Windows 11 KB5072033 Turns On Background Service That May Hurt Performance

Microsoft has made a controversial change in Windows 11 that could impact system performance for many users. With the new KB5072033 update, the company enabled a system service by default that may increase CPU, memory, and disk usage across supported devices.

The change affects Windows 11 24H2 and the upcoming 25H2 release and was confirmed earlier in the KB5072033 update. Microsoft now starts the AppX Deployment Service automatically at system boot, instead of launching it only when needed.

What changed in Windows 11 KB5072033

The AppX Deployment Service handles Microsoft Store app installations and updates. Until now, Windows has launched it only when users interact with the Store or installed app packages. Starting with recent updates, the service runs continuously in the background.

Microsoft says the decision improves reliability in specific, isolated scenarios. However, the service has a history of high resource usage under certain conditions, especially during app provisioning or background update checks.

Why users report performance issues

Several users and reviewers report increased memory consumption and higher CPU usage after installing recent builds. Community feedback also suggests that newer Windows 11 versions show heavier system overhead compared to earlier releases, particularly on lower-end or older PCs.

Because the service now runs at all times, systems with limited RAM or slower storage may feel the impact more quickly during everyday tasks. On the other hand, KB5072033 fixed File Explorer flashing and Ask Copilot bugs for many, despite the new change.

Microsoft warns against force-disabling the AppX Deployment Service. Doing so can break Microsoft Store updates and prevent apps from installing or updating correctly. Users who choose to disable it should expect potential functionality issues.

Microsoft has also released a new KB5073095 update that delivers multiple fixes for Windows Insiders, including improvements to File Explorer, the Taskbar, and overall system stability. Insiders can download the update now to test the changes.

Via Neowin