If your gaming performance tanked after updating to Windows 11 24H2, you’re not imagining it. Microsoft’s latest major update introduced legitimate performance regressions that have left thousands of gamers dealing with frame rate drops, system stuttering, and occasional freezes—issues that weren’t present on Windows 11 23H2 or 22H2.
The good news? Microsoft finally acknowledged these problems after months of user reports, and there are now concrete fixes available. The bad news? The company has been frustratingly vague about what actually caused the issues, and the fixes aren’t as simple as installing one patch.
Here’s everything you need to know about Windows 11 24H2 FPS drops and how to actually fix them.
What Went Wrong With Windows 11 24H2?
Windows 11 24H2 rolled out in October 2024 with promises of improved performance and new AI features. Instead, gamers immediately noticed problems—especially after installing the May 2025 security updates and subsequent patches.
According to Windows Latest, the performance issues manifested across multiple symptoms:
Consistent FPS drops in popular games like Fortnite, CS:GO, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows—often losing 20-40% of normal frame rates.
System-wide sluggishness where even switching between apps or unlocking the screen would cause brief freezes or unresponsiveness.
Random application hangs where programs like Microsoft Word would stop responding when resuming from the lock screen or switching apps.
Task Manager processes multiplying after the October 2025 KB5067036 update, consuming system resources and degrading performance further.
The frustrating part? These issues didn’t affect everyone equally. Some systems ran perfectly fine while others experienced severe performance degradation, making troubleshooting difficult and leading many users to blame hardware, drivers, or specific games rather than Windows itself.
The Updates That Made Everything Worse
Windows 11 24H2’s problems weren’t present at launch but emerged progressively through cumulative updates:
May 2025 security update: Initial performance regression reports began surfacing, particularly affecting gaming performance.
June 2025 patches: Continued reports of PCs feeling “slower” overall, with increased complaints about FPS drops.
August 2025 update (KB5063878): Introduced severe lag issues that affected both Windows 11 24H2 and Windows 10, causing NDI streaming performance problems, Alt+Tab cursor lag during games, and false Windows Firewall Event 2042 warnings.
October 2025 update (KB5066835): The worst offender—gamers confirmed massive frame drops after this mandatory update, with some users losing 30-50% of their typical FPS in demanding titles.
The mandatory nature of security updates meant users couldn’t simply skip problematic patches. Windows only allows uninstalling updates within 7-14 days after installation, leaving those who discovered issues later with no easy rollback option short of clean installing from an older ISO.
Nvidia Steps In With Emergency Fixes
While Microsoft remained silent about the extent of the problems, Nvidia took action.
GeForce Hotfix Driver 581.94 (released November 19, 2025) specifically addresses “lower performance observed in some games after updating to Windows 11 October 2025 KB5066835.”
According to Nvidia’s support documentation, the driver fixes performance issues affecting Windows 11 Build 26200.6725/26100.6725 and newer—essentially all current 24H2 and 25H2 installations with the October 2025 update or later.
Earlier in 2025, Nvidia’s GeForce 576.28 WHQL driver resolved game crashes and artifacting issues specific to 24H2 builds, completing a multi-layered fix that required both Microsoft kernel updates and GPU-specific driver patches.
What this means for gamers: Driver issues were only part of the equation. The collaboration between Nvidia and Microsoft reveals that the performance problems stemmed from interactions between Windows 11’s graphical subsystem changes and GPU driver implementations—problems neither company could fully solve independently.
AMD and Intel GPU users face similar issues, though with less public acknowledgment and fewer dedicated hotfix releases.
Microsoft’s Official Fix (Sort Of)
Microsoft’s response to the Windows 11 24H2 FPS drops came in the form of KB5062660, an optional update released July 22, 2025.
According to Microsoft’s documentation, this update “addresses an issue observed in rare cases after installing the May 2025 security update and subsequent updates, causing devices to experience stability issues.”
The vague language—”rare cases,” “stability issues”—frustrated users who clearly experienced widespread problems. Microsoft never explained what specifically caused the performance regressions or why the fixes took months to develop.
Important details about KB5062660:
- Released as an optional update, meaning it doesn’t install automatically
- Required manual download and installation
- Eventually incorporated into the August 2025 Patch Tuesday update, making it available to all users
However, subsequent updates in October 2025 introduced new performance problems, suggesting Microsoft’s fixes were incomplete or that new code changes reintroduced similar issues.
How to Fix Windows 11 24H2 FPS Drops Right Now
If you’re experiencing performance issues with Windows 11 24H2, here’s your action plan:
Step 1: Update Your GPU Drivers
For Nvidia users: Download and install GeForce Driver 581.94 or newer directly from Nvidia’s website. Don’t rely on Windows Update for GPU drivers—it often lags behind by weeks or months.
The 581.94 hotfix specifically addresses Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 performance issues introduced by the October 2025 update.
For AMD users: Visit AMD’s driver download page and install the latest Adrenalin drivers. While AMD hasn’t released specific 24H2 hotfixes, newer drivers include general performance optimizations.
For Intel Arc users: Download the latest Intel Graphics Driver from Intel’s support site. Pay particular attention to the release notes mentioning Windows 11 24H2 compatibility.
