Windows 11 updates now install faster and use less CPU
What's the story
Microsoft has made Windows Update a lot faster in its latest major upgrade to Windows 11.
The new version, 24H2, was released earlier this month with a number of useful enhancements.
Now, Microsoft has revealed that this major update also reduces installation time, restart time, and even CPU usage for monthly Windows updates.
Efficiency boost
Take a look at new update methods
Microsoft regularly releases monthly cumulative security and non-security updates, aimed at introducing new features or safeguarding against emerging threats.
The latest Windows 11 version, 24H2, introduces innovative ways to update the OS that enhance its efficiency and speed.
These include parallel processing of components, scalable use of system RAM, and an optimized cache for updating components.
Performance boost
Version 24H2 significantly reduces update times
The improvements in Windows 11 version 24H2 make it install monthly updates up to 45% faster, while consuming up to 25% less CPU.
This also translates into a nearly 40% faster restart time on some systems.
Microsoft tested these improvements on a virtual machine against its older versions of Windows 11, confirming that the performance claims hold true for both previous versions as they share the same older servicing stack.
Download reduction
Microsoft reduces download sizes of feature updates
Along with performance improvements, Microsoft has also shrunk the download sizes of feature updates for Windows 11 by around 200MB.
This is done by not requiring the download of built-in apps for Windows 11 if users already have the latest versions.
Steve DiAcetis, a member of the Windows fundamentals team at Microsoft, said "For Windows 11, version 24H2, we extended this design to include Microsoft Edge."