What is New in KB5034763? How to Download and Install Windows 10 build 19044.4046 and 19045.4046?

On February 13, 2024, Microsoft released its latest monthly cumulative update for Windows 10- KB5034763. This crucial update is now available for Windows 10 versions 21H2 and 22H2, bringing these versions to builds 19044.4046 and 19045.4046 respectively upon installation.

The KB5034763 update contains a wide range of bug fixes, security enhancements, and some exciting new features. Most noticeably, Microsoft has added an interactive weather panel to the Windows 10 lock screen which shows expanded forecast details on hover and opens a full weather report on click. Additionally, changes have been made to comply with Europe's Digital Markets Act regulations by March 6.

This update serves as the latest monthly "Patch Tuesday" release which rolls up security patches, system improvements, and new features into a single cumulative update. Installling each month's cumulative update is vital for remaining secure and up-to-date with the Windows ecosystem.

In this blog post, we will cover the essential details surrounding KB5034763 including what's new, a look at supported versions, step-by-step instructions for manually downloading and installing the update, best practices for post-update system cleanup, directions for uninstalling or hiding the update if desired, and more. Stay tuned for a comprehensive look at this month's cumulative patch for Windows!

Update for Windows 11 users: Microsoft has published KB5034765 for Windows 11. Visit this page to learn what is there in the KB5034765 update.

What are Latest Cumulative Updates (LCU)?

Microsoft introduced monthly cumulative updates for Windows 10 back in 2016 with the "Windows as a Service" model. These updates roll up all fixes for the month into a single cumulative update package.

Latest cumulative updates (LCU) provide the following benefits:

Microsoft releases LCU updates on Patch Tuesday, which falls on the second Tuesday of each month. They are then revised over the following weeks to address any issues. LCU updates build incrementally on previous updates.

Why You Shouldn't Miss Cumulative Updates?

Here are key reasons it's vital to promptly install the latest cumulative updates:

Overall, monthly cumulative updates form a "rolling baseline" of fixes and improvements for Windows 10. Skipping them puts your security, stability, and Microsoft support at risk across both short and long-term.

Windows 10 Latest Builds and Their End of Support

The KB5034763 cumulative update is available for Windows 10 versions 21H2 and 22H2. By installing this latest patch, devices running Windows 10 21H2 will transition to build 19044.4046. While Windows 10 22H2 devices will shift to build 19045.4046.

In addition to the actively updated versions, Microsoft also provides ongoing support for several older Windows 10 LTSC/LTSB editions. The latest builds for these long-term support channel versions are:

Check out the table below for a full breakdown of the various Windows 10 LTSC/LTSB versions along with their latest patch release dates, build numbers, and end of support timelines:

Servicing channels

Enterprise and IoT Enterprise LTSB/LTSC editions

With mainstream support ending in January 2027, Windows 10 21H2 LTSC is recommended for most business/enterprise that require an enduring platform. However, for devices with a 10+ year lifecycle, the IoT Enterprise edition extends support for version 21H2 until January 2032.

This table provides a helpful guide for identifying your Windows 10 build version and channels to determine upcoming end of support dates. Confirm your specific Windows runtime version and channel in Settings > System > About.

Verify the Version of Windows Your PC is Running

View Installed Updates in Programs and Features from the Control Panel

You can view the installed Windows Updates on your Windows 10 device through the Programs and Features settings:

What is New in KB5034763- February 2024 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2 and 21H2?

The February 2024 patch KB5034763 delivers a range of security fixes, system enhancements, and new features for Windows 10 versions 21H2 and 22H2.

Most noticeably, Microsoft has introduced a new interactive weather experience on the default lock screen which shows expanded forecast details on hover and opens a full weather report from MSN when clicked. This provides a handy way to quickly check the weather without signing in.

Additionally, Microsoft continues rolling out changes to comply with Europe's Digital Markets Act regulations by March 6th, 2024. This includes ensuring Windows honors your default browser choice rather than forcing Microsoft Edge for specific links.

