Updated

Updated · PCWorld · Jul 29

Microsoft Rolls Out KB5101684, Bringing Windows 11 Fingerprint Sign-In to 24H2 and 25H2 Desktops

Updated

Updated · PCWorld · Jul 29

Microsoft Rolls Out KB5101684, Bringing Windows 11 Fingerprint Sign-In to 24H2 and 25H2 Desktops

Q: What prompted Microsoft to finally allow users to delete built-in AI components, and how does this affect Copilot+ PC performance?

Microsoft was pushed to allow removal of built-in AI components after sustained criticism that Windows 11, especially on Copilot+ PCs, was shipping AI features too deeply integrated and consuming significant local resources without enough user control. Reporting around Insider builds showed particular concern over storage use: components such as Phi Silica could take more than 2.5GB, while image-generation models can require several additional gigabytes. Microsoft’s own documentation also treats some AI models as optional because of their size, signaling a practical need to let users reclaim space. In KB5101684, that shift appears in a concrete form: supported Copilot+ PCs can remove the Image Generation AI component from Settings. The immediate effect is mainly on storage, not raw speed. Deleting the component frees several gigabytes and reduces background model footprint, which can help overall system housekeeping and Windows Update efficiency, but it does not meaningfully boost CPU, GPU, or NPU performance by itself. For Copilot+ PCs, the bigger performance implication is flexibility. Users who do not use on-device image generation can strip out that model, leaving more disk space and potentially less update overhead, while keeping the rest of the Copilot+ AI stack intact. In short, Microsoft’s move was prompted by backlash over AI “bloat” and resource use, and the payoff is better control and lighter storage demands rather than a dramatic performance jump.

3 articles · Updated · PCWorld · Jul 29

KB5101684 is now rolling out to Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, enabling Windows Hello fingerprint sign-in on desktop PCs and Copilot+ devices that lack built-in sensors.
External readers must support Enhanced Sign-in Security, which extends Microsoft’s more secure biometric authentication beyond laptops and other PCs with integrated fingerprint hardware.
Users can turn on the feature after connecting a compatible reader through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
Microsoft first announced external fingerprint support in January; the capability arrives in the optional July preview update that also includes broader fixes and performance improvements.