Step 2: Install Windows Updates
Check Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates, including optional ones.
Specifically look for:
- KB5062660 (stability fix)
- Any updates released after August 2025
- Known Issue Rollback (KIR) packages that Microsoft deploys to fix specific problems
Restart your PC after installing updates—some performance improvements only take effect after rebooting.
Step 3: Check for Background Tasks
Windows 11 24H2 introduced changes to how background processes are managed, sometimes causing unnecessary CPU/GPU usage.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and check:
- Multiple instances of processes (especially taskmgr.exe if you’ve updated past October 2025)
- High CPU usage from Windows processes like “Service Host” or “Windows Modules Installer”
- GPU utilization from unexpected applications
Close redundant processes and monitor whether performance improves.
Step 4: Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
While normally beneficial, this feature sometimes conflicts with 24H2’s changes:
Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings > Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling > Off
Restart your PC and test gaming performance. If it doesn’t help, re-enable it.
Step 5: Optimize Game Mode Settings
Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > On
Ensure Game Mode is enabled, as it prioritizes system resources for games. However, if you’re already experiencing issues, try toggling it off and back on to reset any corrupted settings.
Step 6: Reset Graphics Settings
If specific games still underperform:
Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Browse and locate the problematic game’s .exe file.
Set it to High performance and ensure it’s using your dedicated GPU rather than integrated graphics.
Advanced Fixes for Persistent Problems
If basic troubleshooting doesn’t resolve Windows 11 24H2 FPS drops, try these deeper solutions:
Clean Graphics Driver Installation
Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely remove GPU drivers, then install fresh ones:
- Download DDU and your GPU manufacturer’s latest driver
- Boot into Safe Mode
- Run DDU and select “Clean and restart”
- After reboot, install the fresh driver download
This eliminates corrupted driver remnants that standard uninstallers miss.
Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Right-click your game’s .exe file > Properties > Compatibility > Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”
This bypasses Windows 11’s fullscreen handling, which can cause performance issues in some games.
Adjust Virtual Memory
Insufficient virtual memory sometimes manifests as stuttering and FPS drops:
Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual memory > Change
Set custom size: Initial size = 1.5x your RAM, Maximum size = 3x your RAM.
Windows Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing else works, consider resetting Windows while keeping your files:
Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > Keep my files
This reinstalls Windows 11 24H2 with a clean slate while preserving your personal data. You’ll need to reinstall applications and games, but it often resolves persistent performance issues stemming from corrupted system files.
What About Compatibility Holds?
Microsoft maintains safeguard holds preventing certain systems from receiving 24H2 updates due to known compatibility issues:
sprotect.sys encryption driver: Blocks 24H2 installation entirely until resolved Dirac Audio driver: Causes system instability on affected devices Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers: Triggers blue screens or system hangs Certain camera drivers using object recognition: Causes freezes during use
If your PC hasn’t received 24H2 yet, these holds might be protecting you from known issues. Check the Microsoft release health page to see if your hardware is affected.
Should You Upgrade to 24H2?
For users still on Windows 11 23H2 or 22H2, the question remains: should you upgrade?
Upgrade if:
- You have Nvidia RTX hardware and can install the latest drivers immediately
- You need new features or security improvements only available in 24H2
- Your hardware isn’t subject to compatibility holds
- You’re comfortable troubleshooting potential issues
Stay on your current version if:
- Your games run perfectly fine now—don’t fix what isn’t broken
- You rely on software or hardware that’s flagged with compatibility holds
- You can’t afford downtime for troubleshooting
- You prefer waiting for Microsoft to fully stabilize 24H2 (likely mid-2026)
Microsoft’s automated rollout means Home and Pro editions will eventually force the update, but you can delay it by pausing updates for several weeks at a time.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Keeps Happening
Windows 11 24H2’s problems reflect larger challenges in modern OS development:
Complex hardware ecosystems: Supporting millions of hardware configurations makes comprehensive testing nearly impossible.
Rapid update cadence: Monthly security updates and biannual feature updates leave little time for thorough validation.
Integrated AI features: New AI capabilities in 24H2 introduced system-level changes that interact unpredictably with existing code.
Driver interdependencies: Modern GPUs, CPUs, audio devices, and peripherals all require driver coordination with the OS—break one link and performance suffers.
Industry analysis suggests that shipping at scale across billions of devices is extraordinarily difficult, and even “mature” releases like 24H2 can exhibit disruptive problems when touched by the wrong sequence of updates.
Key Takeaways for Gamers
- Update GPU drivers immediately using manufacturer websites, not Windows Update
- Install all Windows updates including optional patches like KB5062660
- Monitor Task Manager for resource-hogging processes after updates
- Don’t panic if performance drops post-update—wait 24-48 hours for background tasks to complete
- Document your specific issues with screenshots and error messages for better troubleshooting
Windows 11 24H2 FPS drops are real, documented problems with real solutions—but they require proactive intervention rather than hoping Microsoft will magically fix everything through automatic updates.
Stay informed by following Windows release health and your GPU manufacturer’s support pages for the latest fixes and known issues.
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