Microsoft pauses Windows 11 updates for holidays
Microsoft has announced that it will pause non-security updates for Windows 11 during December, focusing solely on essential security fixes. This decision aligns with the company’s tradition of scaling back operations during the holiday season, ensuring minimal disruption as teams take time off for the Western holidays and the upcoming new year.
In the latest Patch Tuesday update for November 2024, covering both versions 24H2 and 23H2 of Windows 11, Microsoft reassured users that regular servicing, including security and non-security preview updates, will resume in January 2025. However, no new features or preview updates will be rolled out for December.
Some users encountered an unexpected issue with a false “end of service” error message. Microsoft confirmed this glitch was caused by a bug in the KB5046633 security update for version 23H2 and assured users it was a known issue. The company clarified that version 23H2 remains fully supported until November 2025.
For users running version 24H2, the KB5046617 update introduced improvements to the Task Manager, resolved internet connectivity issues, and addressed bugs affecting the Windows Subsystem for Linux and Roblox on ARM devices. Many of these fixes build on the matters highlighted in earlier updates, such as the one released in September 2024.
By limiting updates to critical security patches, Microsoft aims to maintain system stability while allowing its teams to enjoy a well-deserved break. Regular updates will continue as planned starting January 2025.
