Reports have been circulating online claiming that recent Windows 11 updates, specifically KB5063878 and KB5062660, were causing SSD failures. The issue appeared to be linked to drives using Phison controllers, with users suggesting that installing the updates could render drives undetectable under certain conditions, potentially leading to data loss or complete failure.
Phison first acknowledged the claims on 18 August 2025, shortly after they began to spread on social media. The company then launched its own investigation to determine whether the issue could be reproduced. In a statement issued on 27 August, Phison revealed that it had conducted over 2,200 test cycles across more than 4,500 hours but was “unable to reproduce the reported issue,” adding that no partners or customers had reported similar failures during this time.
Microsoft also carried out its own internal investigation following the emergence of these reports. According to the company, tests did not uncover any link between the August 2025 Windows updates and the SSD failures described online. In a service alert spotted by Bleeping Computer, the tech giant stated it had found no connection between the security update and the types of hard drive failures reported. It also assured that it will continue to monitor feedback after the release of every Windows update, and will investigate any future reports.
While concerning at first glance, the number of complaints surrounding the matter has been relatively small. The earliest report seems to have come from a user in Japan on X, who claimed their SSD became unusable after applying the latest Windows patch. A handful of commenters claimed to have experienced something similar, but the lack of wider evidence suggests the issue is not widespread. Some industry watchers believe the failures could be tied to a bad batch of drives or to specific hardware configurations rather than Windows itself.
(Source: Bleeping Computer / Phison)
