We’re starting a fresh thread for Windows 10 users still impacted by system freezes that started last month following a problematic Microsoft security patch. We have a workaround that may help mitigate the system freeze.
Extensive discussions with Zwifters indicate this freeze continues to affect a small percentage of Windows 10 machines, and patching Microsoft’s February 10 2026 updates have not helped.
These seem to be related factors:
Windows 10 with Extended Support licences. This means Microsoft pushes security patches to your machine after they end-of-lifed other types of licenses.
AND
GeForce GTX 6XX, GT 6XX, GT 7XX, GTX 9XX, Radeon, and Quadro GPU families have previously been noted.
Installing this special version of Zwift Launcher may stabilize the computer, but will reduce graphics quality.
If Zwift is running, exit Zwift.
Download, and unzip this purpose-built version of Zwift Launcher:
Right-click the Z icon, selectDebug --> Windows KB Workaround.
Open Zwift as usual.
Note 1: This workaround will reduce the graphics quality of Zwift on your device. We are actively investigating the underlying issue caused by the Windows Update patch and aim to provide a better long-term solution for this issue as soon as possible.
Note 2: To restore Zwift to the previous state, including higher-quality graphics, exit Zwift, deselectWindows KB Workaround, and launch Zwift again.
@Si_A
Glad to hear it! Thank you for reporting back quickly.
Everyone - we’d appreciate if you also would confirm / deny success. Please note which Windows patch version is installed & GPU, posting that information helps a great deal.
I’m running an Alienware Alpha R1, which uses an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (not in your list).
I went ahead and updated my system to KB5075912 and verified my system still completely freezes when starting Zwift. I rebooted and enabled the Windows KB Workaround and Zwift is now working for me.
Thank you!
Edit: I’m running Windows 10 with the Extended Support License
This worked for me. I am on Windows 11, not Windows 10 but was experiencing the same issue. NVIDIA GTX 970. The KB507724 preview update was the latest update installed on my machine.
I wonder how much of this may be also related to Nvidia 590 driver version, released in mid-late December 2025, stopping support for older generation video cards.
No longer supported are -
GeForce GTX 10-Series (Pascal Architecture): Includes popular cards like the GTX 1080 Ti, 1080, 1070, 1060, 1050 Ti, and 1050.
GeForce GTX 900-Series (Maxwell Architecture): Includes cards like the GTX 980 Ti, 980, 970, 960, and 950.
Sure, I understand that. I’m not a Windows user, I am Mac only.
However, I would imagine there are plenty of Windows users who install the Nvidia driver, essentially “replacing” the default Microsoft video driver.
If Windows is using the Nvidia driver and it is not a supported video card, how would that affect Zwift?
It’s a zwift issue, all the versions of Nvidia drivers I’ve tried work fine everywhere except with Zwift hence this workaround until they fix it properly.
No the issue was caused by a Microsoft update. It doesn’t have anything to do with the Nvidia driver version and was not coincidental with a Zwift update. There is no point in trying other Nvidia driver versions. The problem does not affect all apps in the same way.
The release of those Microsoft updates was a widespread disaster affecting many applications. I’m sure all of them are trying to work around it if they can, as Zwift is attempting to do with this workaround. I certainly don’t blame you as a consumer for choosing to run whatever works for you. It’s not your problem to solve.
Windows 11, GTX970, all updates installed. Continued hard locking when loading before this, even though your language suggests it’s only impacting Windows 10 users.
This fix does allow me to get into the game, we’ll see if it’s stable.
Doesn’t work, still freezes. That has changed that Zwift doesn’t freeze during startup, but after the ride, when saving the ride - which is of course lost.
