14 DAY TRIAL // As we reported yesterday, a number of Google Chrome users who upgraded their systems to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update hit issues causing their devices to freeze.
Needless to say, the one to blame was believed to be a software compatibility issue impacting Google’s browser and the new Windows 10 update.
According to a Microsoft agent who posted on the company’s Community forums, the issue isn’t limited just to Google Chrome, but also to other apps, including Cortana digital assistant, which comes built into Windows 10.
The post reveals that devices upgraded to Windows 10 April 2018 Update could hang or freeze at random times, while also pointing to two different workarounds that could help recover the system should this problem occur.
Two workarounds
First, laptop users can simply close and open the lid to get their device in working condition – this basically pushes the system to sleep and then wakes it up straight to Windows 10.
The second workaround is a bit more complex and involves pressing several keys that would eventually wake the screen and help recover from the freeze.
“Try a Windows key sequence to wake the screen. If you have a keyboard connected, simultaneously press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. If you’re on a tablet, simultaneously press both the volume-up and volume-down buttons, three times within 2 seconds. If Windows is responsive, a short beep will sound and the screen will blink or dim while Windows attempts to refresh the screen,” the post reads.
The Microsoft engineer says Microsoft is aware of the bug already and is currently working on a fix, with the ETA now set to May 8 when the company will ship this month’s Patch Tuesday updates. The company will also begin the automatic rollout of the Windows 10 April 2018 Update via Windows Update the same day.