Quote:Some months ago, Microsoft revealed improvements to Windows Update on Windows 11 that made updates smaller and faster to install at the same time.

The key change was the introduction of checkpoint cumulative updates. Put simply, updates would no longer have to include all the changed components since the last feature update release, but only changes since the last checkpoint update, which occur regularly after feature update releases.

Microsoft backs up the claim with numbers

Microsoft published information about the improvements in a new blog post on its Tech Community website.

There, the company revealed that updates are indeed smaller, install faster, and use less CPU resources while doing so.

To back up the claim, Microsoft released data of two tests that it ran.

First test; up to date machine

The first test applied a new monthly updated on an up to date Windows 11 system. Microsoft observed the following improvements in this scenario:

• Installation time: 45.6 percent faster.
  
• Restart time: 39.7 percent faster.
  
• CPU usage time: 15.3 percent less.
  

Second test; out of date machine

The second device was one that was not patched for 18 months. Microsoft admits that this is not a typical scenario, but still useful to highlight the improvements even in these unlikely scenarios.

Microsoft observed the following improvements:

• Installation time: 43.6 percent faster.
  
• Restart time: 33.5 percent faster.
  
• CPU usage time: 25 percent less.
  

Both tests show large reductions in both the installation time of the update and the restart time. Windows updates usually require a restart of the system. Some changes are applied while the system is not running.

Note: Microsoft did not mention any other tests. It is likely that it ran others, but it published only information about the two. Mileage may vary because of that, as improvements may also depend on other factors, including the load of the system, hardware, and other factors.

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