Windows 11 has faced issues with slow NVMe SSD performance since March 2023 and subsequent cumulative updates. Some users have reported that their devices are more than 50% slower, and even after installing newer updates, the problem persists. This has led to speculation about Microsoft’s awareness of these bugs and whether they will release a fix.

The problem was initially identified in the preview builds of the operating system but somehow made its way into the March 2023 Patch Tuesday update. While Microsoft never acknowledged the problem, users claim that the bug exists in all updates released after the March 2023 Patch.

According to Windows Latest, the situation has improved for many users who previously experienced performance issues. Although some people may still encounter SSD issues, the problem has largely been resolved, as multiple reports suggest.

Here is a list of affected updates:
– KB5028185 – July 2023 Patch Tuesday update (mandatory).
– KB5027303 – June 2023’s optional update.
– KB5027231 – June 2023’s Patch Tuesday (mandatory).
– KB5026372 – May 2023’s Patch Tuesday (mandatory).
– KB5025239 – April 2023’s Patch Tuesday (mandatory).
– KB5023778 – March 2023’s Patch Tuesday – The issue was first flagged after this cumulative update. KB5023706 is also affected.
– Older Windows 11 preview builds.

Prior to the March 2023 update, reports about SSD slowdowns surfaced in public discussions after every update, starting with KB5023778. Since then, every cumulative update, including the July 2023 Patch Tuesday, has caused performance issues with several SSDs.

It has been noticed that the performance improved with the July 2023 optional update. As expected, the August 2023 Patch Tuesday update (KB5029263) carries the fix for everyone. Many users have confirmed better performance since the August 2023 update, ending the frustrating SSD bug.

One user stated, “In the world of DevOps, I/O performance is king. After the March update, it was like driving a sports car with a clogged fuel filter. This recent August update has fixed NVMe SSD problems for us, but it has also shed light on the need for Microsoft to improve its quality assurance processes. Also, thanks for tracking the issue for us, Mayank.”

Another user managing a fleet of systems mentioned, “I manage a fleet of systems, and the sluggish SSD issue from the March update was a glaring anomaly. Had to provisionally look for third-party solutions just to keep things moving. With the August update now deployed across the board, I see consistent disk performance across our devices. Grateful for the fix, but it’s a reminder of how crucial thorough testing is before rolling out any software updates.”

Although the August 2023 update does not fix the Windows 11 SSD slowdown for everyone, the situation has improved. Some users may still encounter the same problem even with the August 2023 update. It is important to note that Microsoft has not acknowledged these reports, but they are aware of the bug. Installing the August or later updates should improve performance for some users.

Microsoft is working towards minimizing Windows 11’s performance issues as the company wants more people to upgrade to the new operating system with the upcoming version 23H2 update.