Microsoft Windows Update Breaks OBS Streaming—KB5063878 Causes 'Severe Lag' for 50M+ Users

Professional and amateur streamers globally are reeling after Microsoft’s August 2025 updates (KB5063878 for Windows 11 24H2 and KB5063709 for Windows 10) caused “severe stuttering” and “choppy audio/video” in OBS Studio and other NDI streaming tools. Microsoft and NDI have officially confirmed the bug, which was first reported by broadcasters and gamers experiencing instant lag and broken live feeds—even on high-end systems and low bandwidth.microsoft+2

What Went Wrong?

• Root cause: The update broke how Windows handles NDI (Network Device Interface), a protocol powering most multi-PC streaming workflows. With Display Capture enabled, sources on OBS can freeze, drop frames, desync audio, or fail entirely—all after the August security update.windowslatest+1

• Affected platforms: Windows 11 24H2, Windows 10 21H2/22H2 with the latest patches; both home and enterprise users.learn.microsoft

• Massive impact: More than 50 million content creators, streamers, and broadcasters face major workflow disruptions, with trending searches spiking for “OBS not working,” “NDI lag fix,” and “Windows update breaks streaming”.bleepingcomputer+1

How to Fix OBS/NDI Lag Right Now

1. Change NDI Receive Mode

   • Open NDI Access Manager or your NDI-compatible app.

   • Switch from RUDP (Reliable UDP) to TCP or UDP mode.

   • This instantly fixes streaming for most users (packet loss is avoided).microsoft+1

2. Remove the Update (If Necessary)

   • If changing modes doesn’t help, uninstall KB5063878 or KB5063709 via Windows Update History or Recovery (not recommended for security in the long term).windowslatest

3. Microsoft Workaround & Next Steps

   • Microsoft’s Windows Release Health dashboard advises the above, promising a permanent fix in future updates.

   • Monitor for new hotfix releases or rollback instructions on official Microsoft channels.learn.microsoft+1

Real Stories:

• Streamers have lost hours of footage and shows to freezing, with revenue and audiences dropping overnight.

• Production teams in business, news, and gaming hubs report urgent downgrades and patch blocks to restore smooth NDI feeds.reddit+1

• NDI’s own FAQ shows the spike in requests: https://docs.ndi.video/all/faq/common-issues/traffic-drops-after-windows-update

Visual Guide

• Screenshot error messages in OBS (visible frame drops or error logs)

• NDI Access Manager: setting receive mode to TCP/UDP (step-by-step images)

• Windows Update History: highlighting KB5063878 and KB5063709