Windows 10 update fixes PC slowdown issues and interface glitches
Performance problems with File Explorer are addressed in the patch, and more besides
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Windows 10has a fresh optional update which makes important fixes including the resolution of some performance issues and glitches with File Explorer, one of the core parts of theoperating system.
For the uninitiated, File Explorer simply refers to the windows on the desktop that you use to browse through your folders and files. Patch KB5000842 cures a memory leak issue with this central part of the UI which could slow down the operation of your PC. It also fixes some problems with freezing when filters are used in an in-line search in File Explorer.
KB5000842is an optional (preview) update for the two most recent versions ofWindows 10which were deployed over the course of last year, namely theMay 2020 UpdateandOctober 2020 Update. As it’s optional, you’ll have to search for it manually under Windows Update to install the patch – otherwise it won’t come to your PC.
These fixes were already seen in a recent preview of the 21H1 update, but can now be applied to the PCs of non-testers (but remember: they’re still in preview form).
HDR happiness
As well as the important performance tuning work for File Explorer, the patch delivers a useful fix for those who haveHDR monitorsand are experiencing an issue whereby colors appear ‘much darker’ than they should be.
KB5000842 also resolves some problems with 7.1 surround sound, video playback being out of sync when using duplicate mode across multiple monitors, plus a nasty sounding bugbear where a device could stop working when you delete stuff which is synced with OneDrive.
As ever with any optional update, it’s best only to take the plunge if your machine is frustratingly impacted by one of the aforementioned problems. As a preview update, it’s still in testing, so installing it could potentially produce unintended consequences.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
ViaWindows Latest
Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - ‘I Know What You Did Last Supper’ - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).
Alt + Tab trouble: Windows 11’s 24H2 update turns time-saving shortcut into ten-second headache
Windows 11’s Paint and Notepad apps are getting smart new AI features – though one of the best will be for Copilot+ PCs only
Arcane season 2 finally gave us the huge Caitlyn and Vi moment we’ve been waiting for – and its creators say ‘we couldn’t have done it in season one’
