Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports on Windows 11’s optional update KB5089573, the first release from Microsoft’s secret Project K2 initiative aimed at improving performance through 2027.
- The update introduces a Low Latency Profile that boosts CPU speed for important tasks, delivering up to 70% faster flyouts and 40% quicker app launches.
- Users can manually install this preview update via Windows Update or Microsoft Update Catalog for immediate performance gains. Detailed instructions are provided below.
Microsoft is following through on a previous announcement with a new optional update for Windows 11 that makes the operating system genuinely faster, especially in certain situations. It’s called update KB5089573 and it includes the “Low Latency Profile” feature.
What the performance boost entails
Windows Central reports that KB5089573 is the first update to come out of the secret Windows K2 project. In short, the aim of the Windows K2 project is to consistently improve Windows 11 performance all the way through 2027 in the hopes of winning back users.
Microsoft describes the key improvement in this update: “[General Performance] This update accelerates app launch and core shell experiences such as Start menu, Search, and Action Center.”
It’s a small note but an impactful one. It refers to the new Low Latency Profile feature that causes Windows to briefly boost CPU clock speed to full power (for a maximum of three seconds) whenever the operating system initiates an important task, like launching an app or opening the Start menu. With it, lag and stutters should be a thing of the past.
This technique isn’t novel, as both macOS and Linux have been doing this for years. According to Microsoft, Insider testers who have been using Low Latency Profile with their beta versions of Windows have confirmed the performance gains. And according to Windows Latest, who has also tested the Low Latency Profile, you may see performance gains of up to 70 percent when opening flyouts (temporary, floating control panels or menus in user interfaces) and up to 40 percent when launching apps. This should make Windows 11 feel faster overall.
How to get the update with the performance boost
The optional Windows 11 update KB5089573 is currently optional and in preview stage, so it won’t be installed on your system by default yet. If you want to install it before it’s rolled out to everyone next month, look for it in Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates, then install it manually. Or you can download the update directly via the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Note that Microsoft is rolling out this feature gradually, so you may not actually get the performance boost immediately after installing the update. It may take up to a few weeks to get the improvement.
In addition to Low Latency Profile, KB5089573 brings improvements to audio, the Task Manager, and the Camera app. The final rollout of KB5089573 to all Windows 11 users is expected to take place as scheduled on Patch Tuesday in June 2026.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.