Another Annoying Reason To Upgrade To Windows 11

If you were in need of more motivation to transition to Windows 11, here’s another reason to consider making the switch.

The latest update for Windows 10, labeled KB5048239, is not just having installation problems—it’s repeatedly attempting to install itself successfully each time. Originally released in November 2024 for versions 21H2 and 22H2, Microsoft is resurfacing this update once more this month, as reported by TechRadar.

This irritating installation loop is affecting many users and is part of Microsoft’s January 2025 patch updates. Designed to address issues with the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), the installation failed for some because they lacked the necessary 250MB in their Windows 10 recovery partition.

Users have publicly expressed their frustrations regarding this installation loop on Microsoft Answers. One user wrote, “I checked for updates this morning, and once again, KB5048239 is waiting to be installed! I ran the troubleshooter and it installed once more; I even checked ‘View updates,’ and the installation date changed from yesterday to today! It’s like a merry-go-round. I can feel a migraine coming on!” from Brian Lofthouse.

Another complaint came from Dean Wortmier, who stated, “This specific update installed successfully for me back in November 2024, and now it’s trying to install again — repeatedly claiming ‘successful’ each time.” This sentiment has been echoed by 353 other users dealing with the same problem. Adding to the frustration, there has been no official update from Microsoft regarding a resolution to this issue.

Attempts to resolve this problem have been unsuccessful for many. Users who have tried to uninstall previous iterations of the update before initiating this one still find themselves in the loop. Even those with adequate WinRE setups encounter this issue, and there appears to be no workaround available. With the end-of-life for Windows 10 approaching later this year, this is another compelling reason to finally upgrade away from Windows 10.