Beyond the highlights, KB5034763 provides a swath of general improvements including:

As is standard for monthly cumulative updates, KB5034763 focuses mainly on security hardening, bug fixes, performance improvements, and seamless integration of previous patches. However, the new lock screen widget introduces helpful at-a-glance weather visibility.

How to Download and Install KB5034763 on Windows 10?

Most Windows 10 devices will automatically download and install the latest KB5034763 cumulative update from Windows Update. However, you can manually download and install the update as well through the Microsoft Update Catalog if desired.

Here are the step-by-step directions for both installation methods:

Method 1: Install KB5034763 via Windows Update

Method 2: Manually install KB5034763 from Microsoft Update Catalog

These methods allow you to install the latest January 2024 fixes and enhancements on your Windows 10 device. For enterprise deployment, tools like WSUS or SCCM can be used.

You can manually download the standalone installer for your version of Windows 10:

For other Windows 10 builds, visit Microsoft Update Catalog page and search the KB on the search box.

Note: It’s important to thoroughly test cumulative updates in a non-production environment before deploying them in a live production environment to ensure compatibility and avoid any unexpected issues.

Following either method, the entire KB5034763 install process takes just a few minutes. After your computer reboots, you will be running the latest Windows 10 21H2 or 22H2 cumulative update.

System Cleanup After the Installation of Windows Updates

To perform a cleanup after installing Windows updates, you can run the following commands sequentially in Command Prompt with administrative privileges:

Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges: Right-click on the Start button, and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights.

#1. Run the command to analyze the component store:

dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-I

This command analyzes the component store and provides a report on the size of the component store and the potential disk space savings that can be achieved by running cleanup operations.

#2. Run the cleanup commands:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

This command cleans up the superseded and unused system components from the Windows Update repository. It helps to reclaim disk space by removing unnecessary files.

#3. Perform a Windows Update cleanup:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

This command combines the functionality of the previous command with an additional step that removes all superseded versions of every component in the component store. This action cannot be undone, so it’s important to ensure you have all the necessary updates installed and your system is stable before proceeding.

#4. Remove temporary files:

cleanmgr.exe /verylowdisk

This command opens the Disk Cleanup utility, which allows you to remove various temporary files, including Windows Update temporary files, downloaded program files, and more. It presents you with a list of file categories that you can select to clean up. Choose the desired categories and click “OK” to remove the temporary files.

By running these commands, you can free up disk space by removing unnecessary Windows Update files and temporary files generated during the update process. Remember to exercise caution when using these commands and ensure your system is in a stable state before proceeding.

Uninstalling the KB5034763 Update

If you encounter issues after installing the KB5034763 update on Windows 10, you can uninstall it to revert back using the following methods:

Using Control Panel

Using Command Line

These steps will restore your Windows 10 device to the previous version, before you installed the KB5034763 update.

Block KB5034763 Update from Being Installed

You can temporarily block the installation of the latest KB5034763 cumulative update on your Windows 10 computer using the following steps:

This will add a registry key to prevent Windows Update from automatically downloading or installing KB5034763. You can uninstall the blocker tool later on when ready to install the February 2024 cumulative update.

For enterprise environments, blocking can also be configured through Group Policy, SCCM, WSUS, or other centralized management tools as per organizational update management policies.

Bottom Line

The Windows 10 February 2024 KB5034763 cumulative update delivers security enhancements and fixes for numerous bugs affecting system stability, performance, and usability. Most notably, it adds a new interactive weather panel to the lock screen.

We recommend promptly installing the latest updates using either Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. Cumulative updates keep Windows 10 protected and running smoothly. However, you can uninstall or hide problematic updates if they cause issues after installing.

Hope you found this summary of what's new in KB5034763 helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions. Visit our website, thesecmaster.com, and social media pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, Tumblr, & Medium and subscribe to receive updates like this.