Google. Now, you can simply click the network icon on the taskbar. Microsoft has integrated a network performance test right into that flyout, giving you a quick read on your download and upload speeds without ever opening an Edge tab.
It’s a small convenience, but for anyone who works from home or frequently troubleshoots network lag, it’s the kind of native addition that makes you wonder why it took this long.
Waking Up Faster
Beyond the visible UI tweaks, Microsoft is promising some under-the-hood magic. According to the official notes and corroborated by sources like Windows Central, this patch focuses heavily on power management and reliability.
Specifically, users should notice "faster, more reliable wake-from-sleep behavior." If you’re the type of person who puts their PC to sleep at the end of the day rather than shutting down, you might find that your machine is ready to go a bit quicker when you lift the lid or wiggle the mouse. These "responsiveness tweaks" are designed to make navigating common areas of the UI feel less sluggish, addressing the micro-stutters that sometimes plague Windows even on high-end hardware.
Native Sysmon Support for Power Users
For the IT pros and security-minded users in the audience, KB5077241 brings a significant under-the-radar addition: native System Monitor (Sysmon) support.
Sysmon is a tool from the Sysinternals suite that IT administrators use to log system activity and monitor for security threats. By baking this functionality deeper into the OS, Microsoft is likely aiming to provide better telemetry and security monitoring capabilities right out of the box. While the average home user might not interact with it directly, it signals Microsoft’s continued focus on making Windows 11 a more secure and manageable platform for enterprises.
The Rest of the Changelog
As with any cumulative update, KB5077241 is packed with smaller fixes and refinements. Microsoft’s official support page details a mix of updates to the Settings app, taskbar behavior, and other usability enhancements that smooth out the rough edges of the operating system.
For the full, exhaustive list of everything that has changed—including driver updates and region-specific fixes—you can dive into the official documentation here:
KB5077241 (OS Builds 26200.7922 and 26100.7922) Preview
Should You Install It?
Since this is a preview update, it’s technically optional. These builds are designed for "seekers"—users who want to test the fixes that are scheduled for the official Patch Tuesday release next month.
If you are experiencing specific issues with waking your PC from sleep or you are just eager to try out the new taskbar speed test, this is a safe bet. However, because it is a preview, there is always a minuscule risk of bugs. For most stable systems, waiting until these changes roll into the mandatory security update next month is a perfectly fine strategy.
How to Get It
If you want to live on the edge, installing KB5077241 is simple:
- Open Settings.
- Navigate to Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- If it doesn’t appear immediately, look for the option to download optional preview updates.
Source(s): Personal experience and reporting, Bleepingcomputer.com, and Notebookcheck.