Microsoft successfully resolves Windows 11 SSD slowdown issue

 In its latest Patch Tuesday update, Microsoft appears to have resolved the troublesome bug that was causing slowdowns in SSD speeds on certain Windows 11 PCs. This bug was reportedly introduced with the Moment 2 update in March but remained unaddressed in subsequent updates, despite widespread complaints from users on platforms like Reddit and other social media sites.

According to reports from Windows Latest, the issue now appears to have been successfully rectified. Many users who were experiencing slower SSD speeds have reported that their SSDs are now functioning at their optimal speeds following the latest Windows 11 update. Interestingly, the update KB5029263's changelog does not explicitly mention the SSD slowdown fix; instead, it highlights security issue resolutions. As per Microsoft's support page, the update brings "miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality."

However, despite the apparent resolution of the SSD slowdown bug in the August 2023 update, some users are encountering a new issue. They are reporting that the update has caused the new Microsoft Defender app to malfunction, displaying an error message indicating 'Unable to log into Microsoft Defender.' Notably, Microsoft Defender is a new security dashboard app for connected devices, distinct from the regular Windows Security app. There are also reports of the update failing to install on certain systems.

Shifting to other developments in the Windows 11 ecosystem, Microsoft seems to be working towards making it easier for users to uninstall more built-in apps from their Windows computers. A recent changelog for the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25931 (Canary Channel) reveals that the Photos app, People app, and Remote Desktop (MSTSC) client can now be uninstalled, in addition to the Camera app and the recently-deprecated Cortana. Although these apps may not heavily impact system resources, their removal option is a positive step for users who find them unnecessary.

This move comes shortly after Microsoft's announcement that it will cease support for Cortana on Windows, starting this month. However, Cortana will continue to be available in Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Teams display, and Teams rooms. The decision to phase out Cortana on Windows 11 follows previous statements from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who characterized the virtual assistant as "dumb as a rock." Microsoft had already discontinued Cortana's support on Android and iOS in 2021 and significantly scaled down its presence on Windows 10 in 2019.