Microsoft has released a new batch of microcode updates for Windows 10 2004, 1909, 1903 and earlier versions to fix hardware bugs in Intel processors.
When Intel finds bugs in its CPUs, it releases microcode updates that allow operating systems to fix or at least mitigate the bugs.
In recent years, Intel's microcode updates have been commonly used to patch hardware such as Spectre, Meltdown, and Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS).
Microsoft releases Intel microcode updates for Windows 10
Yesterday, Microsoft released eight optional updates for current and previous versions of Windows 10.
With yesterday's release, Intel fixed bugs in 56 different CPUs from the following families:
- Amber Lake
- Avoton
- Broadwell
- Cascade Lake
- Cascade Lake
- Coffee Lake
- Comet Lake
- Haswell
- Kaby Lake
- Skylake
- Valley View
- Whiskey Lake
Intel microcode updates are not installed through Windows Update and must be installed manually.
Below you will find links to Intel microcode updates for supported versions of Windows:
- KB4558130: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10 2004
- KB4497165: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10 1909 and 1903
- KB4494174: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10 1809
- KB4494451: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10 1803
- KB4494452: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10 1709
- KB4494453: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10 1703
- KB4494175: Intel microcode updates for Windows 1607
- KB4494454: Intel microcode updates for Windows 10
While we recommend users install the new microcode updates, it should be noted that previous updates have caused performance on older processors or system due to the way they mitigate bugs and vulnerabilities.
If you want to install the update, you should check the links above to confirm that your processor is supported.
After installing microcode updates, Windows 10 will require a computer restart to apply the fixes
