Slowness on Windows 11 computers is reported by users after the latest system update
A cumulative update for Windows 11, identified as KB5072033 and released at the end of last year, has been cited as the cause of notable slowdowns on several computers. Usuários of the 24H2 and 25H2 versions of the operating system reported a significant increase in the consumption of system resources, such as processor (CPU), RAM, and disk usage, immediately after installing the package.
The performance issue manifests itself more markedly on machines with more modest or older hardware configurations. The most common complaints include delays in opening the Menu Iniciar, slow switching between windows and a slow response when using the Explorador of
The technical community’s investigation quickly pointed to a specific change introduced by Microsoft. The change is related to the operation of the AppX
The change to the AppXSVC service and its effects
AppX Isso includes both applications downloaded from Microsoft Store and native system tools, such as Calculadora, application Fotos, and Bloco from
More on this story: Critical Windows security update will require multiple restarts
Prior to the KB5072033 update, this service operated in “Manual” mode, meaning it was only activated when necessary, such as when installing a new app or checking the store for updates. Essa approach ensured minimal resource consumption during normal computer use by activating the service on demand.
With the new update, Microsoft has changed the AppXSVC startup mode to “Automatic”. The Essa change causes the service to start alongside the Windows and remain active in the background constantly. Segundo the company’s documentation, the change aims to improve the reliability of the application update process in specific scenarios, although it did not detail what these scenarios would be.
Symptoms of performance degradation
The main symptom reported by users is a spike in resource usage shortly after the computer is turned on. Durante the first few minutes, and sometimes for a longer period, Gerenciador of Tarefas may exhibit high CPU, RAM, and especially disk usage. Essa Background activity competes for resources with the tasks the user is trying to perform, resulting in a general feeling of sluggishness.
Learn more: Slowness hits PCs after Windows 11 December update activates automatic AppXSVC
Computers equipped with traditional hard drives (HDDs) are most affected, as AppXSVC’s high read and write activity can saturate disk capacity, making the entire system slow to respond. Máquinas with solid state drives (SSDs), especially the faster NVMe models, feel less of an impact, but can still experience slowdowns if they have a limited amount of RAM, such as 8 GB or less.
In corporate environments, changing service behavior has generated additional consequences. Ferramentas system monitoring systems began logging false alerts due to AppXSVC’s constant starting and stopping cycles, which did not occur before. Isso generated noise for IT teams and required manual adjustments to normalize infrastructure monitoring.
Users can easily check if they are affected. Basta access the “Services” application (by typing “services.msc” in the Iniciar menu) and search for “AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)”. If the “Type of Inicialização” is set to “Automatic”, it means that the update change has been applied to the system.
See Also
How to temporarily mitigate the problem
Faced with the lack of an official Microsoft solution, the user community has developed a workaround to reduce the performance impact. The procedure consists of manually reverting the AppXSVC service startup type to its previous state, i.e. “Manual”. Essa change can be performed through Prompt of Comando or PowerShell, running with administrator privileges. The command used is “sc config AppXSVC start= demand”, which instructs the system to start the service only on demand. Após execution of the command, it is necessary to restart the computer for the change to take effect, which in most cases restores the system’s responsiveness.
On the same topic: Microsoft releases mobile taskbar on Windows 11 and reduces Copilot assistant interruptions
However, it is crucial to highlight that this is a palliative measure and is not without risks. Microsoft itself warns that modifying the functioning of essential system services can lead to unexpected behavior. Desativar or changing AppXSVC may prevent Microsoft Store applications from receiving important security and functionality updates, and potentially cause installation of new programs to fail. Portanto, the general recommendation is that this change be made with caution and that users revert the configuration as soon as an official fix is made available by the company, to ensure the long-term integrity and security of the operating system.
Users’ experience in different configurations
The repercussion of the change was vast on specialized forums and social networks, with thousands of reports appearing just days after the patch was released. The experience varied considerably depending on each user’s hardware configuration. Proprietários of high-performance computers, with modern processors, large amounts of RAM and NVMe SSDs, often didn’t notice the difference. In contrast, the user base with older or entry-level equipment suffered the most, with some describing the system as “almost unusable” after the update. Essa disparity highlights how seemingly small changes to the operating system can have a disproportionate impact on different hardware segments, affecting usability for a significant portion of consumers. The situation has reignited debates about optimizing Windows 11 for older hardware and the need for more comprehensive testing before releasing updates that change the default behavior of critical system services.
Recommendations and positioning of Microsoft
To date, Microsoft has not recognized the slowdown as a widespread bug, treating the change to AppXSVC as an intentional change to improve the system. The company advises users experiencing performance issues to ensure all drivers are up to date and restart the device, monitoring resource usage through Gerenciador and Tarefas.
For those who wish to avoid installing the KB5072033 update, it is possible to temporarily pause the Windows Update updates through the Configurações menu. However, this measure also prevents critical security fixes from being received, making it a short-term solution.
Full coverage: News (EN)
Other improvements included in the update
Despite the performance issue, the KB5072033 update also brought a set of important security fixes and general optimizations to Windows 11. The package is part of the monthly cycle of quality updates for Microsoft, and its installation continues to be recommended to protect the system against vulnerabilities.
The dilemma created by the update left many users in a difficult position: choosing between the security provided by the latest patches and the performance of their computers. The expectation is that Microsoft will adjust the behavior of the AppXSVC service in a future update to balance reliability with lower resource consumption.
