Windows 11 KB5095093 update rolls out new Point-in-Time restore feature

Windows 11 KB5095093 Update: A New Point-in-Time Restore Feature and More

OverviewMicrosoft has released the KB5095093 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. This optional non-security release continues the monthly preview cadence, introducing a suite of fixes and a set of new capabilities heading toward the next Patch Tuesday. The update is designed for testing before next-month rollout and does not replace the regular security updates that appear on the standard schedule.

How to install

• Through the user interface: Open Settings, choose Windows Update, then select Check for Updates. Since this is an optional update, you will typically see a Download and install option unless the system is set to install updates automatically.
• Manual installation: The KB5095093 preview can be downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog for those who prefer to install it outside the automatic update flow.

What’s new in KB5095093A key highlight of this release is the introduction of Point-in-Time Restore, a recovery feature that lets a PC, its apps, settings, and files be rolled back to a previous state captured by restore points. The mechanism relies on locally stored restore points created with Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and is designed to minimize downtime during remediation.

Point-in-Time Restore at a glance

• Scope: Restores the full system state to a recent point in time.
• Speed: Restoration is described as taking minutes.
• Time window: Typically recovers to the last restore point within a 72‑hour window.
• Consumer behavior: Restore points are created every 24 hours and are retained for 72 hours, subject to available storage.
• Enterprise behavior: Administrators can configure snapshots at 4, 6, 12, 16, and 24 hours with similar retention intervals.
• Storage settings: Users can allocate more storage to enable more frequent or longer retention of restore points.

What this means in practice:

• Point-in-Time Restore focuses on reliability and a broad range of issues, aiming to simplify remediation without requiring advanced technical steps.
• The feature operates independently of the traditional System Restore model, targeting a broader set of system states and configurations.

Recycle Bin confirmation dialog fix

• A bug fix addresses scenarios where the confirmation dialog displayed an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file. This issue could occur after installing the June 2026 security update.

What’s rolling out beyond Point-in-Time RestoreThe KB5095093 update includes a large set of enhancements and fixes across components. Highlights from the change log (applied broadly to Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems) include:

Secure Boot and device targeting

• Expanded high-confidence device targeting data in quality updates.
• Certificates are delivered after devices demonstrate sufficient update signals, enabling a controlled, phased rollout.

Authentication

• Improvements to Netlogon secure channel connections, enabling successful logins from member servers to domain controllers established before 2025.

Emoji Panel Update and GIF support

• The emoji panel (Windows key + period) now uses GIF content via GIPHY following the deprecation of Google’s Tenor API.
• Beginning June 30, 2026, updating Windows is necessary to continue using GIFs in the Emoji panel. Without the update, a GIF service error may appear; updating restores access.

Networking and shared resources

• Improved reliability for connections to shared network resources, including app and system-level connections like NetUseAdd, with better performance for unauthenticated (null session) connections.

Recycle Bin known issue remediation

• The Recycle Bin issue described above is addressed, reducing user confusion during permanent deletions after related June updates.

Taskbar improvements

• Notification badge display across apps is more reliable, helping users stay informed about new activity.

Gradual feature rollout after installationSeveral features are being deployed progressively to users after the update is installed:

Point-in-Time Restore for Windows

• New recovery option that enables rolling back the PC, including apps, settings, and personal files, to a recent automatic restore point.

Windows Update calendar pause

• A calendar-style pause for Windows Update settings (Settings > Windows Update) allows users to pause updates up to 35 days at a time, with the ability to extend by selecting a new end date.

Widgets refresh

• A quieter, more focused Widgets experience aims to reduce interruptions and improve defaults and notification controls.
• Changes include reduced hover behavior, default opening to the Widgets dashboard, configurable settings, clearer alert indicators, and improved performance and reliability.

Accessibility enhancements

• Visual accessibility improvements include a screen tint option to apply a full-screen color overlay for readability and eye comfort.
• Magnifier improvements allow direct entry of zoom percentages and adjustable increments, with updated Magnifier settings access.

File Explorer refinements

• Quick actions appear when hovering over files in File Explorer Home (supported for Entra ID-enabled work and school accounts).
• General speed improvements for launching File Explorer.
• Fixes for OneDrive shortcut behavior when Explorer runs with elevated privileges.
• Path handling improvements in the address bar, including support for double backslashes and quoted paths.
• Reliability improvements for the address bar dropdown and OneDrive item duplication issues in Favorites.
• Rename experience improvements to reduce unwanted text selection and ensure case-only name changes reflect promptly.

Bluetooth enhancements

• Improved microphone mute synchronization between the audio mixer and Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile devices.
• Better compatibility with select Bluetooth devices (e.g., faster AirPods pairing, improved microphone reliability on Beats Studio Pro).
• Overall improvements to Bluetooth stability and connectivity, including LE Audio behavior and recovery after resumed sessions.

Voice access and voice typing

• New language support for voice access and voice typing in French, German, and Spanish, with real-time text improvement and better handling of background noise.

Other notable areas

• Audio and display: improvements for HD audio reliability and color profile persistence across scenarios.
• Location services: clearer behavior in Settings when location services are off, with settings getting greyed out to reduce confusion.
• Search: improved reliability for group policy management related to search.
• Input: new options to customize the right-click zone on touchpads and enhanced handwriting recognition for English in Japanese contexts.
• General performance and reliability: faster shutdown of certain background processes, improved explorer.exe stability, and smoother interactions across multiple desktops and OneDrive integration.
• Apps and Remote Desktop: fixes related to elevation prompts after certain KBs and a refreshed Remote Desktop dialog.
• Graphics kernel: memory-management improvements to accommodate larger local AI models on systems with substantial RAM.

Known issues

• A known issue remains for users who install this update: some third-party applications may have trouble launching Microsoft Office applications or opening Office documents. Microsoft is actively working on a fix to be released in a future update. In the meantime, users may be advised to open affected documents directly from the application rather than via the third-party launcher.

Where to read the full details

• The complete KB5095093 release notes are available through the official Microsoft support bulletin. This document provides the full context, configurations, and post-install guidance for administrators and end users.

Bottom line and takeawayKB5095093 underscores Microsoft’s ongoing approach to adding recovery-oriented tools like Point-in-Time Restore while continuing to refine reliability, security posture, and user experience across Windows 11. The rollout strategy remains staged and optional, giving organizations and consumers time to assess impact and compatibility before broader deployment. As with any preview update, monitoring for affected software behavior and familiarizing oneself with the new restore options can help streamline remediation should issues arise.