Microsoft has rolled out its November 2025 Patch Day updates, bringing critical security patches and significant bug fixes for users of both Windows 10 and Windows 11. This month’s release, which landed on November 11, addresses numerous security gaps. However, the two most noteworthy developments are the launch of the very first Extended Security Update (ESU) for Windows 10 and a crucial fix for a memory-draining bug in Windows 11’s Task Manager.
The First Windows 10 ESU Arrives
For Windows 10 users, this Patch Day marks a critical milestone. Official mainstream support for the operating system technically ended back on October 14, 2025. Microsoft is now, however, offering an extension through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which provides vital security patches for at least another year, running until October 13, 2026. This first ESU release, identified as KB5068781, is now rolling out to eligible machines. Interestingly, for home users within the EU, this ESU program is being provided free of charge, though there have been some initial reports of enrollment hiccups.
What the First ESU Update Includes
The update, officially named the “2025-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5068781),” is the first security patch available only to PCs enrolled in the ESU program. As expected for a support-extension update, it introduces no new features. Instead, it focuses entirely on security, plugging 63 vulnerabilities. One of these is particularly critical, as it’s a zero-day vulnerability that was already being actively exploited by hackers. Additionally, KB5068781 resolves an annoying bug where eligible ESU computers were incorrectly displaying warnings that they had reached the end of support.
Installation and Details
Once a PC is correctly registered for the ESU program, KB5068781 should install automatically, just like a regular security update. After installation, the Windows 10 build number will change to 19045.6575. While the download via Windows Update is relatively small at around 200 MB, the package is also available on the Microsoft Update Catalog for manual download. There, however, the file size is significantly larger, weighing in at over 700 MB depending on the specific platform, though manual installation is generally not required.
Windows 11 Task Manager Bug Squashed
While Windows 10 users are navigating the new ESU landscape, Windows 11 users have been dealing with a frustrating bug of their own. Following the late October release of update KB5067036, many users on Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 noticed that the Task Manager was failing to close properly. Even after clicking the “X” to close the window, the taskmgr.exe process would continue running in the background. Worse, opening the Task Manager again would launch a completely new instance, rather than recalling the existing one.
The Memory Leak and the November Fix
This behavior quickly created a significant memory leak. Each “zombie” Task Manager process consumed around 20 to 30 MB of RAM. For users who frequently open the tool or who rarely restart their machines, this flaw could lead to accumulating memory shortages and noticeable system performance degradation, a fact Microsoft itself confirmed. The new November 11 Patch Day update, KB5068861, finally resolves this issue. Microsoft’s support notes confirm the patch “addresses an issue where closing the Task Manager… did not completely end the process, leaving background instances that could lead to performance degradation over time.” This update is recommended for all Windows 11 users to restore system stability.