- Windows 11 November Update fixes some bugs
- Fixed issue with Task Manager consuming resources when keeping multiple instances of the application open.
- Microsoft also fixed an issue with sleep mode that meant it couldn’t preserve battery life on Windows 11 gaming laptops.
The latest Windows 11 patch offers a number of bug fixes, including some important ones when it comes to operating system performance and gaming laptops.
This is the November patch for Windows 11, which Microsoft just released, and it’s worth installing soon if you got the October preview update (released late last month).
This is because this preview build (which was the optional beta version of this current update) introduced an issue with Task Manager. This meant that Task Manager instances remained open after the user closed them, leading to a situation where there could possibly be many Task Managers running simultaneously (which can happen if it was opened multiple times while trying to troubleshoot a problem).
All those background processes add up to a waste of resources, naturally, but the November patch brings the fix for this problem.
Microsoft informs us: “This update fixes an issue where closing Task Manager with the Close button did not completely end the process, leaving background instances that could slow performance over time. This could occur after installing KB5067036 [the October preview update]”.
There are also advantages for handhelds running Windows 11, as the November update fixes an issue with battery consumption when these laptops are in sleep mode.
Microsoft explains: “This update addresses an issue affecting portable gaming devices. These devices were unable to remain in low-power states, resulting in faster battery drain.”
Another bug that has been fixed is an issue where your handheld’s on-screen keyboard might not work in applications immediately after you sign in; There is a delay of approximately five seconds before the keyboard can be used.
Analysis: An unfortunate trend of oddities
There have long been complaints about sleep mode in Windows 11 in general, but there is evidently an issue with power consumption mode failing that concerns handhelds in particular. And since battery life is such a precious commodity for any portable device, it’s nice to see this addressed.
It’s also nice to have the complete solution for the Task Manager error, instead of the workarounds you had to use previously. This bug would not have affected many people, because not everyone installs optional updates from Microsoft. However, some people do, and if you got the October preview and your PC has been running mysteriously slow, this could be the reason, so get the November update if you haven’t already.
At least the fix for that performance-related issue arrived quickly, but it’s illustrative of some broader concerns about Windows 11: namely, that it appears to be creeping into more weakness in the operating system’s fundamentals. You have to ask yourself, how can an issue like Task Manager not closing when you close it occur?
It’s very strange, and while there may be some strange bugs introduced into sprawling software like an operating system, it seems like there’s been too much of this happening since the release of Windows 11 24H2 last year.
My personal theory is that because 24H2 introduced a new underlying engine for Windows 11 (called Germanium, and required for Arm-based Copilot+ PCs), this ushered in quite a bit of weirdness and unpredictability deep within the operating system. Reliability and overall stability have seemed shakier since 24H2 came out, and while bugs are less frequent now that we’ve moved on to 25H2, strange things still happen, as we see here.
Additionally, Microsoft still needs to fix some critical parts of the operating system that don’t work as well as they should, such as elements of File Explorer, the basic interface with which you interact with files and folders on the desktop. The company has admitted that work needs to be done to improve performance levels, and while progress is being made in some aspects, it sometimes feels like painfully slow work, especially when you remember that these types of issues were an issue right when Windows 11 first arrived. So it’s very easy to feel like not much has changed in four years.
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