Windows 11 KB5035942 is now available as an optional cumulative update. It includes much-needed performance fixes, particularly for AMD PCs. As always, you can grab this patch from Windows Update. Microsoft also posted direct download links for Windows 11 KB5035942 offline installers (.msu) on its Update Catalog.
KB5035942 (Build 22631.3374) is a big release, and it may take longer than usual to download, install, and reboot to apply the changes. Multiple users told Windows Latest that this update fixes the performance issues caused by Windows 11 March 2024 Update on AMD systems, including Asus Rog Ally.
As Windows Latest reported recently, Windows 11’s March 2024 Update caused several problems for some people, including performance issues and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. This month’s optional update appears to have fixed the performance issues, stuttering and slow boot times on AMD hardware.
Windows 11 update fixes performance for AMD PCs
In our tests, we observed that our AMD hardware with Ryzen 7 CPU, which suffered performance issues in the March 2024 update, now works smoothly.
You’ll also notice better performance on Asus Rog Ally. Users told us KB5035942 fixes an issue that causes FPS to drop suddenly on Rog Ally and other AMD PCs.
Previously, Rog Ally owners had shared their gaming handheld performance issues with Windows Latest. Even super old games like DOOM 2 were stuttering and completely unplayable after installing the March 2024 Patch Tuesday update.
World of Warcraft worked like a charm before but managed merely 30-40 FPS after the new update, along with abrupt stuttering. It was unclear what caused the performance problem on Rog Ally and other AMD hardware, but it has been resolved in KB5035942 (Build 22631.3374).
It’d be nice to hear from Microsoft why the security update caused problems for some AMD systems, but the company hasn’t acknowledged the reports.
Again, remember that this is an optional update, so it may cause other problems. It’s probably better to wait for Windows 11’s April 2024 Patch Tuesday.
Download Links for Windows 11 KB5035942
Windows 11 KB5035942 Direct Download Links: 64-bit | 23H2, 22H2.
You’ll find this update on Windows Update as an optional release. However, if you run into problems deploying the patch via Windows Update, you can head to the Microsoft Update Catalog from the above link. On the update catalog, click “Download” and double-click the .msu file.
On Windows Update, this patch shows up as:
2024-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5035942)
What’s new in Windows 11 Build 22631.3374
Installing March 26’s optional update brings version 23H2 systems to Build 22631.3374, enabling Windows 11 Moment 5 features by default.
This means you’ll notice tons of changes if you never installed the Moment 5 update, including the ability to uninstall Microsoft Edge in Europe.
In addition to everything in Moment 5, Windows 11 Build 22631.3374 introduces more controls for Windows Hello for Business. After the update, IT administrators can now more effectively control user sign-in prompts on devices joined to Entra.
This is achieved by enabling the “DisablePostLogonProvisioning” policy, which turns off provisioning following a user’s sign-in on both Windows 10 and 11 devices.
For those using the Remote Desktop Session Host, the update is a welcome change. You can now configure the “clipboard redirection” policy more flexibly, allowing for unidirectional clipboard sharing from the local computer to the remote one or the other way around.
If you’re based out of Europe, you will also get the search highlights in the taskbar search box, a feature that will be rolled out gradually to everyone.
Here’s a list of all the improvements rolling out in this update:
- An unresponsiveness issue with some apps depending on the COM+ component has been resolved.
- Containers that would not progress past “ContainerCreating” status are now fixed.
- The time service can now be configured using either mobile device management (MDM) or a Group Policy Object (GPO), and the Windows Settings app will reflect these configurations accurately.
- Certain Neural Processing Units (NPU) not displaying in Task Manager have been addressed.
- A printing issue with Notepad failing to print to certain Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) printers has been resolved.
