Is Windows 11 Destroying FPS? How to Instantly Fix the Critical Lag Glitch in the Latest Update

Boost Your Gaming Speed Now: The Ultimate Guide to Fixing Nvidia Performance Drops in Windows 11 24H2

If your PC gaming performance has suddenly plummeted, you are not alone. Nvidia has officially confirmed that recent Windows 11 updates are causing significant frame rate (FPS) drops and sluggish behavior in various titles.

The company has identified the root cause as a conflict within the October and November 2025 Windows updates and has immediately released a hotfix driver (Version 581.94) to resolve the issue.

The Root Cause: Windows 11 25H2 & 24H2 Conflicts

The performance degradation is specifically tied to the Windows 11 Patch Tuesday updates released in October and November 2025. Because Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 share the same underlying platform, users on either version are equally susceptible.

The problematic updates include:

• KB5066835 (October 2025 Update)
• KB5068861 (November 2025 Update)

Even if you manually skipped the October update, installing the November patch (or any subsequent release) will introduce the problematic code to your system, inevitably triggering performance throttling.

Immediate Solution: Download GeForce Driver 581.94

To restore your system’s gaming capability, you must update your GPU drivers immediately. Nvidia’s emergency release, GeForce Display Driver v581.94, contains the necessary patch to neutralize the conflict with Windows 11.

Installation Note for Nvidia App Users

Please be aware of a known display bug within the Nvidia App. The interface may incorrectly list this hotfix as dating back to “April 16, 2025.” Ignore this date. Driver v581.94 was released on November 19, 2025, and is the correct, most up-to-date software.

How to Check Your System Vulnerability

Not sure if your PC is running the affected Windows build? Follow these steps to verify:

1. Navigate to Settings > System > About.
2. Scroll down to Device specifications.
3. Check your OS Build number. You are affected if you see:
   • Build 26200.6899 (or newer) for Version 25H2.
   • Build 26100.6899 (or newer) for Version 24H2.

Note: While Nvidia is the first to confirm this issue, independent testing suggests that AMD and Intel-based systems may also experience similar sluggishness, pointing to a broader Windows kernel issue.

Remaining Issues and Workarounds

While Driver 581.94 fixes the FPS drops—specifically noted in titles like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and CS2—it is not a cure-all for every current Windows bug.

• Refresh Rate Glitch: Some users may still experience a bug where the taskbar forces the display to drop to 60Hz, causing visible flickering. This remains unresolved in the current hotfix.

The Broader Context: A “Cursed” Season for Windows Updates

The October 2025 update cycle has been notably unstable, introducing several severe bugs beyond gaming performance. If you have experienced other anomalies recently, they are likely related to the same KB5066835 patch:

• Localhost Connectivity Failures: A bug in HTTP.sys broke localhost functionality, disrupting work for developers using IIS. This has largely been addressed via a server-side patch.
• BitLocker Recovery Loops: Some users were locked out of their machines and forced to enter BitLocker recovery keys. Those without backup keys faced total data loss requiring a drive wipe.
• WinRE Peripherals Failure: The recovery environment (WinRE) temporarily ceased supporting mouse and keyboard inputs, making system recovery impossible without legacy PS/2 hardware. This was subsequently patched in update KB5070773.

While the October update cycle was disruptive, the November rollout has been comparatively stable. With the holiday season approaching, Microsoft is expected to pause optional updates in December 2025 and January 2026, likely offering users a period of stability before the next major development cycle.