Security News > 2024 > April > Microsoft lifts Windows 11 block on some Intel systems after 2 years

Microsoft has finally lifted a compatibility hold blocking Windows 10 users from updating to Windows 11 on systems with Intel Smart Sound Technology audio drivers and Intel 11th Gen Core processors.

The company first acknowledged in November 2021 that some Intel audio drivers were triggering blue screens back on Windows 11 21H2 devices when it also added safeguard holds blocking Windows 11 upgrades from being offered to customers on affected systems.

"Intel and Microsoft have found incompatibility issues with certain versions of drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology on Intel 11th Gen Core processors and Windows 11," the company said at the time.

Another update block was added in September 2022 to prevent devices using the incompatible Intel SST drivers from upgrading to Windows 11 22H2. While Intel developed and released SST driver versions 10.30.00.5714 or 10.29.00.5714, which resolved the issue months after Microsoft applied the safeguard holds, Redmond has only lifted them over the weekend after adding the fixed audio drivers to Windows Update.

Microsoft began force-installing Windows 11 23H2 in February on eligible devices that have either reached or are very close to their end-of-service date.

This forced rollout comes after Windows 11 21H2 systems running multiple editions of Windows were also automatically updated to Windows 11 22H2 before reaching end of support in October 2023.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-lifts-windows-11-block-on-some-intel-systems-after-2-years/