A routine reboot following an update installation on a Windows PC is a familiar scenario for many users. However, Microsoft has been actively working to alter this experience through the introduction of the “hotpatching” feature. Recently, the tech giant published a support document detailing this feature, only to retract it shortly thereafter.
The first to notice this document was PhantomOcean3, who highlighted its existence before it was taken down. For those curious about its contents, the Wayback Machine offers an archived glimpse. It appears that the document was inadvertently published in the wrong format, resulting in a collection of vague guidelines rather than a coherent explanation of the hotpatching feature.
There is speculation that the support document may be republished in the near future. Windows Latest previously reported on Microsoft’s experimentation with hotpatching in Insider builds, suggesting that the company aims to integrate this feature into the forthcoming 24H2 version update.
What’s the benefit of hotpatching in Windows 11?
Traditionally, Windows 11 users have had to reboot their systems after downloading and installing updates. The hotpatching feature seeks to transform this process. With hotpatching, the need for a restart after every monthly update could be significantly reduced, allowing users to reboot only once every two months instead.
Microsoft describes hotpatching as a method of “patching the in-memory code of running processes without the need to restart the process.” This innovation promises to eliminate the common inconvenience of rebooting the PC after each update installation.
However, users should note that a restart will still be necessary after every two hotpatch updates. This is due to Microsoft’s schedule of four baseline updates each year, which do require a reboot. For instance:
- After two hotpatch updates, a reboot is necessary.
- Unplanned baseline updates, such as zero-day fixes, may also necessitate an immediate restart.
If all goes smoothly, users could potentially avoid the hassle of rebooting their PCs after updates for up to eight months each year.
Initially, Microsoft implemented hotpatching as a solution for Windows Server virtual machines and Xbox systems. However, it soon became clear that everyday Windows users would benefit from this feature as well. The long-standing frustration among Windows users regarding mandatory reboots after updates—especially during critical tasks—has not gone unnoticed by the company.
