Windows 10’s latest ‘Patch Tuesday’ security update was released by Microsoft last week, but it’s causing significant issues for those who install it. They primarily affect gaming, with users reporting a significant drop in FPS (frames per second) and stuttering throughout games.
Unfortunately, many people will have already suffered the effects of this update. Not only is Windows 10 the most popular gaming platform worldwide, this update was also specifically designed to fix the long running ‘PrintNightmare’ vulnerability once and for all. It’s plagued Windows 10 since first being discovered last month, allowed hackers to gain remote access via the printer spooler. Many users will have jumped at the chance to finally solve this issue, but it’s created more problems.
However, the problems extend beyond gaming. According to Windows Latest , the KB5005033 update also breaks the Alt+Tab functionality for some users. This allows you to quickly move between open windows, making it a key feature for multitasking. It appears to be a persistent issue, with Reddit users reporting the same fault after July’s KB5004296 update.
Fortunately, there is a simple way to uninstall the update. Just head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Under ‘View update history’, you’ll see the option to ‘Uninstall updates’. Just choose the KB5005033 update and click ‘Yes’ when prompted. You may need to restart your device to apply the changes.
However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Some Redditors have suggested that uninstalling the update doesn’t solve the issue. In this scenario, you’ll have to sit tight and wait for Microsoft to release an official fix.
Even when Microsoft does roll out a patch, there’s no guarantee all issues will be solved. The company released the KB5004296 update at the end of July, aiming to fix gaming problems that affected Windows 10 users for more than three months. Just two weeks later, issues have returned.
Microsoft is promoting Windows 11 as a great OS for gaming – let’s hope it’s a smoother experience than the one on Windows 10 in recent months.
A version of this article was originally published in German on our sister site, PC-Welt .
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
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It seems there are still more undiscovered vulnerabilities lurking in the Windows 10 print queue and its associated services.
Just last week, Microsoft issued an official warning about a new CVE-2021-34481 issue, after the recent KB5004945 update didn’t completely close the security gap. However, it does fix a related problem, so we’d still highly recommend downloading it.
An official patch for this new problem is yet to be released. Microsoft is still investigating which versions of Windows are affected – this may include the small number of devices still running Windows 8 and Windows 7. Fortunately, no attacks related to this specific vulnerability have been observed yet.
What is the CVE-2021-34481 vulnerability?
Like many similar issues in the past, the CVE-2021-34481 security gap affects the printer spooler. It gives hackers system-level user rights, allowing them to execute malicious code that can seriously harm your PC. This can be used to install programs, modify user data and even create new accounts with full system rights.
This vulnerability cannot be exploited directly by hackers, but combining it with a separate vulnerability removes any restrictions. While a lot of the code can be executed remotely, there’s also a method which involves tricking an unsuspecting user into clicking a malicious link within an email or message.
It may take a while for Microsoft to release an official patch. If any specific attacks are revealed, this should speed up the process. In the meantime, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands.
How to (temporarily) fix the CVE-2021-34481 vulnerability
While we wait for an update, Microsoft recommends turning off the print queue service, also known as the printer spooler:
- Open the Windows PowerShell app
- In the window that appears, type ‘Get-Service -Name Spooler’ and hit enter
- If you see a name displayed, check if it matches CVE-2021-34481. If no information appears, it’s worth proceeding with the turning it off anyway
- To stop the service, type ‘Stop-Service -Name Spooler –Force’ and hit enter
- You can then disable it by entering ‘Set-Service -Name Spooler -StartupType Disabled’ from the same window
This will avoid the vulnerability from potentially affecting your PC before an official patch is released. However, there is one big trade-off here – you’ll no longer be able to print from your device, both locally and via your home network.
A version of this article was originally published in German on our sister site, PC-Welt .
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
Recent stories by Anyron Copeman:
- Windows 11 23H2 update: Everything you need to know
- Windows 12: Everything we know so far
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