A recent Windows 11 update caused the Neural Processing Unit to drain laptop batteries.
A recent update to Windows 11 has fixed an annoying problem. The Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in modern laptops was consuming a huge amount of battery. The patch notes for update KB5074109 state that the NPU remained active while the laptop was not in use.
Patch Tuesday brings a solution
According to Microsoft, the problem has been resolved with this week’s Patch Tuesday update, writes PCWorld. It is available for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 and should ensure that the NPU is disabled when the system is idle. This should improve battery life, especially for light tasks and on standby.
In addition to the NPU fix, KB5074109 also includes minor adjustments. These include bug fixes, updated drivers, new Secure Boot certificates, and an updated version of the WinSqlite3.dll file. As usual, the update is automatically rolled out via Windows Update.
Windows 11 users who have experienced unexpected battery drain should check if the update is already installed. In that case, the NPU should again do what it is intended to do: only be active when it is really needed.