Microsoft has released a cumulative update preview for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 that brings several quality-of-life improvements. The most notable change adds new NPU monitoring columns to Task Manager, giving users detailed visibility into neural processing unit activity on compatible PCs.

Task Manager Gets NPU Visibility

Task Manager, which turned 30 last year, now includes optional columns for NPU, NPU Engine, Dedicated Memory and Shared Memory on the Processes, Users and Details pages. Neural engines that are part of a GPU also appear on the Performance page. This provides a more complete view of AI-related activity on the system.

The update also adds an Isolation column on the Processes and Details pages to show which apps run in an App Container. This builds on Task Manager's heritage as a tool to understand system internals, a concept its original author Dave Plummer described as a "very Unixy impulse."

Performance and Additional Features

Microsoft promises faster app launches and improved core shell experiences like the Start Menu. The company did not detail the mechanism, but social media chatter suggests a temporary CPU boost. The update also supports sharing Bluetooth audio via Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology, allows users to set a custom name for their user folder during Windows setup and enables specifying Dev Drive size in gigabytes instead of megabytes.

Why This Matters

These changes affect anyone running Windows 11 with an NPU-equipped PC. The improved Task Manager helps users monitor AI workloads and manage resources more effectively. Faster app launches and shell responsiveness directly improve daily productivity. However, a known issue remains: the May 2026 security update error 0x800f0922 persists on devices with limited EFI System Partition space, especially those with 10 MB or less available. The update fails around 35-36 percent completion and rolls back. Microsoft says a resolution is in progress and will come in a future update.