Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Your next Windows update should install much faster

Add as a preferred source on Google
The Windows Update screen in Windows 11.
Digital Trends

It’s about time Windows 11 users got some good news about updates. Microsoft recently claimed in a blog post that thanks to 24H2‘s servicing stack, the update installs up to 45.6% faster than previous versions of Windows. The upcoming update will use fewer system resources, and the restart time will be faster.

According to Microsoft’s tests on PCs that had not been updated for 18 months and ones that were regularly updated, there were significant improvements to celebrate. On the well-maintained PCs, installation time was 45.6% faster, restart time was 39.7% faster, and CPU usage was 15.3% less. In an atypical scenario with an 18-month out-of-date PC, the installation time was 43.6% faster, restart time was 33.5% faster, and CPU usage was 25% less.

Recommended Videos

Microsoft said it achieved these improvements using different methods, such as parallel processing, which allows PCs to control numerous parts of the update simultaneously. Another method used was smart caching, which stores already processed information, so your PC doesn’t have to do the same job twice. Smart caching is a huge help in speeding this up with updates that used to take forever.

Lastly, the Windows 11 update will be able to take advantage of RAM (random access memory) by checking whether your computer has enough RAM and modifying the update process accordingly to prevent it from slowing down. Microsoft summarized everything by saying that “the newest Windows release uses less CPU time (a 15.3-25% improvement) for a monthly security update. The tests also showed that the update is even faster to install (43.6-45.5%) and to restart, which shortens the offline time (33.5-39.7%).”

However, Microsoft had more good news: It has redesigned how non-system and system apps are structured in the Unified Update Platform (UUP) collection of files. The Edge browser will save 200MB of space during more significant feature updates.

Judy Sanhz
Computing Writer
Judy Sanhz is a Digital Trends computing writer covering all computing news. Loves all operating systems and devices.
Everything Apple announced at its September event: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, new Apple Watches, and AirPods 5
Apple packed its biggest September event in years with a foldable iPhone, new watches, and smarter AirPods.
Computer, Electronics, Tablet Computer

The "Surprise and Shine" September launch event was one of Apple's crispest, most elaborate, and most loaded launch events in a while. Instead of leaving the minute details in the spec sheet or fine print, Apple actually included them in its keynote presentation, not just for its big reveal but for all the devices it unveiled on September 9, 2026. 

While the 'Surprise' bit was covered by the new iPhone Duo, 'Shine' probably refers to the new colors in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Beyond these, Apple also announced two new Apple Watches and a refresh for the regular AirPods (not the Pro ones). Given that there's a lot of ground to cover, here's everything Apple announced at its September 2026 event. 

Read more
Before You Pay More for DDR5, Think About How Much Memory You Need
The MSI Cubi 5 1MA makes a strong case for looking beyond the newest specs
MSI Cubi 5 1MA compact mini PC with Intel Core processor

There is an easy trap to fall into when buying a new PC. The newer specification usually sounds like the better one, so choosing DDR5 memory over DDR4 can seem like an obvious upgrade. But with memory prices climbing to unusually high levels, it is worth asking whether you will actually benefit from paying more for that extra speed.

For many people buying a PC primarily for work, the answer comes down to how they use it. Everyday tasks such as browsing, email, spreadsheets, presentations, and video calls generally do not need the extremely high memory bandwidth DDR5 offers. Having enough RAM to keep several of those tasks running comfortably can be far more relevant.

Read more
Adobe Acrobat’s latest update could make working with PDFs considerably easier
New Acrobat features make it easier to understand, refine and present information in PDFs
Page, Text, Clapperboard

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Adobe

PDFs remain one of those unavoidable parts of working life. Reports, research papers, presentations, proposals, financial documents and client material still tend to arrive as PDFs, and the real problem is rarely opening or reading them. It is dealing with everything that comes after: finding the useful information in a lengthy document, understanding it quickly and eventually turning it into something presentable.

Read more