KB5074105: Windows 11 asks for admin access to open Storage settings, but breaks Temporary files cleanup for some files/folders

By Admin

05 Feb, 2026

KB5074105: Windows 11 Admin Access Change Breaks Temporary Files Cleanup

Introduction
Windows 11 KB5074105 (Build 26200.7705) is an optional update released on January 29 that quietly introduced a new security-related change. While the update fixes important issues like the January 2026 Patch Tuesday black-screen bug on Nvidia GPUs and resolves Start menu problems, it also brings an unexpected side effect. Users are now seeing admin permission prompts for Storage settings, and at the same time, the Temporary files cleanup feature appears to be broken for certain system files and folders.

Admin permission now required for Storage settings
After installing KB5074105, opening Settings > System > Storage triggers a User Account Control (UAC) prompt. Microsoft has confirmed this behavior is intentional and not a bug. The idea behind this change is to ensure that only administrator-approved sessions can access system locations and protected files. By enforcing elevation, Windows reduces the risk of accidental or malicious deletion of important system data by standard users, background processes, or potential attackers.

Microsoft also updated its support documentation, stating that the UAC prompt is designed to ensure only authorized Windows users can access system files through Storage settings. From a security perspective, this move makes sense and aligns with Microsoft’s broader push toward stronger default protections.

Temporary files cleanup no longer detects system files
Despite the added security, the update seems to have introduced a regression in the Temporary files cleanup feature. After granting admin permission and opening Storage settings, users can still view storage usage. However, when navigating to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files and refreshing the scan, key cleanup options are missing.

Windows Update Cleanup, Device Driver cleanup, and other admin-only cleanup buckets no longer appear. This means the Temporary files page can no longer clean Windows Update files, even though they still exist on the system and continue to consume storage space.

Why Disk Cleanup still works
Interestingly, the classic Disk Cleanup tool still behaves as expected. When you open Disk Cleanup and choose “Clean up system files,” it correctly lists Windows Update Cleanup, Windows upgrade log files, and other system-level items. This confirms that the files are still present and removable.

The difference lies in how the scans are performed. The Temporary files page appears to run its scan in a non-elevated context, even after the Storage settings page itself required admin approval. Without a fully elevated token, the cleanup scan cannot reliably read or offer deletion of protected system files, so Windows simply hides those options. Disk Cleanup, when elevated, loads system cleanup handlers that can see and remove those files, which is why it continues to work correctly.

Tests also show that if KB5074105 is not installed, or if the update is removed, the Temporary files subpage once again correctly detects Windows Update files and other admin-restricted cleanup categories.

Other notable changes in Build 26200.7705
Beyond Storage and cleanup issues, Windows 11 Build 26200.7705 introduces several noteworthy features. One of the biggest additions is Cross Device Resume, starting with Android apps. For example, if you play music on Spotify on your phone and then switch to your PC, the Windows taskbar can let you instantly resume playback. Similar resume capabilities are available for Microsoft 365 documents.

However, this feature is limited to certain Android phone brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Honor. iPhone users are excluded due to platform restrictions imposed by Apple.

Another important change is related to Smart App Control (SAC). Microsoft has confirmed that users can now turn Smart App Control on or off from the Windows Security app without performing a clean installation of Windows 11. The toggle appears under Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control. That said, availability seems inconsistent. Even after installing the update and force-enabling SAC, some users still cannot toggle it on, suggesting a gradual or incomplete rollout.

Conclusion
KB5074105 improves Windows 11 security by adding admin protection to Storage settings, but it also unintentionally breaks the Temporary files cleanup experience for system-level files. While Disk Cleanup remains a reliable workaround, the inconsistency between the two cleanup tools is confusing and frustrating for users who rely on the modern Settings interface.

If you’ve installed KB5074105, you may want to keep an eye on storage usage and use Disk Cleanup for now when clearing Windows Update files. If you haven’t installed the update yet, Temporary files cleanup should continue working as expected. Have you noticed missing cleanup options or Smart App Control toggle issues after this update? Your experience may help highlight how widespread the problem really is.