December update

Winsage
February 1, 2026
Windows 11 is facing significant issues following the January Patch Tuesday, particularly with boot failures on commercial devices. These problems are linked to both the January update and a flawed December update, leading to a "UNMOUNTABLEBOOTVOLUME" Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error. Microsoft has indicated that devices that did not successfully install the December security update are left in an improper state, which can prevent booting when subsequent updates are attempted. While Microsoft is working on a partial solution to prevent further installations that could cause boot failures, this fix will not resolve issues for devices already affected. The company is investigating the causes of these update failures and their consequences.
Winsage
December 24, 2025
Valve has transitioned the Steam client on Windows 10 and Windows 11 to a fully native 64-bit architecture, ending support for 32-bit Windows installations. Users on 32-bit systems will receive security updates and bug fixes until January 1, 2026, after which the Steam client will be considered insecure. Less than one percent of active Steam users are affected by this change. The shift to 64-bit allows for better RAM access, improved stability, and eliminates the need for the WoW64 compatibility layer. The update also includes technical enhancements such as a fix for H.265 game recording on Nvidia 50 series graphics cards, support for Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, and improved chat moderation features. Valve has ceased support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 as of the end of 2024.
Winsage
December 22, 2025
Valve's December update for the Steam client has transitioned the Windows version to a fully 64-bit application, ending partial 32-bit support. This change allows for improved performance and stability, as 64-bit applications can access greater system memory and manage larger tasks more effectively. Most Steam users on Windows, who already use a 64-bit operating system, will experience a seamless update. However, support for 32-bit Windows will continue only until January 1, 2026, after which it will cease. The update also includes enhancements such as improved reporting of suspicious messages, fixes for Big Picture Mode and Remote Play, and expanded controller support, including for Nintendo Switch 2 and GameCube controllers. Users on 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 will have the update installed automatically, while those on 32-bit systems must transition to a 64-bit version to continue using Steam after the cutoff date.
Winsage
December 12, 2025
Windows 10's December update, patch KB5071546, has caused various issues for users, including a blank screen on some PCs, performance problems like choppy wallpaper animations and CPU spikes, and lag in the user interface. Gamers have reported frame rate drops in games like Overwatch and issues with the Xbox app. Users with dual-monitor setups have experienced failures in their displays, and some have faced difficulties with the update failing to install. A potential solution for the StartIsBack application issue is to install its latest version, although this may require removing the existing version. The update includes a security fix for PowerShell 5.1, but users must consider the risks of remaining on an older version due to potential vulnerabilities.
Winsage
December 11, 2025
Windows 11 has caused concerns among graphics card users, particularly Nvidia GPU owners, leading Nvidia to release a hotfix driver to address gaming performance issues from the October update. The December KB5070311 update reportedly resolved significant problems for AMD GPU owners, including driver crashes in games like Battlefield 6 and general instability. User feedback suggests improvements after installing the December update, which also eliminated the "unsupported graphics card detected" message for compatible GPUs. AMD's patch notes for the latest Adrenalin version mention various crashing issues, but only a few were addressed without attributing them to Windows. Reports of GPU hanging and driver instability have been common since the RX 9070 XT's launch in March 2025, with the RX 9000 series facing the most difficulties. Nvidia previously rolled out a hotfix driver to restore performance lost due to an October Windows update. The December Windows 11 security update is mandatory, and users may find it beneficial to install it, although there is no guarantee that specific issues will be resolved. Neither Microsoft nor AMD has officially confirmed any AMD-specific GPU fixes related to Windows updates.
Winsage
December 11, 2025
Microsoft's December Patch Tuesday update addresses three critical zero-day vulnerabilities and a total of 56 bugs, including: - 28 elevation-of-privilege vulnerabilities - 19 remote-code-execution vulnerabilities - 4 information-disclosure vulnerabilities - 3 denial-of-service vulnerabilities - 2 spoofing vulnerabilities Three remote code execution flaws are classified as "critical." One zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-62221, allows attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges through the Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver. The other two vulnerabilities fixed are: - CVE-2025-64671: A remote code execution vulnerability in GitHub Copilot for Jetbrains, exploitable via Cross Prompt Injection. - CVE-2025-54100: A PowerShell remote code execution vulnerability that can execute scripts from a webpage using Invoke-WebRequest. CVE-2025-62221 is attributed to MSTIC and MSRC, CVE-2025-64671 was disclosed by Ari Marzuk, and CVE-2025-54100 was identified by multiple security researchers.
AppWizard
December 10, 2025
Mojang has released the Mounts of Mayhem update for Minecraft, available in Bedrock version 1.21.130 and recognized as update 3.27/1.037 for console players. The update introduces new content including a spear weapon, mounts like Horses and Camels that no longer sink while swimming, and new mobs such as Nautilus and Zombie Nautilus. The spear has various materials with different stats and two attack types. A new Skeleton variant called Parched spawns in Deserts and does not burn in sunlight. The update also includes audio fixes, gameplay adjustments, and general bug fixes.
AppWizard
December 4, 2025
Google has introduced the Expanded Dark Mode feature for Pixel phone users with the rollout of Android QPR2 in early December. This feature allows users to enforce a dark theme across most applications, even those without native dark mode support. The Expanded Dark Mode is available on all Pixel models that have received the Android QPR2 update, including Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro/9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, 10, and 10 Pro/10 Pro XL. To enable it, users must ensure their device is compatible and running the December update (version number starting with BP4A.251205.006). They can then activate the feature by going to Settings > Display & touch > Dark theme and switching to Expanded dark mode. While the feature enhances accessibility and readability, its effectiveness varies across applications. Some apps, like Transavia, adapt well, while others, such as Amazon and certain banking apps, do not display the dark theme effectively. Mapping applications like Citymapper and IDF Mobilités also show limited improvement. The Expanded Dark Mode is considered an improvement over the previous color inversion toggle and the Override force-dark option, offering a better experience for many users, although those using graphic-heavy apps may prefer the Standard Dark Mode.
AppWizard
November 27, 2025
The Minecraft 1.21.11 update, titled Mounts of Mayhem, will be released on December 9, 2025. It will introduce new features including the spear weapon, new mobs such as Nautilus, Camel Husks, Zombie Horses, and Parched, as well as new items like Netherite Horse Armor.
Winsage
December 23, 2024
Microsoft's December 2024 update for Windows 11 has caused issues, particularly with the Start menu becoming unresponsive. This glitch is associated with cumulative updates KB5048667 for Windows 11 24H2 and KB5048685 for Windows 11 23H2. Users have limited options to address the problem, either reverting the update or dealing with the malfunctioning Start menu. Additional reported issues include the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon being stuck on the taskbar and display problems linked to HDR after installing Windows 11 23H2 KB5048685. Microsoft needs to improve the stability of its updates to restore user confidence.
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