- Windows 11 -bug with Intel Audio Driver has just been resolved
- This error has been around for a long time – – A year actually
- It prevented PCs with Intel’s 11. Gen CPUs from getting the 24h2 update
It has taken ages to arrange another error in Windows 11, one that prevented a significant number of people using certain Intel processors to upgrade to the latest version of the operating system – but this time it wasn’t Microsoft’s fault.
Glitch in Windows 11 24H2 appeared almost accurately a year ago and hit PCs with specific versions of Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) Driver, which is an audio controller. (This error has actually been seen in the distant past – and I’m coming back to it).
As Neowin reports, the problem only affects Windows 11 PCS with Intels 11. Genprocessors. Those with a computer built around a Rocket Lake chip (or Tiger Lake) were unable to upgrade to version 24H2 as Microsoft blocked these PCs with what is known as a ‘compatibility action’.
This problem was first marked by Microsoft in Windows Release Health Status Dashboard back on September 30, 2024, and the error caused devices to go down with a blue screen of death (now a black screen).
In this case, Microsoft was dependent on Intel fixing this driver to be compatible with Windows 11 24h2 and it took quite a long time – but the question was finally marked as resolved from September 26, 2025.
Those with an Intel Rocket Lake CPU that has so far been unable to get the 24H2 update, must ensure that they download and install the Intel SST driver, which is version 10.30.00.00.5714 (or 10.29.00.5714, depending on their exact Windows version) or later. Whatever is the case, you want the Intel SST driver to end in 5714.
Microsoft explains that you should be offered this Intel driver in Windows Update, so check it in there and install it. Once done, you can check for updates again and you must finally be offered Windows 11 version 24h2. (It may still take a while for Windows update to download the change in your system).
If, even after waiting for a while, you are not offered the Intel SST driver via Windows update, Microsoft explains that “it is possible drivers for this audio controller have not been developed for your specific device hardware configuration”.
If so, contact the manufacturer of your PC to find out more about when the necessary driver will be implemented to your device.
Analysis: Deja-vu with 22H2
This error comes on top of another pair of recently fixed errors that prevented upgrades to Windows 11 24h2, which also took the best part of a year to solve. Having stumbling blocks like these hanging for so long – and these issues that are corrected just before the next annual update to Windows 11, 25h2 – is clearly not a good look for Microsoft.
Although Microsoft, as mentioned, was waiting for Intel for the cure to be formulated, the software giant gets a passport this time.
It is also worth noting that this SST complication with Intel’s 11. Gen CPUs was seen before, far back in 2022, when the error prevented upgrades to Windows 11 22H2 (and 21H2, the original incarnation of us), which blocked the path for those who want to migrate from Windows 10 at that time. So it was quite strange to watch this one show up again last year – hopefully it will not be a problem with the 25H2 update.
If you are wondering how many people are still running 11. Genprocessors, Intels Rocket Lake chips are probably the engine for something like 10% of Windows – PCs out there – possibly more like 15% – if we go under the rough estimates generated by AI (Copilot, Chatgpt and Gemini pretty much agree on this). Although we have to spice it up strongly, as it is just a guessed guess, there are clearly a large number of people who still use a PC with an Intel 11th-Gen engine that will have suffered with this bugbear.
