Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 update that PC gamers in particular should install as it fixes an annoying issue that was sometimes causing games to crash.
The update known as KB5014668 is currently an optional update, meaning it will not be installed automatically. However, as Bleeping Computer reports (opens in new tab)it is scheduled to be included in an automatic update on the next “Patch Tuesday”, July 12.
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 when using certain audio technology to play sound effects.”
For PC gamers, any Windows 11 issue that causes their game to crash and become unresponsive is particularly annoying. So it’s good to see Microsoft addressing a common complaint with this update. So if you’ve been experiencing crashes, it’s worth installing this update asap to see if it fixes it for you.
The issue seemed to mostly affect people using the XAudio API to play sounds.
Other fixes
The update also fixes an issue where the upgrade to Windows 11 fails, as well as some Bluetooth connectivity issues.
It also introduces a new feature, but don’t get too excited. Dubbed “Search Highlights,” it “presents notable and interesting moments of what makes each day special, such as holidays, anniversaries, and other instructive moments in time both globally and in your region.”
To us, that sounds a bit like even more distracting icons and notifications in the taskbar. Hopefully it turns out to be more useful, but we wouldn’t suggest downloading KB5014668 just for that.
How to download update KB5014668 for Windows 11
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 Check for Updates and you should see KB5014668 displayed. Select it and then click Download Now. Windows takes care of the rest.
If you don’t want to mess around with manual updates, you should get the July 12 update automatically. It may be worth waiting until then to ensure any issues are resolved with the update (hence it’s currently optional). However, if you are a PC gamer who cannot play games due to this problem, it may take too long.
Also, check out our Windows 11 issues guide for more help if you’re having issues with the operating system.