Windows 11 Recall PC Updates: Fixing Crashes, Lag, and App Freezes (2026)

TL;DR: If your Recall-enabled Copilot+ PC suddenly started crashing, lagging, or freezing apps after a Windows 11 update, you are not alone. This guide walks you through safe, gamer-approved diagnostics (Reliability Monitor, Event Viewer, SFC/DISM, driver conflicts, and rollback options) so you can get back to butter smooth gameplay without nuking your whole Windows install.

Alright squad, Hardware Hank here. In 2026, Recall-enabled Copilot+ PC updates have been a huge Windows 11 talking point, and I have seen a real pattern in the repair shop: systems that were absolutely cracked yesterday suddenly turn into slideshow mode today. We are talking random app hangs, stutters on the desktop, weird freezes during installs, and even full crashes that feel like your rig just rage quit mid-match. GG? Not yet. We fix it.

Windows 11 Recall PC crash fix: confirm it started after an update

First rule of PC troubleshooting: time correlation is a clue. If the instability started right after Windows Update (or right after a feature change), you might be dealing with a bad update interaction, a driver conflict, or corrupted system files.

Quick symptoms checklist (the “this started after update” vibe)

• Apps freeze on launch or hang during normal use (app freezing after Windows update)
• Random reboots, blue screens, or “stopped responding” loops
• Desktop feels heavy: slow Start menu, delayed clicks, stuttery animations (Windows 11 Copilot+ PC lag)
• Games hitching more than usual even though temps and FPS used to be stable
• Fans ramping oddly because something is chewing CPU/RAM in the background

Check Update History (no guesswork)

Go to Settings - Windows Update - Update history and look for recent cumulative updates or driver updates that landed right before the chaos began. You do not need to memorize KB numbers, just note the date and what type of update it was.

If you want Microsoft’s official troubleshooting hub, start here: Microsoft Support for Windows troubleshooting.

Recall PC performance issues: use Reliability Monitor like a crash detective

This is where the magic happens. Windows has a built-in tool that basically snitches on what crashed and when. It is called Reliability Monitor, and it is insanely useful for pinpointing patterns.

How to open Reliability Monitor

• Press Start and type: Reliability Monitor
• Open View reliability history

What you are looking for

• Red X critical events around the time the issue started
• Repeated “AppHang” or “Windows was not properly shut down” entries
• Driver or hardware error entries that line up with freezes

Click an event to view details. If you see the same app, same module, or same driver name repeating, that is your lead. Think of it like reviewing match replay: you are hunting the exact moment things went sideways.

Windows 11 Copilot+ PC lag: pull real crash data from Event Viewer

Reliability Monitor is the highlight reel. Event Viewer is the full uncut footage. If your system is crashing, freezing, or throwing errors, Event Viewer usually has receipts.

Where to find crash logs

• Right-click Start - Event Viewer
• Go to Windows Logs - Application and Windows Logs - System
• Look for Error and Critical events at the times of freezes/crashes

Common patterns we see after updates

• Application Error events tied to the same executable
• Display driver resets (can feel like a freeze or black screen)
• Disk warnings (storage hiccups can cause app hangs)
• Service failures that loop and spike CPU usage

Pro tip: Do not panic if the log looks spicy. The goal is not to understand every line. The goal is to identify what repeats and what changed.

System file checker time: DISM and SFC to repair Windows 11 corruption

If an update got interrupted, a driver install went sideways, or the system took a hard shutdown at the wrong time, Windows system files can get corrupted. That can absolutely cause crashes, lag, and app freezes. The good news? Windows gives you two built-in tools to repair integrity: DISM and SFC.

Run DISM (repairs the Windows image)

Open Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), then run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Let it finish. This can take a while, especially on laptops or slower SSDs. Do not cancel it mid-run.

Run SFC (repairs system files)

In the same admin window, run:

sfc /scannow

If it reports it fixed files, reboot and test again. This step alone has saved a ton of “I thought I needed a reinstall” situations. Absolute clutch.

Driver update conflict fix: the #1 reason post-update rigs feel cursed

Let me say it louder for the people in the back: drivers can make or break your FPS and stability. Windows updates sometimes deliver driver updates too, and occasionally that new driver does not vibe with your GPU, chipset, Wi-Fi, audio stack, or a specific app.

