If your games or videos suddenly looked like someone slapped a red filter over them, you're not imagining things. Microsoft has confirmed a weird Windows 11 bug that caused certain videos and games to appear tinted red after recent updates. Thankfully, a fix is now rolling out with the October 2025 optional update (KB5067036) and will be included in the November Patch Tuesday as well.
What Caused the Red Tint Bug
According to Microsoft, the issue first appeared after installing update KB5064081 or newer. Affected users noticed that games and videos suddenly looked overly red — almost as if the screen's color balance had been broken.
While Microsoft didn't explain the exact cause, it's likely tied to how Windows 11 handles HDR rendering and color adjustments. Essentially, something in the system's color management went wrong, leading to distorted visuals during playback or gaming.
Microsoft's release notes confirmed:
"After you install KB5064081, some videos and games might be unexpectedly red."
The good news: that problem is now officially resolved in KB5067036.
Another Annoying Bug: Frozen Apps When Gaming in the Background
The color tint wasn't the only headache. Some users — including testers at Windows Latest — noticed a second issue where apps and browsers became partially unresponsive whenever a full-screen game was running in the background.
For example, scrolling through Edge or Chrome caused only parts of a webpage to update. The rest of the screen wouldn't refresh until the cursor moved — almost as if Windows was forgetting to repaint the display properly.
At first, some users thought the problem came from GPU drivers (like Intel Arc), since gaming and rendering issues often trace back to graphics software. But further testing confirmed the culprit was Windows 11 itself.
Microsoft later acknowledged this issue in its support documentation:
So if your browser or desktop apps seemed sluggish while gaming, you weren't alone — it was a Windows-level rendering glitch.
Other Fixes Rolling Out
Alongside the major visual and rendering fixes, Microsoft has also addressed an issue where text failed to render correctly in apps like Microsoft Word or online editors. The fixes are currently rolling out in stages, so not everyone will receive them immediately.
If you install KB5067036 and don't notice an improvement right away, don't panic — Microsoft's wider rollout is expected to reach all users starting November 11, during the next Patch Tuesday cycle.
But There's a Catch: Task Manager Is Acting Up
While KB5067036 solves some big problems, it introduces a new one: Task Manager now refuses to fully close.
Several users — and even Microsoft itself — confirmed that if you close Task Manager using the "X" button, it may continue running invisibly in the background, potentially eating up system resources and slowing performance.
Microsoft admitted to Windows Latest that this is indeed a regression caused by the update. Having multiple "ghost" instances of Task Manager can create unnecessary load on the CPU and memory, especially if you open it frequently.
The company says a fix is coming soon, likely as part of the November 11 Patch Tuesday update. Until then, users may need to manually end Task Manager processes from another instance or via command prompt.
The Bottom Line
Windows 11's latest updates are a mixed bag — fixing one set of issues while introducing a few more. Still, the October update (KB5067036) is worth installing if you were affected by the red-tint or screen-freeze bugs, as both are now resolved.
Just keep an eye on Task Manager after updating. If your system feels sluggish, it might not be your imagination — it could just be Task Manager quietly running in the background again.
