Microsoft confirms Auto HDR bug in Windows 11 and blocks updates as a consequence
Windows 11, version 24H2 has not been out for long, but its number of issues is already longer than a polonaise at the German carnival.
Gamers faced their fair share of issues already. The release version of Windows 11 24H2 had some issues already. There was a particular issue with the game Asphalt 8 and also issues with Easy Anti-Cheat applications.
Another issue affected certain Ubisoft games. Now, Microsoft confirmed that Auto HDR is also affected.
The details: Windows gamers who have Auto HDR enabled on their devices won't get the upgrade offer to Windows 11, version 24H2 via Windows Update.
Microsoft furthermore asks gamers not to install the latest version off Windows 11 through other means. This includes updates via the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or media creation tool.
The Auto HDR issue
Microsoft describes the issue in the following way: "You might observe that the game colors are incorrect in certain display configurations. You might also observe that some games stop responding.".
In other words, games may freeze and potentially crash on Windows 11, version 24H2, if Auto HDR is enabled.
Note that this affects devices that have been upgraded to the latest version already. If you noticed color issues or freezes in games, you may now have found the culprit, provided that you use Auto HDR on the device.
Microsoft published a workaround for customers who are on Windows 11, version 24H2 already. It, to no surprise, suggests to disable Auto HDR for all games or certain games.
Here is how that is done:
- Open the Start menu.
- Select Settings.
- Switch to System > Display in the Settings app.
- Select Graphics on the page that opens.
- Toggle auto HDR to off on the page that opens.
This disables the feature for all apps and games on the Windows 11 PC.
An alternative to that is to enable or disable Auto HDR for specific apps or games only. This can be done on the same page under "Custom settings for applications". There you may set the feature for specific apps or games only.
Microsoft says that it is working on a resolution. In the meantime, Windows games who have not upgraded yet are stuck on an earlier version of the operating system.
Now You: Do you game on Windows? What is your take on all the issues affecting games and gaming? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
I may be an Elitist Jerk but real gamers know better then to update the OS right away.
I do like Auto HDR. I just started replaying Tomb Raider Legend, the updated version with next gen gfx, and it works on it and it looks so much better then the original.
We have 27″ HDR10 G-Sync monitors and RTX GPU’s so on the windows System > Display > Graphics > Default Graphics Settings page, it’s all turned on.
I defer what is now called feature updates for 120 days. If you want to stop them, all you have to do is set “Target Feature Update Version” in GPEdit.
I think most stuff released by Microsoft is buggy as shit these days. Some of these bugs seem to have been either ignored as not being worthy of fixing before release. Or Microsoft thinks they are trivial enough to fix after release. In many ways a new public release through normal channels just means a more expansive beta testing public. You want stability, stop accepting updates right away.
BTW, for anyone not aware of how to delay updates, follow the steps in this article …
(I used the Group Policy editor)
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/09/27/how-to-delay-feature-updates-in-windows-10/
I have my feature and quality updates delayed (90 and 15 days respectively) to avoid being a free Microsoft beta tester.
I am still on 23h2.
You can delay everything you want, everytime you consider, the days you want, night shift included, because bad luck will find you. MS knows where you are, and wrong updates will stare in front of you. Smiling.
It is a good strategy. Often, there is no real need to upgrade immediately and you sit out most of the bugs and issues this way.
One issue with with doing free software updates is that software provider may remove features from the free package update to make you need to buy the better package to keep the feature(s) you like.
Just one example is Aomei Backupper. Version 6.9 allowed one to mount a backed up disk image. Subsequent versions took that option away. I will remain at v6.9 because it works fine.
How is that relevant to delaying Windows updates?
It’s an update isn’t it?