Microsoft has pushed out a non-security Windows 11 performance update for versions 24H2 and 25H2 that does more than shave a few rough edges. KB5089573 brings shared audio over Bluetooth LE, faster app and shell performance, better NPU reporting, broader camera access, tighter Windows Hello behavior, and sturdier USB4 display support.
The build numbers are 26200.8524 and 26100.8524, and the update is available now through Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. It is optional, which means users have to install it manually – a familiar Microsoft move for feature-heavy patches that the company clearly wants tested before they become standard fare in the June 2026 update.
Shared audio and NPU tracking arrive together
The most eye-catching addition is shared audio support, which lets Windows 11 send sound to two devices at once. Think two pairs of headphones sharing the same stream, powered by Bluetooth LE, a feature that makes more sense for commuting, study sessions, and desks cluttered with too many gadgets than for Microsoft marketing slides.
There is also more visibility for PCs with neural processing units. Task Manager now includes new sections for NPU usage, and the Performance page has been updated with the same data. That is a small but telling shift: as Windows PCs keep adding AI hardware, Microsoft is making sure the operating system can actually show users what the chip is doing instead of hiding it behind vague promises.
Faster Start menu, Search, and notifications
Microsoft says the update improves app launch speed and the responsiveness of core interface elements, including Start, Search, and Notification Center. That is the kind of fix people feel immediately, even if they never open Task Manager to admire it.
The patch also expands support for multiple camera apps to access the video stream at the same time, which should help on systems juggling video calls, capture tools, and camera utilities. Windows Hello gets reliability improvements too, while USB4 displays are promised better stability and stronger resistance to hardware failures.
How to get KB5089573
Users can fetch KB5089573 from Settings, then Windows Update, or grab it from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Because it is optional, it will not arrive automatically for everyone, and that gives Microsoft room to refine the features before the June 2026 rollout folds them into the mainstream release.
That pattern is classic Microsoft: ship the useful stuff early, watch for breakage, then make the rest of the world live with it later. If the shared audio and performance tweaks hold up, the next question is how quickly PC makers and app developers start leaning on them.