The most recent Windows 11 preview update from Microsoft includes a major security feature intended to prevent unwanted access to important system files This article explores security preview kb5074105. . Released as part of the January 2026 non-security preview (KB5074105), this enhancement specifically targets the Storage settings menu, a sensitive area of the operating system that reveals detailed information about drive usage, temporary files, and system-reserved storage.

By implementing a mandatory User Account Control (UAC) prompt, Microsoft aims to prevent unprivileged users and potential threat actors with local access from modifying or analyzing storage configurations without explicit administrative approval. Strengthening System Security The primary modification in this release serves as a hardening measure for local system security.

In the past, users who had access to an unlocked Windows session could see detailed information about how hard drive space was being used by going to Settings > System > Storage. This access included the ability to interact with temporary files and view the breakdown of installed applications and system files. Discover more Apps for secure messaging Courses for cybersecurity training Protection against phishing Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 now enforce an administrative checkpoint at this gateway after installing KB5074105.

When a user attempts to access the Storage settings, the operating system triggers a UAC prompt. The current user must supply legitimate credentials in order to continue if they do not have administrative privileges.

This successfully reduces the possibility of "shoulder surfing," or unauthorized data manipulation, by people who might have obtained remote access to a non-admin session or physical access to a workstation. This update applies to the most recent iterations of the Windows 11 platform, specifically version 24H2 and the newer version 25H2. The rollout is presently in the "C-release" phase, which means that administrators can test the changes before they are incorporated into the required Patch Tuesday security update in February.

The technical details related to this release are listed in the following table: KB5074105 offers updates to the underlying AI framework built into Windows 11 in addition to strengthening the security of the Settings menu.

These changes affect the “Copilot+ PC” experiences, specifically updating the models used for local processing. Image Search, Content Extraction, Semantic Analysis, and Settings Model are all updated to version 1.2601.1268.0. These updates are delivered alongside the core OS improvements to ensure that local AI workloads remain efficient and aligned with the operating system’s latest security protocols.

When deploying this update, administrators should be aware that it contains a Servicing Stack Update (SSU), KB5074104. For the device to enable dependable installation of upcoming cumulative updates, the SSU is essential. Discover more VPN services Modules for hardware security Control of computer access Because the SSU and the cumulative update are combined into a single payload, specific removal commands must be used if a rollback is required.

Once installed, administrators are unable to remove the SSU portion; however, if compatibility problems occur in the enterprise environment, the cumulative portion can be removed using the DISM /Remove-Package command. Microsoft has stated that they are currently not aware of any known issues affecting this release., LinkedIn, and X for daily cybersecurity updates. Contact us to feature your stories.