A few months ago, Microsoft revealed improvements to Windows Update on Windows 11, making updates smaller and faster to install at the same time.
The main change was the introduction of checkpoint cumulative updates. Simply put, updates will no longer include all changed components since the last feature update release, but only changes since the last checkpoint update, which occurs regularly after feature update releases.
Microsoft supports claims with statistics
Microsoft published Details about the improvements in a new blog post on its tech community website.
There, the company revealed that the updates are actually smaller, install faster, and use less CPU resources while doing so.
To support the claim, Microsoft released data from two tests it ran.
First test; update machine
A new monthly update was applied to updated Windows 11 systems in the first test. Microsoft saw the following improvements in this scenario:
- Installation time: 45.6 percent faster.
- Restart time: 39.7 percent faster.
- CPU usage time: 15.3 percent less.
Second test; old machine
The second device was one that had not been patched for 18 months. Microsoft acknowledges that this is not a common scenario, but it's still useful to highlight fixes even in these unlikely scenarios.
Microsoft noted the following improvements:
- Installation time: 43.6 percent faster.
- Restart time: 33.5 percent faster.
- CPU usage time: 25 percent less.
Both tests show a large reduction in both the installation time and restart time of the update. Windows updates usually require a system restart. Some changes are applied when the system is not running.
Comment:Microsoft did not mention any other testing. It is possible that it may have run others, but it only published information about two. Mileage may vary due to this, as improvements may also depend on other factors, including system load, hardware, and other factors.
How Microsoft achieved improvements
According to Microsoft, the company's engineers have improved the client servicing stack of Windows 11 24H2 in several ways.
The main improvements are:
- caching improvements – Component manifests are cached the first time they are read and parsed, which speeds up processing if they are referenced multiple times.
- parallel processing – Component manifests are processed in parallel to speed up the process.
- optimized ram usage –On machines with plenty of RAM, more RAM is used “to store the manifest cache”.
small feature update package
Another factor that plays a role is that Microsoft has reduced the size of the feature update package by about 200 megabytes. This is achieved by comparing the app version that is included with the installed app version offered through the Microsoft Store.
Simply put, apps are downloaded and installed conditionally only when needed.
concluding words
Most Windows 11 users may first notice the improvements when they install the Optional Feature Update or the next cumulative update to version 24H2. The optional update is already available, the next cumulative update will be released on November 12, 2024.
What is your opinion on these reforms? Is this something you are waiting for, provided you use Windows 11 version 24H2? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading..
