Microsoft's March 2023 Patch Tuesday is here, and it has brought more than enough goodies with it.
The California-based tech giant recently released two cumulative updates for Windows 10, prolonging the operating system's support and providing Windows 10 users with better security and an improved operating system.
These updates are mandatory downloads, meaning users will automatically download them on their computer when they click Check on Updates.
Microsoft March 2023 Patch Tuesday Windows 10 Updates
Microsoft released KB5023696 and KB5023697 cumulative updates for Windows 10, which, according to Bleeping Computer, will be mandatory for Windows 10 users to download since they contain security updates as part of the company's March 2023 Patch Tuesday.
Let's start with Windows 10's KB5023696 cumulative update. Microsoft mentioned in its patch notes that the update fixes issues with Windows 10's various versions, 22H2, 21H2, and Windows 10 version 20H2. For example, it addresses an issue that prevents an existing computer account from joining an Active Directory domain - a problem that only occurs on devices with installed Windows updates dated Oct. 11, 2022, or later.
The update also implements phase three of Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) hardening, providing Windows 10 users with advanced protection from the latest security threats and capabilities to support migration.
Installing this update could cause an issue with devices with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO images, as the update could fail in its replacement of Microsoft Edge Legacy with the new Microsoft Edge.
As such, Windows 10 users with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO images must determine if their computer has slipstreamed the SSU released on Mar. 29, 2021, or later into the custom offline media or ISO image before slipstreaming the latest cumulative update.
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As for Windows 10's KB5023697 cumulative update, it comes with support for the government's daylight saving time change order for 2023, affecting United Mexican States. Meanwhile, it also addresses an issue affecting Windows 10's Local Security Authority Subsystem Service, which could stop responding if users run Sysprep on a domain-joined machine.
The update also addresses the issue that prevents an existing computer account from joining an Active Directory domain, just like the previously mentioned Windows 10 cumulative update. However, the issue will only occur on devices that have Windows updates dated October 11, 2022, or later installed.
Finally, the update also includes the implementation of phase three of DCOM hardening. This cumulative update doesn't cause any issues when installing it, though Microsoft urges Windows 10 users to install the latest servicing stack update before installing the latest cumulative update.
Windows 10 Cumulative Updates Availability
Microsoft mentioned that both of the cumulative updates it released are available on all its release channels, meaning that everyone using Windows 10, including businesses, can get the updates.
Though most release channels don't need to do anything since the updates are automatically updated, those under the Microsoft Update Catalog release channel may have to go to Microsoft's Update Catalog website to get the update.
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