Windows 11 updates now install much faster and use less CPU

Microsoft has significantly accelerated Windows Update with the release of its latest major update, Windows 11 24H2. The company said this update reduces installation and reboot times and reduces CPU usage.

Image source: Microsoft

Microsoft typically releases what it calls cumulative security updates every month, containing protection against a variety of new threats, as well as non-security updates containing new features. Windows 11 version 24H2 introduces new ways to update the OS, making it more efficient and faster. We are talking primarily about parallel processing of components, scalable use of system RAM and optimized cache memory for updating components. This makes installation of Windows 11 version 24H2 up to 45% faster on some systems and uses up to 25% less CPU resources. The company refers to the results of tests of installing the 24H2 update on a virtual machine and, as a comparison, provides data on the time and CPU resource usage when installing the older 22H2 update for Windows 11.

Microsoft also reduced the size of downloadable update files for Windows 11 by about 200 MB. This was achieved by eliminating the need to force download of all built-in Windows 11 components if the previously installed version of the OS already contained some updated features.

«For Windows 11 version 24H2, we expanded this scheme to include the Microsoft Edge browser, which saved about 200 MB for some systems,” commented Microsoft spokesman Steve DiAcetis.