Windows 11 update Archives

Winsage

August 24, 2026

A faster OS and UI fixes won’t save Windows 11 if Microsoft’s apps remain laggy web wrappers

Microsoft is testing new context menus and updating the AutoPlay dialog box in Windows 11. The Windows K2 initiative is prompting discussions about a potential Windows 12 update. Concerns remain about the performance of key applications like Microsoft Teams, which has been criticized for slow loading times. The upcoming Windows 11 update will include a refreshed Start menu, Taskbar enhancements, and quality fixes. A study by Signal65 found that the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme outperforms Intel and AMD chips. Rudy Huyn is leading a team to improve Windows applications, but it is uncertain how many apps will benefit from these efforts. Many major applications operate independently from Huyn's team, raising concerns about user experience. Microsoft 365 is currently available at a discount when bundled with NordVPN.

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Windows 11 Update Breaks Games: The RGB Fix

The cumulative update for Windows 11, KB5121003, has caused game freezes and crashes for users, attributed to conflicts with third-party software and drivers managing RGB components, particularly related to the inpoutx64.sys file. Affected games include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and THE FINALS, with symptoms such as unresponsive games, sudden closures with an EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION message, and unexpected system reboots. Microsoft has not provided a permanent fix but suggests users report issues via the Windows 11 Feedback Hub and consider removing or renaming the problematic driver as a temporary measure.

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Microsoft Blames RGB Peripherals for Game-Breaking Windows 11 Update—Still No Real Fix

Many Windows 11 users are experiencing crashes, freezes, and forced restarts after a recent update. Microsoft is investigating these issues, which are linked to interactions between certain games and RGB-enabled peripherals that may install conflicting drivers, specifically those with file names similar to inpoutx64. As a temporary solution, Microsoft recommends disabling the inpoutx64 driver via the Windows Registry, although this may disrupt the functionality of RGB features on peripherals. Microsoft is working on a definitive fix but has not yet provided one.

Winsage

August 21, 2026

A Recent Windows 11 Update Is Causing Game Crashes And All Kinds Of Other Problems

A recent Windows 11 update, KB5121003, released on August 11, has caused issues such as game crashes, login errors, display problems, and system failures, particularly affecting popular games like ARC Raiders and The Finals. The update was intended to enhance security by addressing over 400 vulnerabilities but introduced bugs instead. Embark Games is working on a solution and has advised users to disable a problematic driver or remove the patch, which would leave systems vulnerable. Microsoft is investigating the situation and encourages users to report issues through the Feedback Hub.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

The latest Windows 11 update is borking some multiplayer games, but Arc Raiders’ developer has a quick workaround

Microsoft is investigating game crashes following the Windows update released on or after August 11. Symptoms include unresponsive game applications, unexpected closures, the error message "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION," and unexpected device restarts. Confirmed crashes have been reported in games such as Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Users can provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app. A temporary workaround suggested by Embark Studios involves commands in Command Prompt to stop and delete "inpoutx64" and its associated file. The update KB5121003 includes over 400 security updates, but it is unclear if they are responsible for the gaming issues. Some users have experienced graphical corruption in games like Valorant and Roblox, and uninstalling KB5121003 has resolved black screen issues for some. To revert Windows updates, users can search for Windows Update in the Start menu, click on Update history, select Uninstall updates, and uninstall update KB5120708.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Are your PC games crashing after the latest Windows 11 update? Microsoft is investigating whether a nasty new bug is the cause

Windows 11's latest update has caused significant issues for various PC games, with Microsoft acknowledging that some games have become unresponsive following the August patch. Affected titles include Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Microsoft is investigating potential links to peripherals or internal components with RGB lighting, which may have problematic drivers like inpoutx64. Discussions suggest that tightened kernel handle validation in the update has exposed driver glitches, leading to game crashes. Players who have not installed the August update may remain unaffected. Suggested workarounds include removing the inpoutx64 driver file by using Command Prompt commands to stop and delete the driver, followed by deleting any instances of the file in the system directory. Many gamers are expressing frustration on social media, with some suggesting alternatives like Linux for a more stable gaming experience. Microsoft is currently investigating the situation.

Winsage

August 20, 2026

Microsoft brings improved Windows 11 hardware monitoring with upgraded Task Manager

Microsoft released a guide to optimize internet bandwidth usage for Windows 11 update downloads, focusing on policy settings for network efficiency. Enhancements to Task Manager include new columns for monitoring NPU (Neural Processing Unit) and NPU Engine usage, allowing users to see which applications leverage the neural processor. Additional columns for NPU Dedicated Memory and NPU Shared Memory provide insights into memory consumption for AI workloads. Neural engines in GPUs will also be visible on the Performance page. An optional Isolation column has been added to help users evaluate AI workload management. Applications optimized for NPUs will show specific designations in Task Manager, while high CPU usage with idle NPU indicates underutilization of dedicated AI hardware. Users can activate new metrics by right-clicking on column headers in Task Manager.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

The latest Windows 11 update is borking some multiplayer games, but Arc Raiders’ developer has a quick workaround

Microsoft is investigating crashes affecting a limited number of games following a Windows update on or after August 11. Symptoms include unresponsive game applications, unexpected closures, the error message "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION," and unexpected device restarts. Confirmed crashes have been reported in games such as Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app. A temporary workaround involves entering specific commands in Command Prompt to stop and delete the inpoutx64 driver. The update KB5121003, which includes over 400 security updates, may be related to these issues, and some users have resolved black screen problems by uninstalling it. Users can also roll back their Windows version by uninstalling update KB5120708.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Windows 11’s latest Patch Tuesday update is breaking games and turning off PCs — This temporary fix might get ARC Raiders and The Finals running again

A bug introduced in the Windows 11 update (KB5121003) has caused crashes for some users, specifically affecting installations of Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 with OS builds 26200.9168 and 26100.9168. Embark Studios has acknowledged the issue, linking it to a change in the inpoutx64.sys file, and is working on a fix while providing a temporary workaround. The workaround involves stopping and deleting the inpoutx64 driver and removing the corresponding file from the system. Users can also choose to roll back to a previous version of Windows 11 until an official fix is released.

Winsage

August 19, 2026

Is VLC taking an agonizingly long time to start up on Windows 11? Microsoft Defender is to blame

Users of VLC on Windows 11 have experienced delays of up to 33 seconds for MP3 playback due to a bug in Microsoft Defender that interferes with VLC's plugin cache. VideoLAN has clarified that this issue is not a reflection of VLC's reliability. Affected users can resolve the problem by adding the VLC folder as an exception in Windows Defender or by regenerating the plugin cache. Jonathan Blow, a game developer, highlighted the issue in a tweet, prompting discussions about the state of open-source software. Other users have reported similar delays, even on Windows 10. VideoLAN emphasized that the problem lies with Microsoft Defender, not with VLC itself.