It's been a few weeks since Microsoft's August 2025 security update for Windows 11, called KB5063878, was first accused of having caused data corruption on some users' SSDs. Initially, users reported that their storage drives disappeared after heavy workloads like large game updates or big file transfers. These reports pointed to issues like File Explorer hangs, drives shifting to RAW format, and, in some cases, SSDs not being detected even at the BIOS level.
On Sept. 3, Microsoft told Windows Latest that its internal tests found no evidence linking the update to storage failures. The company said it has been monitoring feedback closely and advised users facing similar errors to use official support channels or the Feedback Hub. Microsoft maintains that the scope of complaints is small and has emphasized that there is no established proof that the patch wrecks SSDs.
But there's another perspective. According to the Chinese Facebook group PCDIY!, which worked with engineers at Phison, most anomalies occurred on SSDs running pre-release engineering firmware rather than production firmware shipped to consumers, as reported by Tom's Hardware.
Phison said its own tests, spanning over 4,500 hours, could not reproduce the reported failures. The firm pointed out that thermal stress during heavy workloads could be a probable factor. It also recommended proper cooling solutions (i.e., heatsinks) to reduce risks when writing large amounts of data.
