Microsoft Finally Squashed This Major Windows 11 24h2 Bug - One Year Later

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Microsoft has fixed a Windows 11 24H2 bug affecting facial scans.
• Impacted users are nary longer blocked from installing 24H2.
• Three reported issues pinch 24H2 still request to beryllium resolved.

Microsoft has squashed a long-standing bug successful Windows 11 24H2 conscionable arsenic it prepares 25H2 for its charismatic launch. Released connected Sept. 18, nan spot fixes a glitch betwixt facial nickname and nan integrated camera connected Windows 11 PCs, an rumor that was first reported almost a twelvemonth agone connected Oct. 18, 2024.

Specifically, this bug prevented group from utilizing nan integrated camera pinch Windows Hello facial recognition. This stopped users from moving a facial scan to motion successful to nan Camera app, immoderate app aliases work that usually supports facial scanning via Windows Hello, aliases immoderate different app aliases instrumentality that relied connected nan integrated camera.

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With this bug a problem for almost a year, affected PCs were put connected nan artifact list, meaning they were incapable to person nan Windows 11 24H2 update. With nan rumor now resolved, affected users should beryllium capable to snag nan update, assuming nary different glitches are preventing its installation.

"The safeguard clasp has been removed arsenic of September 18, 2025," Microsoft said connected its Windows 11 24H2 known issues page. "Eligible devices pinch nary different safeguard clasp should now beryllium capable to instal Windows 11, type 24H2 via nan Windows Update merchandise channel. Please note, it tin return up to 48 hours earlier nan update to Windows 11, type 24H2 is offered. Restarting your instrumentality mightiness thief it connection faster."

To update your PC if necessary, caput to Settings and prime Windows Update. Click nan Check for updates button, and nan 2024 update should coming itself to beryllium downloaded and installed.

Commedy of errors

Released successful October 2024, Windows 11 24H2 proved to beryllium a situation for Microsoft and its users. 

Almost from nan get-go, nan update was plagued by one bug aft another, forcing nan institution to struggle to resoluteness galore of them while blocking nan update for affected users. The business led to a virtual drama of errors successful which 1 bid of patches would effort to hole definite issues but instead introduced bugs of its own.

After almost a twelvemonth of bug fixes, Microsoft has yet gotten a grip connected astir of nan outstanding glitches. However, 3 reported problems remain.

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One rumor affects definite Digital TV and Blu-Ray/DVD apps from playing protected contented successful Windows. This is simply a brand-new bug, having been reported little than a week agone connected September 19. Microsoft says that it's moving to resoluteness nan rumor successful a early Windows update.

The 2nd 1 triggers a bluish aliases achromatic surface error owed to a conflict betwixt Windows 11 24H2 and SenseShield Technology's sprotect.sys driver, which provides encryption successful definite information applications. This 1 was opened connected April 4, 2025. Microsoft says that it's moving pinch SenseShield to hole nan problem.

The 3rd centers connected an incompatibility betwixt Windows 11 24H2 and definite versions of drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) connected Intel 11th Gen Core processors, resulting successful bluish surface errors. This is nan oldest reported bug yet to beryllium resolved, reported connected September 30, 2024. Here, Microsoft advises affected users to instal newer versions of Intel's SST Audio Controller drivers earlier updating to Windows 11 24H2.

What astir Windows 11 25H2?

As Microsoft useful to hole nan past of nan Windows 11 24H2 bugs, it's besides prepping nan charismatic merchandise of Windows 11 25H2. Currently disposable arsenic an RTM (Release to Manufacturing) build, this year's update could look successful October to lucifer nan timing of its predecessor past year.

Great, but will Windows users tally into nan aforesaid bug-induced challenges pinch nan 2025 spirit of Windows 11? Microsoft has taken several steps to defender against that happening.

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First, nan 25H2 installation package is smaller than that of erstwhile versions. That's because Microsoft is replacing only nan files that request to beryllium updated alternatively than replacing each nan strategy files.

Second, nan institution is utilizing nan aforesaid exertion applied to regular Windows updates, meaning you'll restart your PC conscionable erstwhile aft nan update has run.

Third, Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 stock nan aforesaid root code. The only quality is that immoderate caller features successful nan 2025 type are abnormal successful nan 2024 version. With Windows 11 24H2 almost free of nan galore reported bugs that plagued it, nan aforesaid should clasp existent for nan 2025 edition.