Imagine your favorite game suddenly bathed in an unsettling red hue, or your go-to streaming service showing everything through a crimson filter. That's the reality for some Windows 11 users right now, and it's all thanks to a rather persistent bug.
According to a report by Windows Latest, a significant issue is causing displays on some Windows 11 PCs to exhibit a pronounced red tint, particularly affecting games and video playback. It's like viewing the world through rose-tinted glasses, except instead of rosy, it's aggressively red!
Microsoft has officially acknowledged the problem, stating that "After you install KB5064081, some videos and games might be unexpectedly red." But here's where it gets controversial... Microsoft's statement is surprisingly vague. What exactly does "some" mean? Which games and videos are affected? Is it only HDR content, or are standard definition videos and older games susceptible too?
One theory, based on user reports and technical analysis, suggests the bug resides within Windows 11's color rendering engine, potentially triggered when the OS attempts to adjust colors and brightness, especially in High Dynamic Range (HDR) scenarios. This could explain why some users experience the red cast more intensely than others, depending on their display hardware and content preferences.
The root cause seems to stem from specific recent updates, with the optional KB5064081 update, released in August, being a prime suspect. However, there's good news! Microsoft released the KB5067036 optional update as a fix for this specific red cast issue. But and this is the part most people miss... applying the fix is optional, meaning many users might still be experiencing the problem without even knowing a solution exists! Moreover, Microsoft is planning to include the fix in the upcoming Patch Tuesday update for November 2025, making it a mandatory update for all users.
But the story doesn't end there. The KB5067036 update, while resolving the red tint issue, also brings a mixed bag of other changes. It might introduce new features and improvements, such as a redesigned Start menu, offering a fresh look and potentially improved usability.
However, as Windows Latest reports, Microsoft has also confirmed another bug related to how the screen refreshes when full-screen applications or games are running in the background. Imagine scrolling through a webpage while a game is minimized, only to see parts of the webpage failing to update properly. "Apps and browsers might display partially unresponsive onscreen content when other maximized or full-screen apps are updating in the background. This issue is especially noticeable when scrolling, as only parts of the window content might update,” Microsoft confirmed. It's like your screen is experiencing lag, even when your system resources are perfectly fine!
And the plot thickens! The KB5067036 update isn't entirely without its own set of problems. For example, some users have reported a new bug where Task Manager fails to close correctly. This means the process might still be running in the background, consuming system resources even when you think it's closed. Talk about a persistent program!
So, what's the verdict? Should you install the KB5067036 update? If you're plagued by the red tint issue, the answer is a resounding yes. But if you're not experiencing that problem, and you're not particularly interested in the redesigned Start menu, it might be wise to hold off until the next mandatory update. After all, it's a trade-off between fixing one set of problems and potentially introducing new ones.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. But it raises some interesting questions: Is Microsoft's rapid update cycle introducing more problems than it solves? Are optional updates creating confusion and fragmentation within the Windows 11 user base? And is it acceptable for a core operating system to have such persistent and visually jarring bugs? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Have you encountered the red tint issue, or any of the other bugs mentioned in this article? Let's discuss!
