Table of Contents
- Can this miraculous optional preview update finally fix your frozen File Explorer?
- What This Update Actually Fixes
- Stops File Explorer Freezes
- Smoother Mobile Connectivity
- Better Support for International Files
- Fixes Enterprise Policy Bugs
- How to Install This Optional Update
- Why This Matters (Expert Insight)
Can this miraculous optional preview update finally fix your frozen File Explorer?
Microsoft has released a surprising out-of-band update, KB5070312, for Windows 11 23H2 on November 20, 2025. This release is notable because it arrives just days after the Home and Pro editions of version 23H2 officially reached their “End of Support” date on November 11, 2025. While typically maintenance stops after this deadline, this optional preview update targets specific, lingering bugs that impact user experience and stability.
If you are still running Windows 11 23H2, this update serves as a crucial stability bridge before you are eventually forced to upgrade to newer versions like 24H2 or 25H2.
What This Update Actually Fixes
Instead of cryptic technical jargon, here is how this update improves your daily computer usage:
Stops File Explorer Freezes
If you have ever clicked on a folder only to have File Explorer ignore you until you completely restart the window, this patch is for you. It specifically resolves the annoying “unresponsive mouse click” bug that has plagued users.
Smoother Mobile Connectivity
The update refreshes the Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA). In plain English, this means if you use a cellular data plan or mobile tethering on your laptop, your device will now better recognize and connect to updated mobile network profiles.
Better Support for International Files
Do you work with compressed .tar archives? A specific glitch prevented these files from opening if they contained certain common Chinese characters in their names. This update ensures those files now extract smoothy, which is vital for global collaboration.
Fixes Enterprise Policy Bugs
For IT administrators using Windows 11 Enterprise (specifically in Azure Virtual Desktop environments), the “HideRecommendedSection” policy was failing to apply. This update ensures that your Start Menu configurations stick as intended.
How to Install This Optional Update
Because this is a “Preview” (C-Release), Windows will not install it automatically. You must manually request it if you are experiencing the issues listed above.
- Go to Settings: Press Win + I to open your system settings.
- Navigate: Click on Windows Update.
- Check: Click the “Check for updates” button.
- Download: Look for 2025-11 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 (KB5070312) and click Download and Install.
Alternatively, for offline installation, you can find the package on the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Why This Matters (Expert Insight)
It is highly unusual for Microsoft to issue updates for Home/Pro editions after the official support cutoff. This suggests that the bugs addressed—particularly the File Explorer freeze—were significant enough to warrant a final “clean-up” patch. However, users should remember that KB5070312 is likely the final non-security preview you will receive. To ensure your PC remains safe from future viruses and threats, you must plan to upgrade your operating system to a supported version (24H2 or later) immediately after applying this fix.