Windows 11 24H2 update speed enhanced by Windows Update improvements

The launch of Windows 11 version 24H2 on October 1 introduced a range of exciting features, but there are significant improvements happening behind the scenes, especially regarding Windows Update. A recent blog post by Microsoft highlighted how these under-the-hood modifications have dramatically enhanced installation speed and reduced resource usage.

With upgrades to the servicing stack in Windows 11 version 24H2, installation times have improved by an impressive 45.6%, while restart times are now 39.7% quicker, and CPU usage has decreased by more than 15% compared to Windows 11 version 22H2 and version 23H2, which utilize the same servicing stack. These enhancements are particularly evident on “well-maintained devices”during the installation of cumulative updates.

Even devices that have not received updates for a long time benefited from similar performance improvements. Microsoft conducted tests on a system with a Windows installation that was 18 months out-of-date, revealing a 43.6% reduction in installation time, a 33.5% faster restart time, and a decrease of 25% in CPU usage. Those are notable results.

Microsoft reports that these advancements resulted from several key changes:

• Parallel processing of component manifests. This feature complements the parallel hydration process of newly serviced components using reverse and forward differentials, which was first introduced in Windows 11, version 22H2.
• Optimized reading and parsing of component manifests. Results from the initial reading and parsing are cached for later usage, enhancing efficiency when the same component is included in various packages.
• Scalable utilization of random-access memory (RAM). The system can allocate more RAM for storing the manifest cache when available, optimizing resource use.

Furthermore, it’s not just the cumulative updates that have seen improvements. Microsoft has also optimized the efficiency of feature updates by refining how the operating system manages its inbox applications. This enhancement, first implemented in Windows 11 version 22H2, now extends to Microsoft Edge, reducing the overall feature update size by an additional 200MB.

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