GPU drivers: stutter, black screens, and game crashes

If you are seeing freezes in games or random display resets, check your GPU driver path:

• NVIDIA: Use GeForce Experience or download from NVIDIA directly
• AMD: Use AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition or AMD direct downloads
• Intel Arc: Use Intel Driver & Support Assistant or Intel downloads

Sometimes the fix is updating. Sometimes it is rolling back to the last stable driver. That is not “downgrading”, that is choosing the stable meta.

How to roll back a driver (safe and reversible)

• Right-click Start - Device Manager
• Find the device (Display adapters, Network adapters, etc.)
• Right-click - Properties - Driver tab
• Use Roll Back Driver if available

Chipset and BIOS/UEFI updates (especially on newer laptops)

On modern systems, chipset drivers and firmware updates can affect power management, sleep/wake stability, and performance scheduling. If your laptop started lagging hard after an update, a chipset driver mismatch can be the hidden boss fight.

Important: BIOS/UEFI updates should be done carefully. If you are unsure, this is a great moment to get a pro involved rather than risking a failed flash.

Windows 11 rollback troubleshooting: when “undo” is the right play

If you confirmed the issue started immediately after a Windows update and the system was stable before, rollback can be a valid move. Not forever, just long enough to stabilize and then re-approach updates cleanly.

Uninstall a recent update

• Settings - Windows Update - Update history
• Select Uninstall updates
• Remove the most recent cumulative update (if it matches the timing)

System Restore (if enabled)

System Restore can revert system changes without touching your personal files. If you have restore points available, it can be a clean way to roll back instability.

When rollback is NOT the move

• If you suspect malware or a compromised system (treat that first)
• If the PC is crashing due to failing storage or RAM
• If you need a security patch and the rollback creates risk

App freezing after Windows update: separate Windows issues from malware and storage failures

Not every freeze is Windows’ fault. Sometimes an update just happens to land around the same time as another problem finally shows symptoms. We want to rule out the big three: malware, failing storage, and overheating.

Malware check (because “lag” can be a symptom)

If you see pop-ups, unknown browser extensions, or CPU usage pinned at idle, do a reputable scan. Good reading on what to watch for: Malwarebytes resources on malware symptoms vs system issues. If you want hands-on help, our virus removal service is built for exactly this kind of “my PC feels possessed” scenario.

Storage health: SSDs do not always fail loudly

App hangs and update failures can happen when an SSD is struggling. Signs include slow file opens, weird install errors, or Event Viewer disk warnings. If the drive is failing, the priority becomes: protect your data first. If anything important is at risk, check out professional data recovery options before repeated crashes make things worse.

Thermals and power: the silent FPS killers

Copilot+ PCs and modern laptops can throttle hard if cooling is clogged or power profiles get weird after updates. If your CPU is bouncing off high temps, you will feel it as lag, stutter, and “why is everything taking forever?” Clean fans, verify the power mode, and make sure your charger is the correct wattage for the device.

When to call a pro: stabilize without a full reinstall (Palm Beach County)

I love a good DIY win. But if your PC is hard-freezing, rebooting, or you cannot even stay in Windows long enough to run checks, it is time to tag in the support squad.

Professional repair is worth it when:

• You are stuck in a crash loop or Windows will not boot reliably
• Event Viewer shows recurring driver or disk errors and you want a safe fix
• You need a clean driver stack (GPU/chipset/network) without breaking apps
• You want stability without a full reinstall and without losing data

Fix My PC Store helps customers across Palm Beach County including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Jupiter, and Delray Beach. Whether you are on a desktop battle station or a thin-and-light laptop, we can diagnose the real cause and get you back to smooth performance.

If it is a desktop or general Windows issue, start here: Windows 11 computer repair and crash troubleshooting. If your Copilot+ device is a portable unit that is acting up after updates, our laptop repair service is the move.

My “no panic” checklist for Recall update instability

• Confirm timing in Windows Update history
• Check Reliability Monitor for repeating critical events
• Use Event Viewer to identify recurring errors
• Run DISM then SFC
• Fix or roll back conflicting drivers (GPU/chipset/network)
• Rule out malware and storage health issues
• If crashes persist, get professional diagnostics to avoid data loss

Look, I am all about chasing max FPS and clean RGB builds, but stability is the real endgame. A rig that boots every time and runs your apps without freezing is the difference between “it runs” and “it FLIES.”