- Windows 11 bug with Intel audio driver has just been fixed
- This glitch has been around for a long time – a year, in fact
- It stopped PCs with Intel's 11th-gen CPUs from getting the 24H2 update
It's taken ages to fix another bug in Windows 11, one that prevented a sizeable number of people using certain Intel processors from upgrading to the latest version of the operating system – but this time, it wasn't Microsoft's fault.
The glitch in Windows 11 24H2 surfaced almost exactly a year ago, hitting PCs with specific versions of the Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) driver, which is an audio controller. (This bug has actually been seen in the distant past – and I'll come back to that).
As Neowin reports, the issue only affects Windows 11 PCs with Intel's 11th-gen processors. Those with a computer built around a Rocket Lake chip (or Tiger Lake) found themselves unable to upgrade to version 24H2, as Microsoft blocked these PCs with what's known as a 'compatibility hold'.
This problem was first flagged by Microsoft in the Windows release health status dashboard back on September 30, 2024, and the bug caused devices to crash with a Blue Screen of Death (now a black screen).
In this instance, Microsoft was relying on Intel fixing this driver to be compatible with Windows 11 24H2, and that took quite some time - but the issue was finally marked as resolved as of September 26, 2025.
Those with an Intel Rocket Lake CPU who have thus far been unable to get the 24H2 update must ensure they download and install the Intel SST driver which is version 10.30.00.5714 (or 10.29.00.5714, depending on their exact Windows version) or later. Whatever the case, you want the Intel SST driver ending in 5714.
Microsoft explains that you should be offered this Intel driver in Windows Update, so check in there, and install it. Once that's done, you can check for updates again, and you should be offered Windows 11 version 24H2, at long last. (It may still take a little while for Windows Update to pick up the change in your system).
If, even after waiting for a while, you aren't offered the Intel SST driver via Windows Update, then Microsoft explains that "it's possible drivers for this audio controller haven't been developed for your specific device hardware configuration".
If that's the case, you need to contact the maker of your PC to find out more about when the necessary driver will be implemented for your device.
Analysis: Deja-vu with 22H2
This bug comes on top of another pair of recently fixed glitches that prevented upgrades to Windows 11 24H2 which also took the best part of a year to resolve. Having stumbling blocks like these hanging around for so long - and these issues only being fixed just before the next annual update for Windows 11, 25H2, arrives - is clearly not a great look for Microsoft.
Although as noted, Microsoft was waiting on Intel for the cure to be formulated, so the software giant gets a pass this time.
It's also worth noting that this SST complication with Intel's 11th-gen CPUs was seen before, way back in 2022, where the glitch prevented upgrades to Windows 11 22H2 (and 21H2, the original incarnation of the OS), blocking the path for those looking to migrate from Windows 10 at the time. So, it was quite strange to see this pop up again last year - hopefully it won't yet again be a problem with the 25H2 update.
If you're wondering how many people might still run 11th-gen processors, Intel's Rocket Lake chips are likely the engine of something like 10% of the Windows PCs out there - possibly more like 15% - if we go by the rough estimations generated by AI (Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini pretty much agree on this). While we need to season that heavily as it's merely educated guesswork, clearly there are quite a number of folks still using a PC with an Intel 11th-gen engine who will have been suffering with this bugbear.
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