Windows 11 Update Bakes AI Right into File Explorer

Microsoft has rolled out the KB5065789 update for Windows 11 version 24H2. This patch, available through Windows Update or as a standalone installer, introduces a handful of small but noticeable changes to the OS's interface and functionality.

One of the most talked-about additions is a new "AI Actions" section that appears in the File Explorer's right-click menu when you select image files. For now, this panel serves as a hub for shortcuts to existing AI-powered features in the Photos and Paint apps, like Bing Visual Search, background blur and removal, and object erasure. Essentially, it brings together capabilities that were previously scattered. There's a catch, though: while you can't remove this AI Actions panel through standard settings, it won't show up at all if your region is set to a country within the European Economic Area.

Another welcome change is the new flexibility for system pop-up notifications. You can now choose where the on-screen indicators for volume, brightness, and airplane mode appear—not just at the bottom of the screen, but also in the top-left or top-center of the display. Microsoft has also touted performance optimizations for File Explorer, promising that context menus should now pop up faster, especially in folders packed with files.

The update also introduces a new "Advanced settings" page, which replaces the old "For developers" tab. Useful options here include the ability to manage long file paths (finally getting around the legacy 260-character limit) and basic GitHub integration for tracking repository changes directly from File Explorer.

It's important to note that the KB5065789 update is preview, meaning it's optional. All these changes and fixes are scheduled to be rolled into the mandatory Patch Tuesday update on October 7, 2025. This patch essentially prepares the system for the upcoming transition to version 25H2. If you're eager to get it now, you can grab the standalone .msu package (a hefty ~3.9 GB download) from the official Microsoft Update Catalog.