Skip to main content

Lagging in games? This Windows 11 update might fix the problem

Microsoft has apparently resolved the gaming issues in the Windows 11 22H2 update, making it safe for anyone that hasn’t updated yet to do so now.

The gaming problems were confirmed by Microsoft two weeks into November, following ongoing complaints from Windows gamers that had noticed popular games lagging. A safeguard hold was placed, stopping automatic update alerts but not preventing manual updates.

CyberPowerPC Pre-built gaming PC on desk.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While the Windows 22H2 update began rolling out months ago, it has been a bumpy ride with several troubles plaguing early adopters. File transfer speeds were slowed by as much as 40%, and Nvidia had to step in with a compatibility fix in September.

Recommended Videos

Microsoft also placed a safeguard hold on the Windows 22H2 update in October after it was discovered that Windows Hello stopped working in some cases. It was still possible to sign in with a password so this was less of a concern than the gaming performance issue.

The latest update brings several enhancements, and it’s unfortunate that the release has been repeatedly delayed. The user interface improvements appear in various places, most notably with Start Menu folders allowing better organization.

Live captions are a big step toward controlling sound and improving accessibility. The newest version of Windows 11 adds this capability, activated by hitting the Windows key > Control key > L. You can see all of the updates in our comprehensive look at everything new in Windows 11 22H2.

To get the latest version of Windows 11, just go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If you haven’t installed Windows 11 22H2 yet, you should be given the option to download and install it.

Rumors are already beginning about Microsoft working on the next version of its operating system, presumably called Windows 12 for a 2024 release, but that means we could have another year with Windows 11. Hopefully, the most significant Windows 11 problems are behind us. The last few months have been particularly painful for gamers.

Alan Truly
Alan Truly is a Writer at Digital Trends, covering computers, laptops, hardware, software, and accessories that stand out as…
Windows 11 is creating an ‘undeletable’ 8.63GB cache
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

The recent Windows 11 24H2 update is reportedly flawed with a new issue where it creates 8.63GB of undeletable update cache. This cache is made during the update process and seems to remain on the system, despite attempts to remove it using traditional methods like Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense, or even manually deleting system folders like Windows.old​.

The issue appears to be linked to checkpoint updates, a new feature in Windows 11 designed to streamline and shrink update sizes by downloading smaller patches rather than full updates.

Read more
It’s official — Microsoft WordPad is dead after 29 years
A screenshot of Microsoft WordPad running on Windows 11.

The Windows 11 2024 Update, otherwise known as version 24H2, started rolling out yesterday, but if you've already updated, you might notice something is missing. WordPad's deprecation has become a reality, as it has been completely removed from the new version of Windows 11.

This might not be a big deal to most users -- the lack of people using the app is part of the reason it was deprecated, after all. If you don't know, WordPad has been around since Windows 95, and in terms of features and functionality, it offers more than Notepad, but less than Microsoft Word.

Read more
Whatever you do, don’t install the Windows 11 September update
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Microsoft has warned users in a post on its support blog that the September KB5043145 update, released on Thursday, is causing some Windows 11 PCs to restart multiple times, show the blue screen of death, or even freeze.

The problems in the recent update affect those on the 22H2 or 23H3 version of Windows 11. However, Microsoft said it is investigating the issue and will provide more information when it's available. Microsoft confirmed: "After installing this update, some customers have reported that their device restarts multiple times or becomes unresponsive with blue or green screens. According to the reports, some devices automatically open the Automatic Repair tool after repeated restart attempts. In some cases, BitLocker recovery can also be triggered."

Read more