Microsoft has taken a significant step forward by lifting the compatibility hold that previously hindered some users of Easy Anti-Cheat from upgrading to the Windows 11 2024 Update. This decision comes in response to a known issue that had been causing unexpected restarts and the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD) errors for gamers.
Addressing Compatibility Issues
Last month, Microsoft acknowledged the bug affecting devices utilizing Easy Anti-Cheat, a widely adopted anti-cheating service integrated into numerous multiplayer games such as Apex Legends, War Thunder, Dead by Daylight, ELDEN RING, Rust, Squad, and NBA 2K25, among others. In an effort to mitigate the disruption, the tech giant released an emergency update (KB5063060) for Windows 24H2 systems on June 11, aimed at rectifying this compatibility issue.
This update was prompted by a surge of reports detailing unexpected reboots and BSODs linked to either ntoskrnl.exe or EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe crashing on PCs while running popular titles like Fortnite. After more than a month of addressing these concerns, Microsoft announced on Thursday that the update block preventing Easy Anti-Cheat users from upgrading their systems has been officially removed.
As of July 24, 2025, eligible devices that do not have other safeguard holds in place can now install Windows 11, version 24H2 via Windows Update. However, users may encounter a warning indicating that an incompatible version of Easy Anti-Cheat is installed. Fortunately, the company has noted that updating may be possible by simply launching and updating frequently played games.
Importantly, Microsoft clarified that the known issue will not trigger a BSOD, even if older versions of Easy Anti-Cheat are present on the device, unless these versions are activated as part of a game.
In addition to this recent development, Microsoft had previously imposed a safeguard hold in October to prevent Windows 24H2 upgrades on Intel Alder Lake+ and vPro systems due to known issues that caused crashes in the game Asphalt 8 and BSODs related to Easy Anti-Cheat. This update block was lifted in March after the issues were resolved, with Microsoft advising gamers to restart their PCs to expedite the installation of the Windows 24H2 update.
In recent months, the company has also removed other compatibility holds that were affecting AutoCAD and Safe Exam Browser users, allowing them to install the Windows 11 2024 Update without further complications.
