Windows 10 KB5021233 is now available for version 22H2 and other supported OS versions. Unlike the previous Patch Tuesday updates, today’s release contains a number of notable changes. Direct download links for Windows 10 KB5021233 offline installers are also available if you want to manually install the update.
KB5021233 is a security update and is being pushed as part of the last Patch Tuesday cycle of this year. While Windows 10 is now on the back burner as Microsoft is busy developing Windows 11, today’s update actually brings several noticeable changes, including removing Cortana from the taskbar.
If you are using Windows 11, there is another cumulative update for your device and most of the critical bug fixes are identical. That’s because Windows 11 and Windows 10 are still the same, so most of the fixes and bugs are shared. If you check for updates, you will see the update below.
Cumulative Update 2022-12 for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5021233)
Or
Cumulative Update 2022-12 for Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5021233)
Download links for Windows 10 KB5021233
Windows 10 KB5013942 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and 32-bit (x86).
Changelog of Windows 10 December 12 Update
The Windows 10 taskbar gets a new feature: the search box is now visible when you move the taskbar up. Previously, the taskbar did not support the search box if you pinned it to the top. This is finally changing with Windows 10’s December 2022 Patch Tuesday release!
As a result, it’s now possible to discover Bing information and features right on the taskbar, even if it’s pinned to the top. You can change how search appears on the taskbar by right-clicking anywhere on the taskbar and then selecting search. You can always switch back to the search button or remove it altogether.
Interestingly, Microsoft streams the taskbar experience on Windows 10 by unpinning Cortana.
Microsoft hasn’t had much luck in the world of digital assistants, with its Cortana assistant struggling to compete with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa. In fact, Cortana still hasn’t been updated with WinUI 3.0 and Fluent Design on Windows 11. Microsoft has already discontinued mobile apps and Cortana is also taking a step back on Windows 10.
Cortana is no longer pinned to the taskbar, according to the official release notes. Unpinning Cortana to the taskbar isn’t much of a surprise, not least because it already happened on Windows 11.
Here’s a list of critical bug fixes:
- Resolves persistent update errors for the Microsoft Store.
- Resolves an issue affecting certain printers.
