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Microsoft released its December 2024 security updates on December 10. The applicable cumulative update depends on your Windows version: Windows 11 24H2 received KB5048667, Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 received KB5048685, and Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2 received KB5048652. Check your version before downloading a package manually; these updates do not themselves upgrade a PC to a new Windows version.
December 2024 Windows update cheat sheet
Use the version and build shown in Windows—not just the product name—to identify the matching update. Microsoft’s release notes list the Windows 11 packages and builds; Microsoft’s December update index lists the Windows 10 package and builds.
| Windows version | December 10 update | Resulting OS build |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 24H2 | KB5048667 | 26100.2605 |
| Windows 11 22H2 | KB5048685 | 22621.4602 |
| Windows 11 23H2 | KB5048685 | 22631.4602 |
| Windows 10 21H2 | KB5048652 | 19044.5247 |
| Windows 10 22H2 | KB5048652 | 19045.5247 |
Sources: Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 release notes, Microsoft’s Windows 11 22H2/23H2 release notes, and Microsoft’s December 2024 update index.
What the December updates included
These were cumulative security updates for existing Windows servicing branches, not feature upgrades. Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 notes describe security fixes and miscellaneous security improvements to internal operating-system functionality. Cumulative packages also include earlier fixes; devices with previous updates may download only the new portions.
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Microsoft said there would be no separate non-security preview release in December because of reduced holiday operations. The normal monthly security release still went out on December 10. The release notes say the 24H2 update includes improvements previously delivered in the November 21 preview, where applicable. Microsoft’s Security Update Guide is the source for vulnerability details. No vulnerability total is included here because the figures surfaced for that month were not verified against a directly usable Microsoft release table.
Known issues and their scope
OpenSSH service failures
Microsoft listed reports that the OpenSSH service could fail to start, preventing SSH connections. The issue followed the October 2024 security update; Microsoft described it as affecting a limited number of enterprise, IoT, and education devices and requiring manual intervention to run sshd.exe. The December notes point to KB5052093, a later update, as addressing the issue. They do not establish that the December 10 package itself introduced or resolved it. This is most relevant to administrators and users relying on Windows’ OpenSSH server.
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Microsoft also listed a problem affecting Windows Arm devices where Roblox could not be downloaded and played through the Microsoft Store. Its stated workaround was to download Roblox directly from the Roblox website. This issue was specific to the Arm and Microsoft Store scenario, not all Windows PCs or Roblox installations.
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How to identify and install the right update
Check your Windows version first
- Press Windows + R, type
winver, and press Enter. Note the Windows version and OS build. - Match the version to the cheat sheet above. Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 share a KB but have different build numbers, as do Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2.
Install through Windows Update
- Open Settings and select Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates, then let Windows download the applicable cumulative update.
- Restart when prompted.
- After the restart, return to Windows Update and check for pending required updates.
Microsoft listed Windows Update, Windows Update for Business, Microsoft Update Catalog, and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) as distribution channels. Home users will generally find Windows Update simplest. Organizations can use their managed deployment channel to stage updates and coordinate restarts. To install manually from the Catalog, confirm the Windows version, servicing branch, and architecture; x64 and Arm64 packages are not interchangeable. The Microsoft Update Catalog lists packages by architecture.
How to verify installation
The build number is a useful check of the system’s current state; Update History confirms whether a particular KB appears as installed.
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- Run
winverand compare the displayed OS build with the table. - Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history and look for the relevant KB number.
- Administrators can check an applicable KB in PowerShell, for example:
Get-HotFix -Id KB5048667. Substitute KB5048685 or KB5048652 for the matching branch. A “hotfix not found” result for a KB that does not apply to the installed Windows branch does not mean the update failed.
For a broader package inventory, use PowerShell:
Get-CimInstance Win32_QuickFixEngineering | Sort-Object InstalledOn -Descending
If installation fails or Windows behaves differently afterward
A failed update, an unexpected build, or a device problem does not by itself establish that the December package caused it. Check Windows Update history for the error and consult Microsoft’s Windows release health dashboard for issue and safeguard information.
- Restart the PC and retry Windows Update. Check that the device has free storage and a stable network connection.
- Disconnect unnecessary external hardware. If the failure persists, check whether third-party antivirus, disk-encryption, VPN, or endpoint-management software could be interfering.
- Run the Windows Update troubleshooter if it is available for your installation, then review Settings → Windows Update → Update history for the failure code.
- If installing manually, verify the Catalog package matches the Windows version, servicing branch, and system architecture.
- If repeated attempts fail, open an elevated Command Prompt and run
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, followed bysfc /scannow. Restart and try the update again.
These checks may help diagnose common problems, but they are not guaranteed to resolve every error. Reports of issues such as audio loss, gaming problems, or failed installation should be treated as individual reports unless Microsoft confirms a wider defect.
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When to consider uninstalling
Try troubleshooting first. If the update is linked to a documented, serious regression, record the KB number and weigh the impact of removing a security update before proceeding.
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates.
- Select the relevant update and follow the prompts; restart if requested.
Where rollback is available, an administrator may also use the Windows Update Standalone Installer from an elevated Command Prompt, substituting the applicable KB number without the “KB” prefix. For example: wusa /uninstall /kb:5048667.
Uninstallation can be unavailable, blocked by policy, or limited after a later cumulative update supersedes the package. Removing it returns the system to an earlier security state, so it should not be treated as a routine way to defer updates.
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What administrators should account for
For managed fleets, test the update against the hardware and software that matter to the organization before broad deployment. Pay particular attention to:
- OpenSSH-dependent workflows, especially on affected enterprise, IoT, and education devices.
- VPN clients, endpoint security agents, network authentication, printers, and critical business applications.
- Driver-dependent hardware and Arm64-specific application behavior.
- Deployment rings, restart windows, recovery options, and the process for investigating an affected device.
Use Windows Update for Business, WSUS, or another existing management workflow where appropriate. The correct controls depend on the organization’s edition, policies, and deployment tooling; a home PC does not need an enterprise management product to install this update.
These December 2024 packages cover the listed Windows branches and editions, not every legacy or specialized release. Windows Server, LTSC, IoT, and other editions can follow different servicing rules. Receiving the Windows 10 December 2024 update also does not mean standard free security updates continue indefinitely; support and any extended coverage depend on edition and enrollment.
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