The days when we left the PC overnight to wait for a Windows update to complete are long gone. At least that’s what Microsoft says, who revealed that The 24H2 update for Windows 11 will be installed in record time.
The technology giant detailed the changes that they implemented in their patch system. It is no secret that Microsoft has been working for years to improve Windows updates to make them lighter and easier to install. The tests carried out with the latest version show considerable progress that not only reduces time, but also resource consumption.
According to data, Windows 11 24H2 update is installed 45.6% faster than the 22H2 version that was released two years ago. Furthermore, the computer it only consumed 15.3% of the CPU and restarted 39.7% faster. Microsoft also ran tests on a computer that hadn’t been updated in a year and a half and got similar numbers. In both cases, virtual machines with the configuration of an average computer (8-core processor, 16 GB of RAM and SSD storage) were used.
Why Windows 11 updates will install faster
The results are the product of a change to the Windows 11 client maintenance stack. Microsoft takes advantage of cache and RAM to store component metadata (manifests), which increases installation efficiency. While the changes have been integrated in recent months, the 24H2 version will be the first major update to take advantage of them.
Another important modification has to do with additional features. Unlike versions of yesteryear – such as Windows XP, Vista or 7 -, Microsoft separated operating system components to update them through monthly patches or the Microsoft Store. We see the most obvious example in Notepad, Paint or the Mail application, which receive more frequent changes through the application store.
This separation will allow the Additional feature downloads do not exceed 200 MB. In these updates we will see changes to the Settings, the start menu or the File Explorer, key components of the operating system that are not offered through the Microsoft Store and that cannot wait for an annual patch, as was the case before.
Although the changes sound interesting for the Windows 11 user, the reality is different for those who have not made the jump to this version of the operating system. Microsoft has blocked the 24H2 update for some computers with Intel processor because it can generate a blue screen of death. Those who have an incompatible fingerprint reader or those who use apps to customize wallpaper.
