Microsoft has alerted users to an unusual bug affecting some Windows 11 installations. This bug prevents specific devices from receiving future security updates. This issue impacts users who create manual installation media, such as USB drives or CDs, using October and November 2024 release patches. This bug primarily affects professional users setting up PCs in business or educational environments and enthusiasts who have recently built their own computers.
Affected devices
According to Microsoft’s known issues page for Windows 11 (version 24H2), the problem occurs when users install Windows 11 version 24H2 from media that includes October or November 2024 security updates. The installation may leave the device in a state where it cannot accept future Windows security updates. This issue affects explicitly media created with updates released between October 8 and November 12, 2024.
The good news is that this bug does not affect PCs receiving the October or November updates via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. These installations will continue to receive regular security updates without issues. The problem only arises when users manually create installation media using the October or November patches.
How to fix the issue
To resolve the problem, Microsoft recommends that users rebuild their installation media using the December 2024 patch update, released on December 10, 2024. After creating the new media, users will need to reinstall Windows 11. Microsoft also advises that users should ensure that their installation media includes the December 2024 security update to avoid encountering the issue in the first place.
Microsoft is working on a permanent solution to the issue, but until then, users should take steps to rebuild their installation media as described above.
Other bugs in Windows 11 24H2
In addition to this bug, the Windows 11 24H2 update introduced a few other issues. Some users have reported problems with specific audio devices and difficulties launching Outlook when using an outdated Google Workspace Sync. Another known problem is compatibility issues with certain Ubisoft games, which updates are slowly addressing.
As users continue encountering issues with Windows 11 24H2, Microsoft is actively working on fixes to improve overall system stability and functionality.
