Windows 11’s optional July update speeds up the Start menu and taskbar

Jul 29, 2026 · 1:26 PM UTC ·2 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 1 view

#windows #optional #july #update #speeds

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

News Windows 11’s optional July update speeds up the Start menu and taskbar Windows 11 preview update KB5101684 speeds up the Start menu and taskbar, improves File Explorer, and rolls out more Secure Boot certificates. Microsoft has released the optional July 2026 preview update KB5101684 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. The most significant improvement in this patch is a performance boost for Windows 11’s Start menu and taskbar, but how much of a difference you’ll actually notice will depend on the age and hardware of your PC.

Key facts

▪News Windows 11’s optional July update speeds up the Start menu and taskbar Windows 11 preview update KB5101684 speeds up the Start menu and taskbar, improves File Explorer, and rolls out more Secure Boot certificates.
▪Microsoft has released the optional July 2026 preview update KB5101684 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2.
▪The most significant improvement in this patch is a performance boost for Windows 11’s Start menu and taskbar, but how much of a difference you’ll actually notice will depend on the age and hardware of your PC.

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Original publisher	PCWorld
Canonical URL	https://www.pcworld.com/article/3201749/windows-11s-optional-july-update-speeds-up-the-start-menu-and-taskbar.html
Publication time	Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:26:58 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-07-29T13:28:03.701Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

News Windows 11’s optional July update speeds up the Start menu and taskbar Windows 11 preview update KB5101684 speeds up the Start menu and taskbar, improves File Explorer, and rolls out more Secure Boot certificates. By Hans-Christian Dirscherl Managing Editor, PC-WELT Jul 29, 2026 6:26 am PDT Image: Alex Photo Stock/Shutterstock.com Summary created by Smart Answers AIIn summary:PCWorld reports on Windows 11’s optional July preview update KB5101684, which enhances Start menu and taskbar performance along with Windows Search accuracy.The update improves File Explorer’s readability by displaying file sizes in MBs and GBs, while including updated Secure Boot certificates for broader computer compatibility.Users can manually install this preview update through Windows Update settings or…

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