Keeping Windows 11 updated is supposed to make things smoother and more secure, but sometimes, the latest big update—like 24H2—just throws a wrench in everything. It’s frustrating when your system crashes or freezes repeatedly after the update, especially if it’s hard to pin down why. Thankfully, there are a few tricks that can help stabilize things temporarily or even fix the root cause. These fixes are kind of like housekeeping chores—potentially annoying, but worth a shot before considering a full reinstall or waiting for Microsoft’s next patch.
How to Fix Windows 11 24H2 Crashes and Freezes
Fix 1 – Remove Windows Hello and Avoid Using the Camera
This one’s kind of weird, but a lot of folks have noticed that if they have Windows Hello set up (like facial recognition or fingerprint login) on a laptop with a built-in camera, the OS sometimes just freezes up when an app tries to access the camera. Not sure why it works, but disabling Windows Hello seems to help. On some setups, this only happens right after the update, while other times, it persists until you undo the settings.
- Step 1: Head over to Settings, then click Accounts.
- Step 2: Scroll down and select Sign-in options.
- Step 3: Find Facial Recognition and click Remove. Do the same if you see options for fingerprint or PIN—removing these can help rule out conflicts.
- Step 4: If you’re still worried about security, set up a good old-fashioned password for your account to keep things locked down.
On some machines this might temporarily stop the freezing, especially if the camera or Windows Hello is involved. It’s not perfect, but it’s worth trying before digging into more complicated stuff.
Fix 2 – Change Registry Settings for Certain SSDs (like Western Digital or SanDisk)
This one is definitely more technical and not something you’d wanna do without a backup, but if you’ve got a SanDisk or Western Digital SSD and suddenly get BSODs or massive slowdowns, Windows might be choking on how it handles memory. It’s because the update changed some processing rules, and these SSDs haven’t caught up yet. You can try a quick registry tweak to get past it, but remember—this is kinda a bandaid, not a cure.
- Step 1: Hit Windows + R and type
regedit. Hit Enter and confirm the User Account Control prompt. - Step 2: Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorPort.
- Step 3: Look for a DWORD called
HmbAllocationPolicy. If it’s missing, right-click somewhere in the right pane and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, then name itHmbAllocationPolicy. - Step 4: Double-click that value and change it to
0or2. It seems to help the SSD communications go more smoothly. - Step 5: Restart your PC — this usually kicks the change in. Just keep in mind, on some machines it might take a couple of reboots or no change at all, so be prepared to undo if needed.
This saved some folks with SanDisk drives from nasty crashes—they’re not perfect fixes, but better than the alternative of data loss or endless freezing.
Fix 3 – Get the Latest Windows Updates
Windows 11 smoke and mirrors, they say. Updates roll out in batches, and sometimes they fix issues you’re facing. Especially with a fresh release like 24H2, Microsoft actually releases newer patches pretty quickly if you check for updates regularly. Not sure why, but sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting for Microsoft to address bugs in the background.
- Step 1: Open Settings and go to Windows Update.
- Step 2: Click Check for updates.
- Step 3: Install all updates available—this might include optional ones that address known crashes or bugs.
- Step 4: Follow prompts and restart when asked. Sometimes, the update process resets some problematic settings, so doing this a couple times can help catch fixes that weren’t there initially.
Been there, done that, and it surprisingly worked for some phantom crashes that kept showing up. On other machines, it’s more patchy, but worth a shot.
Fix 4 – Roll Back Windows 11 if Possible
If you just upgraded to 24H2 and started crashing immediately, there might still be a window to revert back. Windows typically keeps your previous version around for about 10 days after the upgrade, and you can just roll back if that option hasn’t expired yet. It’s kind of a safety net, especially if you suspect the update broke something critical.
- Step 1: Open Settings, then head into System.
- Step 2: Click on Recovery.
- Step 3: Look for the Go back option—if it’s clickable, just hit it and follow prompts.
If the option isn’t there anymore, or you’re past that timeline, you may need to do a clean install of an older version (like 23H2).You’d have to download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s site and wipe the drive—better have backups because this will erase your data.
Honestly, trying the rollback first is quicker and less painful. But if you’re deep into trouble, a clean install might be your last resort.
Most of these fixes are kinda trial-and-error, but they do get the job done for a lot of users. Remember, Windows updates can be unpredictable, and sometimes just waiting for the next patch is the best move. Good luck, and fingers crossed this gets one update moving.