Microsoft’s July update is blocked on some Dell PCs. Here’s why

Earlier this week, Microsoft released its big July update that patched hundreds of security flaws and introduced some new features and bug fixes. Unfortunately, update KB5101650 is not being rolled out to some Dell PCs because it can cause unexpected crashes, poor performance, overheating, and excessive battery drain on certain Dell systems.

On the support page for the update, Microsoft explains:

This update is temporarily unavailable for a limited number of Dell devices that use Intel Innovation Platform Framework (IPF) drivers. This is due to an incompatibility between the update and an Intel component. In some cases, affected devices might experience changes in performance, power consumption, or system behavior. Microsoft is preparing a fix and expects to make the update available for affected devices within the next few days.

The cause of the problem is currently believed to be related to the optional June update KB5095093. Since KB5095093 was only installed manually by users who sought it out, it was installed on relatively few PCs and so the issues went unnoticed.

The problem is somehow linked to the Intel Innovation Platform Framework drivers. Many Dell computers use this Intel driver for their power management. If there are issues here, this can lead to poor performance, overheating problems, or batteries running flat.

According to Windows Latest, Microsoft is working with Dell to identify the problem. Neither Microsoft nor Dell have specified exactly which Dell computers are affected, so unfortunately it’s impossible to know if your particular Dell system is affected by the block.