Windows 11’s November Update Fixes a Sneaky Slowdown Bug (and a Nasty Battery Drain)
If your Windows 11 PC has been feeling a bit sluggish lately, or your handheld gaming device suddenly can’t hold a charge in sleep mode, you’re not imagining things.
Microsoft’s recent cumulative update for Windows 11 includes a couple of important fixes for exactly those problems, along with a few smaller quality-of-life improvements.
In this post, we’ll break down what changed, why it matters, and how to make sure you’re protected. And if you’d rather not wrestle with updates yourself, Prescott Computer Guy can handle it for you.
1. The “Ghost” Task Manager Bug That Could Slow Your PC
One of the oddest issues fixed in this update involves Task Manager, the built-in tool you use to see what’s running on your computer.
A recent optional “preview” update introduced a glitch where:
- You’d open Task Manager.
- Close it like normal.
- But Windows didn’t fully close it, leaving hidden Task Manager processes running in the background.
If you opened Task Manager repeatedly (for example, while troubleshooting another problem), you could end up with several invisible copies still running. Over time, those extra background processes could nibble away at your CPU and memory and make your system feel slower than it should.
The latest cumulative update fixes this, so when you close Task Manager, it actually closes like it’s supposed to.
If your PC started feeling mysteriously slower after installing an optional update recently, this bug might be the reason. The new patch is the cure.
2. Big News for Windows 11 Gaming Handhelds: Sleep Mode Battery Drain Fixed
The update also targets a problem that’s been frustrating people who use Windows 11 gaming handhelds (devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and similar portables).
There was a bug where, when you put these devices to sleep, they didn’t stay in a proper low-power state. Instead of gently sipping power, they kept drawing too much, which meant you could:
- Put your handheld to sleep with a mostly full battery,
- Come back a few hours later,
- And find the battery much lower than expected.
The new update corrects this behavior so handhelds can finally stay in low-power states correctly during sleep, reducing unnecessary battery drain.
If you use a Windows-based handheld for gaming on the go, this is a very good reason to grab the update sooner rather than later.
3. On-Screen Keyboard Delay Fix
Another smaller, but still annoying, bug that’s been squashed:
On some Windows 11 handheld devices, the on-screen keyboard wouldn’t work right away after signing in. Users had to wait several seconds before it became usable in apps, not ideal when you just want to quickly type a password, search, or URL.
The update removes that delay, so the touch keyboard should be ready for action right after you log in.
4. What This Says About Windows 11’s Stability
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen strange Windows 11 bugs affecting core features like sleep, power management, and basic tools. Recent major changes under the hood, including new foundations aimed at supporting AI-heavy “Copilot+” and newer hardware, have come with their share of quirks.
The good news: updates like this one are at least moving things in the right direction, especially when they address real-world headaches like unexplained slowdowns or battery drain.
5. How to Check If You Have the Latest Windows 11 Update
If you’re running Windows 11, here’s how to see if your system has the latest cumulative update installed:
- Click Start → Settings.
- Go to Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- If a new cumulative update is available, let it download and install.
- Restart your PC when prompted.
If you previously installed optional preview updates (those labeled as “Preview” in Windows Update) and your system has felt slower since, this new cumulative update is especially important.
6. Should You Install It Right Away?
In general:
- Security and monthly cumulative updates – These are usually worth installing promptly, because they roll up security patches and important bug fixes like the Task Manager and sleep-mode issues.
- Optional preview updates – These are “early looks” at the next month’s fixes and sometimes introduce new bugs. If you’re not experimenting, it’s usually safer to skip those and wait for the regular monthly release.
As always, it’s smart to:
- Make sure you have a backup of important files.
- Avoid forcing shutdowns while updates are installing.
- Let the system finish its post-update restart before you start heavy work or gaming.
