Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 update that PC gamers in particular should install as it fixes an annoying issue that sometimes caused games to crash.
The update, known as KB5014668, is currently an optional update, meaning it will not be installed automatically. Nonetheless, as Bleeping Computer reports (opens in new tab)is set to be included in an automatic update on the next ‘Patch Tuesday’ which will be on July 12th.
According to Microsoft in a release announcement (opens in new tab) about the patch, this update “Fixes an issue that causes certain games to stop working if they use certain audio technology to play sound effects.”
For PC gamers, any issue with Windows 11 that causes the game to crash and become unresponsive is particularly annoying, so it’s good to see Microsoft address a common complaint with this update, so if you’re experiencing crashes, it’s worth it. It’s worth installing this update as soon as possible to see if it works for you.
The issue seemed to mostly affect people using the XAudio API to play sounds.
Other fixes
The update also addresses an issue where upgrading to Windows 11 fails, as well as some Bluetooth connectivity issues.
It also introduces a new feature, but don’t get too excited. Called ‘research highlights’, it “features notable and interesting moments of what’s special about each day, such as holidays, birthdays, and other educational moments in time globally and in your region.”
To us, this sounds a bit like even more distracting icons and notifications on the taskbar. I hope it’s more useful than that, but we don’t suggest you download KB5014668 just for that.
How to Download Windows 11 Update KB5014668
As this is an optional update, it will not be installed automatically. So, to install it manually, open the Start menu and type “Windows Update” and press Enter on your keyboard.
Click on “Check for Updates” and you should see KB5014668 displayed. Select it and click “Download Now”. Windows will take care of the rest.
If you don’t want to mess around with manual updates, you should get the update automatically on July 12th. It might be worth waiting until then to make sure any issues with the update are resolved (so it’s currently optional), but if you’re a PC gamer who can’t play because of this issue, it can be a very long wait. .
Also, check out our Windows 11 Troubleshooting Guide for more help if you’re having issues with your operating system.