Microsoft released the latest Security updates on 11th April 2023 for all Windows versions including 11, 10, 8.1, and 7. The tech giant has also rolled out new server updates for 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2, 2012, 2007 SP2, and 2008 R2 SP1. No new .NET Frameworks are available with this month’s security updates for any version of Windows.
All newer versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 receive the new servicing stack updates and the same will download and install automatically during the security patch installation. Last month, Microsoft has released a few servicing stack updates for certain Windows versions. So, if you are still using an older version of Windows, consider downloading and installing them first.
April 2023 Security updates for Windows PC
The following security updates came in April 2023 and update all Windows versions to their latest Build updates. We have also included what fixes came with these security updates including known issues (if any), and ways to install them on your respective Windows PC.
1] Windows 11, version 22h2
- OS Build: 22621.1555
- Release Note: KB5025239
- SSU: 22621.1550
Key Highlights:
- Improves the security of the whole operating system and Microsoft Services.
- Implements the new Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) as a Windows inbox feature. To know more about this feature, see By popular demand: Windows LAPS available now!
- Addresses a compatibility issue that occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.
Direct Download Page for different architectures: Microsoft Update Catalog
Known Issues on this update:
- Users who use provisioning packages on Windows 11 reported their systems not working as expected. This problem arises only when the operating system is partially configured and, as a result of this, the Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) might not finish or might restart unexpectedly
Sol – Microsoft is presently investigating and will provide an update in an upcoming release.
- After you install this update, this affects some third-party UI customization apps. As a result of this, they might not start up or get stuck in a repetitive loop.
Sol – To solve this, uninstall all such apps, restart your computer, and then only reinstall them on your PC.
2] Windows 11, version 21h2
- OS Build: 22000.1817
- Release Note: KB5025224
- SSU: 22000.1811
Key Highlights:
- Improves the security of your Windows operating system and Microsoft Services.
- Implements the new Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) as a Windows inbox feature. To know more about this feature, see By popular demand: Windows LAPS available now!
- KB5025224 affects the Arab Republic of Egypt. This comes as support for the government’s daylight saving time change order for 2023.
- Addresses a compatibility issue that occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.
- Resolves a known issue that affects kiosk device profiles. In case you have enabled automatic login, the same might not work now. After Autopilot completes provisioning, these devices stay on the credential screen. This problem occurs only after installing the Jan 2023 security update, or recent updates.
Direct Download Page for different architectures: Microsoft Update Catalog
Known Issues on this update:
- Third-party UI customization apps might not start up after you upgrade your system to OS Build 22000.1817. To solve this issue, one must remove all such customizing apps from their systems, and then install them again on their devices.
- Several users reported Red Dead Redemption 2 not starting after they upgrade their systems to this Build update. This problem occurs when they attempt to open this game from the Rockstar Games Launcher by selecting the “Play” button. When they do so, instead of starting the game, the interface reads “Loading“. After waiting for a few seconds more, the Play button reappears without even launching the gameplay.
Sol – Rockstar Games resolves this issue on its latest update for Red Dead Redemption 2. So, we suggest updating this game to its latest build version.
3] Windows 10 versions 22h2, 21h2, and 20h2
- Release Note: KB5025221
- Respective OS Build numbers: 19045.2846, 19044.2846, and 19042.2846
- Servicing Stack update: 19045.2780, 19044.2780, and 19042.2780
Note: The security updates to Windows 10 version 21h1 and 2004 have already reached their end-of-support phase.In case you are still using these versions, you better upgrade your system to the latest OS Build versions.
Key Highlights:
- Brings Security updates for all Windows components and Microsoft Services.
- Addresses a compatibility issue that occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.
- KB5025221 updates the Daylight Saving time as per the Arab Republic of Egypt Government’s direct order for 2023.
- Implements the new Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) as a Windows inbox feature. To know more about this feature, see By popular demand: Windows LAPS available now!
- Resolves a known issue that affects kiosk device profiles. In case you have enabled automatic login, the same might not work now. After Autopilot completes provisioning, these devices stay on the credential screen. This problem occurs only after installing the Jan 2023 security update, or recent updates.
- No new bugs or issues are reported in this patch update.
Direct Download Page for different architectures: Microsoft Update Catalog
Note: Windows 10 versions 1909, and 1903 have already reached their end-of-service statement. If you are still on these versions, we recommend upgrading your device to the latest versions of Windows 10 or Windows 11 (if your device meets the minimum system requirements).
