Latest Windows 11 update is reportedly causing freezes and lags for some users
If you have installed the latest batch of Windows 11 Updates and could boot fine into the system after installation, congratulations. Reports suggest that the update is causing issues on some systems.
The details:
- Microsoft released the cumulative update KB5041585 for Windows 11 version 22H2 and 23H2 on Tuesday.
- The updates fix security issues and non-security issues..
- Users affected by the issue say that the update is slowing down their systems to a crawl.
- Others say that the update would not even install.
A thread on Reddit points out the issues that users experience when they install the latest Windows 11 updates on their devices.
Some excerpts:
- "I don't know what in the world happened with this update, but it's completely screwed up my laptop. Slow, laggy, extremely delayed response time, Minecraft realms won't even show and no sound at all on the app" writes Silly_Lawyer_1574.
- "Finally, after waiting forever and a day, it let's me log in but then nothing is working. I finally got it to let me shut down after like 20 mins of trying" says user Spirite_Season2332
- "For whatever reason, the update somehow failed to install. I tried again and then it said that it would try again. I'm going to restart and check to see what's up" writes DestinyDecade.
- "The CPU is almost constantly at 100%, everything is super slow, laggy, I get timeouts left and right." writes doriman.
It goes on like that. It is unclear what is causing this. The users have not posted information about their devices and Microsoft has yet to acknowledge that there is an issue with the update.
A quick Feedback Hub shows several reports about the issue. Two users say that it is failing to install, another that it is causing lack of memory errors. Not a lot at this point.
Microsoft did not confirm any new issues when it released the update.
What you can do
If you have not installed the new Windows 11 update yet, you may want to make sure that you create a system backup before you install the cumulative update. This allows you to restore the full system should the update cause issues on the device.
My recommendation is the free Paragon Backup & Recovery Free, but any backup software with full system backup capabilities will do.
If you have installed the update already and experience issues, you may want to uninstall it and block it from being installed again.
Check out our guide on uninstalling Windows Updates for that.
You could also postpone the installation of the update and monitor reports as well as the official release health website for updates.
What about you? Have you installed the latest Windows updates already? Did you run into any issues, or did they install just fine and without noticeable issues? Let us know in the comments below. (via Windows Area)
I had the same issue with 100% cpu on Windows 11 when using some intensive apps. I removed update KB5041585 and it’s fast again! Why would Microsoft push out untested software to everyone? You would think they would have learned something from the Crowdstrike mess.
I only found out about it because this article randomly showed up in my news feed.
I’m grandpa and I’m moving to Linux. What a nightmare Windows has become.
I am working mostly 90% of my time with Linux (Kubuntu LTS) and zero problems experienced yet.
No need for more “I’m taking my toys and going to play with Linux” dramatics. This is an old problem with well-known mitigations.
To prevent it happening, I suggest a note on your calendar to pause updates for 7 days (which, for non-geeks, is at settings – updates and security – windows updates) the Monday before the 2nd Tuesday of the month (= the day before Patch Tuesday). MS usually manages to clean up their update messes in 3-4 days, so a 7-day pause in receiving updates is enough to address most issues.
If you don’t want to bother with that, MS updates automatically generate a restore point before installation. So if an update does screw up your machine, you have at least a few days where you can roll back.
The simplest way to access your restore points is to press windows key + R at the same time, which opens the Run box. Type “rstrui” (no quotes) in the Open box there, hit “enter” on your keyboard, and you’ll find your restore points, one of which, dated from the most recent Patch Tuesday, will helpfully be called Windows Update. Restoring from that point (or any earlier) will undo the update. Make sure you pause your updates after you restore or MS will immediately install the same update again.
I also use Gibson’s simple, tiny InControl applet to make sure I get unwanted “feature” updates on my schedule, not MS’s.
I like Boris’s comment, above, that “we have long past a point when Windows updates create more problems than… computer viruses.” Sadly, that’s very true in my experience.
