"Windows 11 Update Causing SSD Performance Drop? Latest Guidelines"

Is your PC running slow today? If you're planning to upgrade to Windows 11, or have already upgraded and are experiencing slow SSD speeds, there are a few tools that can help. Read on to learn more.

Do Windows 11 updates slow down SSD performance? Unfortunately, yes.

Does the Windows 11 update slow down SSD performance? Yes, although it may not be a widespread issue, slowdowns in SSD speed after a Windows 11 update have been reported and confirmed by numerous users. Some Reddit users have reported significant drops in their SSD speeds, going from 7,000MB/s down to 3,000MB/s, and in extreme cases, as low as 1,000MB/s, following a forced Windows 11 update.

According to a report by Windows Latest, mandatory updates in Windows 11 are impacting SSD speeds. This could be a significant issue for SSDs, particularly NVMe SSDs, which are renowned for their impressive speed.

It's unclear what, if anything, these users have in common other than running the latest updates to Windows 11, especially “Moment 2.” Not all users experience a drop in SSD performance after upgrading to Windows 11. One user reported that their NVMe SSD was running at one-seventh the speed after patching.

Here are some real examples, from various forums:

As you can see, many users experienced this issue, so we advise you to test your SSD's read and write speed after updating to Windows 11. But how to do that?

How can I ensure my SSD slows down after updating to Windows 11? If you don't want your Solid State Drive (SSD) to become slower after upgrading to Windows 11, you generally don't need to take any special measures, as the operating system is designed with SSD optimization in mind. However, occasionally, certain settings or maintenance issues might cause the SSD to perform poorly. Here are some recommendations to prevent or improve its performance: 1. **Keep your system updated**: Make sure your Windows 11 is always up-to-date, as Microsoft regularly releases performance enhancements and fixes. 2. **Disable disk defragmentation**: SSDs do not require defragmentation like traditional hard drives. Ensure this feature is disabled to avoid affecting the SSD's lifespan and performance. 3. **Check TRIM support**: TRIM is a function that helps maintain SSD performance. Verify that TRIM is enabled on your system, and your drive is compatible. 4. **Limit writes**: While modern SSDs have significantly improved endurance, excessive writing can still impact performance. Monitor and use your storage space efficiently. 5. **Optimize power settings**: Ensure your power settings don't force your computer into power-saving modes, which could affect SSD performance. 6. **Reduce startup programs and services**: Minimize the number of apps and services that start when your computer boots to reduce the load on your SSD. 7. **Regularly check for viruses and malware**: Malware can impact system performance. Install up-to-date antivirus software and scan regularly. 8. **Properly configure virtual memory**: Maintain default or appropriately adjusted virtual memory settings; incorrect settings can affect SSD performance. 9. **Avoid overheating**: Ensure your computer has good cooling, as overheating can impact SSD and other hardware performance. Following these general guidelines should help your SSD maintain good performance in Windows 11. If you notice your SSD slowing down after the update, it might be due to a specific issue, and you should look for more targeted solutions or seek assistance from technical support.

To get accurate SSD speed test results, we recommend using the Partition Manager Tool. Its DiskMark feature can accurately test the real-time or peak read and write speeds of your SSD. More importantly, it completed the task successfully in our tests without any errors, which is great for beginners. This tool is fully compatible with Windows 11 and older versions; you can download it with confidence to test your SSD speed. The DiskMark feature is free!

Step 1: Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Then click the Download button to activate the "Disk Benchmark" feature under the "Discovery" tab.

Step 2: Select the target drive, test data, and block size from the drop-down menus.

Step 3. Once all settings are configured, click the “Start” button to begin the disk test. You will then see metrics like sequential and random read/write speeds, IOPS, and latency.

If the text instructions aren't clear enough, you can also watch the tutorial video below, which has more information about SSD speeds.

Now you can clearly see the read and write speed of the SSD; if you find that the SSD speed drops significantly after updating to Windows 11, don't worry; you can try using Partition Master to improve the SSD read and write speed by aligning the 4K of the SSD.

Aligning the SSD to 4K for improved speed

Here is how to optimize SSD with 4K alignment software:

Step 1: Click on “Toolbox” and then select “4K Alignment”.

<Step 2> Select the hard drive to align, and then click Start.

This is an embedded YouTube video player. It allows for features such as accelerometer and autoplay, and is set to play in full screen with a width of 700 pixels and a height of 410 pixels. The video's title is "YouTube video player."

