New cumulative update preview is now live for users

Jul 30, 2021 13:49 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has released a new cumulative update preview for Windows 10 users ahead of the automatic rollout projected to happen as part of the next Patch Tuesday cycle.

Windows 10 cumulative update KB5004296 is therefore available today either from Windows Update (under the Optional updates available section in Windows Update) or from the Microsoft Update Catalog as a manual download for the supported Windows 10 versions.

The update is aimed at the following Windows 10 versions:  

  • Windows 10 version 2004
  • Windows 10 version 20H2
  • Windows 10 version 21H1

What’s new in Windows 10 cumulative update KB5004296

Needless to say, this new cumulative update comes with several important changes, including several that are specifically aimed at gaming performance. For example, KB5004296 resolves a gaming performance issue that has recently been acknowledged by Microsoft and which causes lower frame rates in certain games.

Microsoft explains in the official changelog (you can check out the full release notes in the box at the end of the article):

“Updates an issue that plays the sound for selecting something in a game loudly when you press the trigger button on a game controller. Updates an issue that prevents power plans and Game Mode from working as expected. This results in lower frame rates and reduced performance while gaming.”

As for the known issues, there are no new ones in this cumulative update, though it’s important to take notice of a glitch causing some PCs to no longer be able to install other updates.

“After installing the June 21, 2021 (KB5003690) update, some devices cannot install new updates, such as the July 6, 2021 (KB5004945) or later updates. You will receive the error message, "PSFX_E_MATCHING_BINARY_MISSING,” Microsoft explains in the known issues section of the new update.

The next Patch Tuesday cycle is projected to take place on August 10 when cumulative updates will be automatically shipped to all Windows 10 devices.

July 29, 2021—KB5004296