Windows 11 out of the box is a complete bloatware nightmare absolutely annoying for any user, W10 was so better than W11 that every time I have to use a W10 machine my productivity increases a lot, it’s so easy to work with W10, so easy to understand and to configure with no further problems. In my job sometimes they let a computer, and when I see it’s a W11 machine I run to my home to catch my Linux old laptop… that’s all I have to say about your “non dramatics” issues with “easy mitigations”.
I’m experiencing issues with WIN10 freezing as well. Restored backup before update and reapplied update and all seems well so far. Windows OS has become a real cluster anymore. I’m stuck on it for awhile primarily due to my dependency on MS Office. But I’m buying a new Linux PC and plan on migrating as much of my work as possible to some distro before WIN10 expires next October. Then I guess I’ll just disconnect my Windows PC from the internet and use it until the machine quits working. I realize MS doesn’t really care as they have all the OEMs selling millions of WIN11 machines. Reminds me of Boeing sacrificing quality over profits. Sad because the OS, without all the crap overhead, is not a bad OS and works well with lots of devices.
Windows as a whole is so unreliable especially with updates. I have been chasing issues with Windows 10 updates too. Microsoft overall seems lacking in proper testing of updates. I guess more interested in other things then quality vetting of updates before releasing to the public.
Don’t let Windows Update update your drivers for you as that’s probably what causing all the issues.
Use Shutup10++ to easily prevent driver updates via Windows Update: https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
Always download and update your drivers manually from your motherboard manufacturer’s website.
Kunichua! @samurai cat,
I don’t know. I am too dumb to
seek, by myself where, which
damned drivers to update
manually at apt time.
So I allow Sledgehammer to find
what. Does this make Windows
Update snuck scary things in?
For all M$ stuff rammed our
throats nowadays, I really feel
lost, fumbling in the wild.
Confounded, confused.
Following most of 36 years of
smooth playing with M$, up to
the realm of Windows 7 Pro,
which I liked best, then getting
forced to leave behind to ride
still on the Windows 10 Pro
bandwagon.
(I spent 40 years in a job–like
life spent around and
surrounded by bureaucratic
desktop workstations).
Arigato gozaimasu, tomodachi.
Have a good day to you and
everyone.
Thank you!
It freezes on waking up your computer from sleep mode, but the usual sfc scannow and DISM actually does something for once. What the hell Microsoft, how are your own updates incompatible with your own system like this?
2024-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5041585) Successfully installed 8/13.
On a second machine running Windows 11, however, the update doesn’t show as installed or even attempting to install.
I am fortunate. I usually have the updates paused, but this time everything updated sort of all of a sudden without a chance to make a system image.
Uninstalling an update looks easy enough.
Oddly, a slew of updates installed on a Windows 10 laptop, one of which slowed the machine to a crawl; however, when the computer rebooted and another pending install installed the laptop is running faster than it has in months.
So the story goes with MS updates.
Switched from Windows 10 to Windows 11 this morning and computer does not load programs before it times out. Have rebooted several times but computer is now useless.
You can roll it back for up to ten days. I recommend using 0patch to my Windows 10 customers. It’s smoother than MS updates and will support W10 through 2030.
This is what happens when you jump on the newest updates.
Let people be the beta testers for ya.
“But the OS updates automatically !” is not a valid thought.
For what M.$ calls “Security updates” a 14 day deferral is set in the group policy.
Feature updated are set to defer for 6 months.
Also, updates are set to check and ask to download and install, not to auto.
This usually keeps us from receiving the updates until after the beta testing, the time when M.$ releases them to the public to see what happens, is done.
Good info! configured them like that as well now, thanks!
I installed Windows 11 Home (x64) Version 23H2 (build 22631.4037) without problems, over the prerelease for 23H2 available for W11 a few weeks ago. FWIW
We have long past a point when Windows updates create more problems than 90% of the computer viruses.
We are living in such disaster era with Windows becoming such garbage.
Absolutely horrible.
Moved grandpa and grandma to Linux. They love it and don’t want Windows back.