Windows 11 October 2025 security update adds 9 new features | Windows Central

Windows Help · 2025-11-05T22:20:01Z

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft is expected to begin deploying the Patch Tuesday update for the tenth month of the year for Windows 11, which introduces several new features as well as security fixes and improvements.

In this release, the software giant is introducing new AI integrations in File Explorer, along with visual changes for the Windows Share experience. In addition, this update rolls out new features, such as Administrator Protection, and rolls out changes to the Settings app with a new Advanced page, the ability to change the position of the hardware indicators, support for third-party providers for passkeys, and ports more legacy features from the Control Panel.

In this guide, I'll highlight the most interesting changes rolling out with the October 2025 update for Windows 11 version 25H2 and 24H2, since both operating systems are exactly the same.

Windows 11 new features coming in October 2025

Microsoft takes a gradual approach to rolling out new improvements, meaning it may take some time before you see these features and changes.

In addition, some enhancements require specific hardware, while others may only be available in certain markets.

1. Desktop indicator relocation option

As part of the October 2025 Security Update, Microsoft is adding a new feature to change the position of the hardware indicators (such as volume, brightness, and airplane mode).

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The feature is called "Position of on-screen indicators," and it's located in Settings > System > Notifications. The options available are "Bottom center," "Top left," and "Top center."

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2. File Explorer new AI actions

This update also brings AI actions to File Explorer. This feature doesn't integrate a new AI model into the file manager. Instead, it's a submenu called "AI actions" that appears in the context menu, which allows you to access AI-powered features from other apps, such as Photos and Paint.

If you access the context menu for a .jpg, .jpeg, or .png file, the actions menu will include these actions:

Bing Visual Search: Sends the image to Bing for an image search using the provided file.
Blur Background: Opens the image directly in the Photos app and allows you to access the feature to blur the background.
Erase Objects: Removes unwanted elements from the picture using Generative Erase in Photos.
Remove Background: Open the image file using the Paint app and select the option that allows you to remove the background.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you will also find a new "Summarize action in Copilot" action in the "AI actions" menu to create summaries of files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint without even opening them.

3. Windows Share improvements

After installing this new cumulative update on versions 25H2 and 24H2, when sharing a file using the Windows Share interface, you'll notice a new option to "Pin" your favorite apps for quick access under the "Share using" section.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Advanced new settings page

In this release, Microsoft is replacing the "For Developers" page with a new "Advanced" page, introducing a new design that organizes settings into sections and includes a few new changes.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The new page sections for Taskbar, File Explorer, Virtual Workspace, Terminal, For Developers, and Dev Drive.

Currently, the only differences I can find are that the settings for File Explorer now include a dedicated page, and there's a new feature to configure version control.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

We've seen in Insider preview builds with a similar page that includes other features, such as settings to control virtualization packages. However, this is the version that Microsoft is currently rolling out to everyone.

5. Administrator Protection new security feature (delayed)

On Windows 11, Administrator Protection is a new security feature that adds an extra layer of security by generating an authorization dialog when an unsigned or untrusted app requests elevation.

At first glance, the feature may seem similar to User Account Control (UAC), but they function differently. UAC is designed to prevent unwanted system changes by showing a consent dialog whenever an action requires administrative privileges.

As part of its process, UAC creates two tokens at sign-in, including a standard user token and an administrator token. When an elevated action is needed, the system uses the administrator token. However, since both tokens share access to the user profile, this design can be exploited as a potential security vulnerability.

Administrator Protection addresses this limitation with a more advanced approach. Instead of relying on tokens tied to the active user, it generates an isolated, hidden system-managed account to handle elevation requests. When prompted for consent, the system creates this temporary account on demand, uses it to perform the elevated action, and then discards it once the task is complete.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

You can enable this security feature from Windows Security > Administrator Protection by turning on the toggle switch and restarting the computer.

6. Passkeys with provider support

The operating system now supports third-party passkey providers. Starting with the October 2025 Security Update, you can choose the provider to sign in to apps and websites using passkeys.

Currently, Microsoft has partnered with 1Password to integrate its passkey solution, allowing you to create, save, and use passkeys in 1Password and utilize them with Windows Hello on Windows 11.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

You can try this integration by installing the latest version of 1Password (Beta). Then, in Settings > Accounts > Passkeys > Advanced options, enable the "1Password" plugin.

Once you complete the steps, you can use your saved passkeys from 1Password or save new ones to the service.

7. Control Panel new legacy features in Settings

Starting with the Patch Tuesday update for versions 25H2 and 24H2, the development is porting several legacy features from the Control Panel to the Settings app.

First, on Settings > Time & language, inside the "Date & time" page, you now have the ability to show two additional clocks using the "Show time and date in the System tray" setting.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

You'll also find a new "Change the date and time format" entry to access the date and time format, which also includes a new option to change the symbols for "AM" and "PM."

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

In the "Sync now" setting, you now have an option to change the time server.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

On Settings > Time & language, inside the "Language & region" page, in the "Windows display language" setting, you can now turn on the "Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support" feature.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

In the "Regional format" settings, Microsoft is adding entries to manage the number and currency format settings

Finally, this page also includes the "Copy current user settings to welcome screen and system accounts" and " Copy current user settings to new user accounts" features.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

8. Braille viewer new accessibility feature

Microsoft is also adding a new Braille viewer to the Windows Narrator, which allows you to view the output as it will be displayed on a Braille display for teaching purposes.

You can manage the feature from Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Use a Braille display with Narrator.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If this is the first time configuring this feature, you'll have to download a package to set up the Braille viewer.

When you enable the feature, you can use the "Windows key + Ctrl + Enter" keyboard shortcut to launch the Narrator features, and use the "Narrator key + Alt + B" shortcut to access the Braille feature.