Microsoft lifts Windows 11 update block for PCs with gaming issues

Microsoft has removed a safeguard hold that prevented devices with Auto HDR enabled from installing the Windows 11 2024 Update due to gaming issues.

Throughout December, gamers complained on Microsoft's community website and other online platforms that the feature made game graphics look high-contrast and oversaturated.

The company confirmed these issues last month and acknowledged that turning on Auto HDR, a Windows feature that increases the color range and brightness from SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) to HDR, would cause game freezes on systems with HDR-capable displays.

"You might observe that the game colors are incorrect in certain display configurations. You might also observe that some games stop responding," Redmond said.

To prevent these gaming freezes from impacting more customers, Redmond applied a compatibility hold on Windows devices with Auto HDR toggled on (tagged with safeguard ID 55382406 in Windows Update for Business reports).

However, this week, Microsoft announced that this known issue had been fixed in the KB5050094 January 2025 non-security preview update, which also addressed audio playback issues on PCs with USB audio device drivers.

To workaround this known issue, Microsoft advises affected users who don't want to install preview updates to disable Auto HDR from the 'Settings' app by clicking 'Graphics' under System > Display.

Windows 11 24H2 in broad deployment

With the compatibility hold lifted, affected users can now install Windows 11 24H2 via Windows Update since it entered broad deployment on January 22.

The Windows 11 2024 Update is also being automatically deployed in a forced rollout to eligible, non-managed systems running the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2.

Two weeks ago, the company also compatibility holds for Windows 11 PCs with Assassin's Creed compatibility issues that caused crashes, freezes, and audio problems.

Nevertheless, you won't be able to upgrade if your device is affected by multiple safeguard holds, which prevent Windows 11 24H2 upgrades from being offered on devices with incompatible configurations or software.

These include ASUS devices and PCs with Asphalt 8 (Airborne), Dirac audio improvement software, integrated cameras, or running the Safe Exam Browser and Easy Anti-Cheat applications.