4] Windows 10, version 1809
- Release Note: KB5025229
- OS Build: 17763.4252
- Servicing Stack update: 17763.4121
Key Highlights:
- Adds many new features and improvements to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. To know more about this, see Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
- Implements the new Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) as a Windows inbox feature. Read By popular demand: Windows LAPS available now! to know more about this feature.
- Microsoft confirms changing the Daylight Saving Time as per the Arab Republic of Egypt Government’s Order for 2023.
- Users may now enable the “
onunload” events to create pop-up windows in IE Mode after upgrading to OS Build 17763.4252. - Resolves a key issue that affects Microsoft Edge IE mode and pages that use predictive prerendering. This happens because the Edge IE mode does not support predictive prerendering.
- Addresses an issue that affects Desired State Configuration. Because of this issue, the system was losing its previously configured options. This happens only when the “
metaconfig.mof” is missing on your computer. - KB5025229 addresses compatibility issues that affect some printers. These printers use Windows Graphical Device Interface (GDI) printer drivers and the related drivers do not completely adhere to GDI specifications.
- Fixes a known issue affecting the Host Networking Service in Windows 10 version 1809. This Service was previously stopping out of nowhere and as a result of this, traffic interruptions were occurring.
- Addresses a key issue affecting the Administrator Account Lockout policies. GPResult and Resultant Set of Policy did not report them.
- Resolves a key issue that affects MySQL commands. The commands were previously failing on Windows Xenon containers.
- Addresses an issue that affects repair storage jobs. The jobs were suspended when there were two physical disks in two different rack-level fault domains (3 fault domains in total). As a result of this, there was no communication between them.
Known Issue on it:
- After installing KB5001342, the Cluster Service failed to start because a Cluster Network Driver is not found. This bug might appear after this patch update as well.
Direct Download Page for different architectures: Microsoft Update Catalog
Note: Windows 10 versions 1803, 1707, and 1703 have also reached their service-end statements. You better upgrade to the next available version to avoid unwarranted hacks and other issues on your computers.
5] Windows 10, version 1607
Key Highlights:
- Microsoft confirms updating the Daylight Savings Time as per the Arab Republic of Egypt Government’s order for 2023.
- Microsoft Edge IE does not support predictive prerendering on it. Because of this, whenever you open such a page, the page loads as if it was not in use. KB5025228 resolves this issue on OS Build 14393.5850.
- The printers which use Windows Graphical Device Interface (GDI) printer drivers were not compatible before as they don’t completely adhere to GDI specifications. This update addresses such compatibility issues affecting Printers.
Known Issues on it
Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update.
Direct Download Page for different architectures: Microsoft Update Catalog
6] Windows 10 1507 (Initial version)
Key Changes:
The following key changes come with the latest security update to Windows 10 1507 (initial version) –
- Microsoft agrees to update the Daylight Savings Time as per the Arab Republic of Egypt Government’s order for 2023.
- The printers which use Windows Graphical Device Interface (GDI) printer drivers were not compatible before as they don’t completely adhere to GDI specifications. This update addresses such compatibility issues affecting Printers.
- Microsoft isn’t aware of any issues with this update.
Direct Download Page for different architectures: Microsoft Update Catalog
7] Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows 8.1 have already reached its end-of-statement support on 10 Jan 2023. So, if you are using such devices, you better upgrade your device or operating system (if meets the minimum system requirements) to Windows 11 or 10.
The below monthly and security rollups are offered only to an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1.
Key Changes:
Both Monthly as well as Security update includes the following improvements that are a part of update KB5022899 (Feb-2023) update. After you install this update, the following things will improve on your system –
- There were known compatibility issues with certain printer models which feature GDI printer drivers. The issues were appearing only because the relevant drivers were not adhering to GDI specifications. Microsoft has resolved this issue on Windows 8.1.
- As per the order of the Arab Republic of Egypt, daylight savings time (DST) will resume on April 28, 2023, and end on October 27, 2023. This update applies to Egypt Standard Time – (UTC+02:00) Cairo.
Known issue resolved:
Microsoft is currently not aware of any issues with this update.
Direct Download Links to KB5025285 & KB5025288
Additional Note: Windows Server 2012 R2 also reached its end-of-support on October 10, 2023. You can’t purchase extending security updates (ESUs) for the 2012 R2 server, however, the same is available for installation post this date. ESUs will continue for three years, renewable on an annual basis, until the final date on October 13, 2026.
8] Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2
- Monthly Rollup: KB5025279
- Security-Only: KB5025277
- ESU Licensing: KB5016892
- Must install SSU: KB5017397
Note: It is mandatory to reinstall the “Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package”, KB5016892 if you want to upgrade to this security patch update.
Key Changes:
- As per the order of the Arab Republic of Egypt, daylight savings time (DST) will resume on April 28, 2023, and end on October 27, 2023. This update applies to Egypt Standard Time – (UTC+02:00) Cairo.
- There were known compatibility issues with certain printer models which feature GDI printer drivers. The issues were appearing only because the relevant drivers were not adhering to GDI specifications. Microsoft has resolved this issue on Windows 8.1.
Direct Download Links to KB5025279 & KB5025277
How to Download and Install April 2023 Security updates
If you like the recent features and improvements coming to your specific Windows version, you may follow these steps to upgrade your system to its latest OS Build version –
- Launch Settings (Win + I) first.
- Go to Windows Update, and hit Check for updates.
The system will connect to Microsoft servers online and download/install the pending updates on your computer.
Microsoft Windows Server Security updates
If you would like to upgrade your Windows Server, locate and click on your own Server among the below list. Search for the respective Server, and when found, click the Download button. Proceeding this way, you may easily upgrade your Windows Server.
- KB5025230 – April 2023, Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2022.
- KB5025221 – April 2023, Cumulative Update for Windows Server, version 20h2.
- KB5025229 – April 2023, Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server version 1809.
- KB5025228 – April 2023, Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2016.
- KB5025285 – April 2023, Monthly Rollup Update for Windows Server 2012 R2.
- KB5025288 – April 2023, Security-only Update for Windows Server 2012 R2.
- KB5025287 – April 2023, Monthly Rollup Update for Windows Server 2012.
- KB5025272 – April 2023, Security-only Update for Windows Server 2012.
- KB5025271 – April 2023, Monthly Rollup Update for Windows Server 2008 SP2.
- KB5025273 – April 2023, Security-only Update for Windows Server 2008 SP2.
- KB5025279 – April 2023, Monthly Rollup Update for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
- KB5025277 – April 2023, Security-only Update for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
How do I install Windows Server Quality updates?
If you would like to upgrade your Windows server, look for your server in the above section. Once you find your Server in the above list, click on the hyperlink. You will be redirected to the Rollup page. Scroll down to the “How to Get this update” section, and click on the Microsoft update catalog link.
Search again for your server update, and when found, hit the Download button. On the subsequent page, click the top link, and the setup file starts downloading for your Windows Server. After the download completes, you may proceed with its installation.
Servicing Stack Updates
14th March 2023 was the last date on which the Servicing Stack updates for different Windows versions were released. To know if your device is eligible for an upgrade, visit this site.
We’ll update this section if any new servicing stack updates get released for this month.
Microsoft Office updates
- For updates on Office 2016 or Office 2013, visit this site.
.NET Framework Updates
No new .NET Frameworks were released for either version of Windows after the 19th Jan 2023 update. The links of them are provided below –
- KB5022406: Jan 2023, Cumulative Update Preview for .NET Framework 3.5, and 4.8 for Windows 11 for x64.
- KB5022479: Jan 2023, Cumulative Update Preview for .NET Framework 3.5, 4.8, and 4.8.1 for Windows 11 for x64.
- KB5022409: Jan 2023, Cumulative Update Preview for .NET Framework 3.5, and 4.8.1 for Windows 11 for x64.
We will update this section later on with updates coming for February 2022. As of now, only January 2023 .NET Frameworks are available.
Direct Download April 2023 Security updates
To download and install the recent Windows or Windows Server updates on your computer, reach out to the following sites, pick your system architecture, and then hit the Download button.
- KB5025239 – April 2023 Cumulative update for Windows 11, version 22h2
- KB5025224 – April 2023 Cumulative update for Windows 11, version 21h2
- KB5025221 – April 2023 Security updates for Windows 10, versions 22h2 & 21h2
Click on the KB number, provided above, to visit the Microsoft update Catalog page. Clicking the Download button, you will be redirected to a new window. Click the top link and the patch download begins shortly afterward.
That’s it, have a look at these April 2023 Security updates and download/install the respective OS or Server version on your Windows PC.
