What you need to know
- Microsoft rolled out an optional update for Windows 10 that fixes multiple gaming issues.
- One of the addressed issues can cause performance problems and low framerates when playing games.
- You can search for the updates now through the Windows 10 Settings app.
Microsoft released an optional update for Windows 10 that addresses several issues affecting gamers. The update is labeled KB5004296, and it includes a fix for an issue that results in low framerates and reduced performance for games. It also fixes an issue that prevents gaming services from opening certain games.
This fix should be welcome news for gamers, some of which have had to deal with poor gaming performance and framerate issues since March 2021.
Here are Microsoft's highlights for the update:
- Updates an issue that prevents gaming services from opening certain games for desktop users.
- Updates an issue that prevents you from entering text using the Input Method Editor (IME). This might occur, for example, after startup if you have set the power options to shut down a laptop by closing its lid.
- Updates an issue that plays the sound for selecting something in a game loudly when you press the trigger button on a game controller.
- Updates an issue that prevents power plans and Game Mode from working as expected. This results in lower frame rates and reduced performance while gaming.
- Updates an issue that fails to detect that you are connected to the internet after you connect to a virtual private network (VPN).
- Updates an issue that causes printing to stop or prints the wrong output. This issue occurs when you print using a USB connection after updating to Windows 10, version 2004 or later.
You can search for the optional update in the Windows 10 Settings app. You can also grab it from the Microsoft Update Catalog. For anyone that doesn't seek it out now, the update should roll out as part of August's Patch Tuesday updates next month.
