According to Windows Central , Microsoft is testing an update method called "hot patching" for Windows 11 PCs. Hot patching has been used on some versions of Windows Server as well as Xbox, and now it looks like the company is preparing to bring it to Windows 11 devices.
Restart requirement after Windows 11 update will no longer be frequent
The latest build of Windows 11 in the developer channel shows that it is testing a reboot-free security update on PCs with "Virtualization Based Security" enabled. Once installed, the Windows build string will be updated to "ge_release_svc_hotpatch_prod1.240211-0859".
How does it work? According to Microsoft's own documentation, hotfixing works by "patching code in the memory of a running process without restarting that process." Windows Central 's own sources say Microsoft plans to use hotfixing on Windows 11 to deliver monthly security updates without requiring users to reboot.
However, this does not mean that users will not need to restart their PCs for updates, as there are still basic updates that require a reboot every few months. Specifically, there are four monthly security updates that require a reboot in a year, in January, April, July, and October. The remaining months will be delivered via hotfix without a reboot. Of course, any important security updates, bug fixes, and feature updates can be delivered at any time if needed. In that case, it still requires a reboot even outside of the pre-determined months.
Microsoft hopes to release the hotfix later this year alongside Windows 11 version 24H2 on x86-64 systems. ARM64 devices will get the hotfix in 2025 if the schedule remains the same. It’s unclear whether the hotfix will be available to all Windows 11 users or will be reserved for commercial editions of Windows 11 like Enterprise, Education, and Windows 365.
Source link
Comment (0)