Now you can run the game or test your SSD speed again to see if there's any improvement. Let's see how much this tool helped you.

Other key features of Partition Master include:

• Test SSD Read/Write Speed
• Format/Erase SSD
• Merge Partitions on SSD
• Clone SSD to a Larger SSD
• Check SSD Health Status and Temperature

Whether you want to test the read and write speeds of your SSD or improve its performance, this tool can help. Download it by clicking the button below.

Revert the Update to Fix the Windows 11 SSD Performance Issue

The upcoming Patch Tuesday update in July 2023 is expected to address this issue, as it was reportedly not resolved in the optional update released in June 2023. Here are the details:

KB5027303 - Optional update for June 2023.

KB5027231 - The June 2023 Patch Tuesday update (this is mandatory).

KB5026372 - May 2023 Patch Tuesday update (this one is mandatory).

KB5025239 - April 2023 Patch Tuesday update (this is mandatory).

KB5023778 - March 2023 Patch Tuesday Update

This issue occurred after the latest cumulative update. KB5023706 is also affected. According to some reports, rolling back might solve the problem for affected users. If your Windows 11 SSD has slowed down after the latest update, and you can't bear to wait for Microsoft to fix this bug (possibly) with the next patch, here's how you can roll back:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Settings.

Step 2: Click on the “Windows Update” section in the lower-left corner.

Step 3: Click Update History.

Step 4: Scroll down and click the “Uninstall updates” option.

Step 5. Select KB5023706 (or the version you have installed), and then confirm the action by clicking on the “Uninstall” button.

Share this article to raise awareness about the issue among more users. Click on the button below to share.

The bottom line?

Windows 11 has a separate issue where devices tend to slow down during tasks that heavily utilize the SSD (Solid State Drive), such as copying large files from one place to another or playing high-performance games. Numerous users have reported increased boot times and reduced SSD speeds since the March 2023 cumulative update. This article will delve into the problem of slowed SSD read and write speeds caused by Windows 11 updates, provide a speed testing tool, and suggest two methods to rectify the error.

FAQ: Troubleshooting SSD Performance Drops with Windows 11 Updates

Do you have any other concerns about Windows 11 updates affecting SSD performance? The following questions might help to further clarify the issue:

**1. Does Windows 11 slow down SSD performance?** In general, Windows 11 should not significantly decrease the speed of your SSD (Solid State Drive). Microsoft typically designs its operating systems with performance and compatibility in mind, ensuring smooth operation across various hardware configurations. However, the introduction of new features and updates in Windows 11 might have a slight impact on SSD performance, but these effects are generally negligible. Some factors that could affect SSD performance include: - **Background updates and activities**: Windows 11 performs automatic updates and maintenance tasks, which might utilize SSD read-write resources. - **Defragmentation**: Although modern SSDs don't require regular defragmentation, Windows 11 might still perform this operation, though the impact is minimal. - **Virus Scans and Background Apps**: Antivirus software and background applications can increase the read-write load on your SSD. - **Resource-intensive Features**: Some new features, like virtualization technologies or enhanced graphics support, might require more storage resources. To ensure optimal performance, you can: - **Optimize settings**: Disable unnecessary background apps and services to reduce the workload on your SSD. - **Regular maintenance**: Perform disk cleanups and checks to keep your system tidy. - **Update drivers**: Ensure all drivers are up-to-date to accommodate the requirements of Windows 11. Overall, Windows 11 should not notably slow down your SSD's speed, but actual performance may vary depending on your hardware configuration and usage habits.

Yes, such issues have been reported. According to feedback from some users running Windows 11, they have encountered various technical and hardware problems after upgrading to the new operating system. Among these, the bug that significantly affects SSD speeds is a relatively common issue.

**2. Why is my computer so slow after updating to Windows 11?**

Microsoft appears to have a bit of an issue on its hands – the latest update to Windows 11 seems to be running less than optimally. According to numerous reports, the patch is significantly slowing down solid-state drives (especially NVMe ones), with some users experiencing speeds halved in certain scenarios. The exact cause isn't yet known, but the next patch should hopefully address the bug.

How to Fix Slow NVMe in Windows 11?

There's no official fix for this at the moment, but some users have reported that rolling back the driver has resolved the issue with NVMe SSD speeds slowing down.