Windows 11 24H2 is unavailable for thousands of users due to safeguard or compatibility holds Microsoft has placed on specific device and software configurations.

Microsoft places compatibility holds on specific devices using hardware or applications that may conflict with Windows 11 24H2, causing crashes, performance issues, freezes, or other unusual behavior.

These holds will prevent Windows 1 24H2 from being installed until these issues are resolved either through new drivers or software updates.

If you are prevented from upgrading to Windows 11 24H2 from Windows Update, you can click on the “Learn More” link, as described in this article, to see what compatibility holds are placed on your computer.

Below is a list of known compatibility holds and how to resolve them, if possible.

ASUS BSODs

For ASUS devices, particularly the X415KA and X515KA models, the update may lead to a blue screen error.

This issue, also confirmed by ASUS’s support, affects these two specific models due to compatibility issues.

Microsoft has paused the update rollout for these devices, and you’ll only see the update when ASUS rolls out a firmware update via Windows Update or its own app.

Voicemeeter app 

Additionally, if you use the Voicemeeter app, you might experience a blue screen with a MEMORY MANAGEMENT error when you open the app after installing Windows 11 2024 update.

This error stems from an incompatibility between the Voicemeeter driver and Windows 11’s updated memory manager.

Microsoft has paused the update on installations with Voicemeeter. Again, this can be fixed only when VB-Audio Software rolls out a fix.

Integrated cameras

There’s another weird bug where using integrated cameras is no longer possible after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2.

Users have reported issues with object or face detection features. This affects apps like the Camera app, Windows Hello facial recognition, and other third-party apps that use the integrated camera for detection purposes.

Microsoft has paused the update for these affected devices, but it’s unclear how many devices are affected because integrated cameras are widely used in laptops.

Safe Exam Browser

Safe Exam is not your usual web browser but a third-party solution that allows universities and corporates, such as banks, to conduct their internal exams more securely. 

Unfortunately, for those using Safe Exam Browser, versions 3.7 or lower, the browser won’t work after Windows 11 update. Specifically, these older versions of the app may run into issues following the 24H2 installation.

To help businesses and universities that rely on Safe Exam Browser, Microsoft is restricting such devices from receiving Windows 11 24H2. 

Easy Anti-Cheat BSOD

For devices running Easy Anti-Cheat, which is required by popular games like Fortnite, the update may lead to system crashes.

This issue affects devices with Intel’s Alder Lake+ processors and vPro technology, specifically when using outdated Easy Anti-Cheat drivers.

To mitigate this, Microsoft has temporarily paused the update for devices with older drivers.

You can try updating your games or drivers to begin seeing the update.

Fingerprint sensors

Similarly, some users with fingerprint sensors may find these devices unresponsive after locking their systems.

Windows Hello fingerprint authentication will fail, and you’ll need to unlock your PC using PIN or facial recognition.

Microsoft has applied a hold to prevent issues on devices with this configuration. The goal is to release a firmware update to fix this issue.

Wallpaper customization apps

Wallpaper customization apps are also blocking Windows 11 24H2.

That’s because if you use wallpaper customization apps and install the update, you might run into several issues, including missing wallpapers to disrupted desktop previews and error messages within the apps.

Microsoft recommends people update their wallpaper apps to lift the compatibility hold.

Intel Smart Sound Technology

Compatibility issues between Windows 11 and Intel Smart Sound Technology are normal, especially after a major Windows Update.

This time, devices with SST drivers may also run into blue screen errors when updating to version 24H2. Microsoft and Intel have flagged driver versions 10.29.0.5152 and 10.30.0.5152 as incompatible.

To fix this, you can update the Intel SST driver versions to 10.30.00.5714 or 10.29.00.5714 or later.

It may take up to 48 hours after the driver update before the Windows 11 update becomes available.

Asphalt 8 (Airborne)

Windows 11 24H2 is also blocked due to Asphalt 8 (Airborne).

Some people may not even realize they have this game installed, but it’s one of the reasons they might not receive the upgrade.

There’s a bug in the update that can cause the game to freeze, requiring a restart to resume gameplay.

Microsoft has placed a hold on devices using Asphalt 8 to help you play the game.

What do you do if Windows 11 24H2 is paused on your device?

Microsoft recommends that users avoid attempting manual updates through the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the media creation tool on devices affected by these compatibility holds.

Instead, check for new updates to the specific software or hardware drivers that may be causing the holds and see if they remove the block on the update.

Each hold will be lifted at some point in the future, and attempts to force the upgrade could cause significant issues, including blue screen errors.