In brief: If you've noticed an unexplained spike in your CPU usage and other issues while typing in classic Microsoft Outlook, here's why: Microsoft has confirmed a bug in the email client that is causing these strange problems. It is currently investigating, but in the meantime, the company has advised affected users to switch to the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel. Since November, there have been reports of Outlook Classic users experiencing CPU spikes, freezes, and slowdowns when typing messages or composing an email. Microsoft finally confirmed the presence of an issue in a recently published support document. It notes that the CPU spikes can be up to 30% or even 50% when writing an email in Outlook Classic for Windows. Tom's Hardware reports that one person with an i9-14900HX saw their CPU reach a sweltering 95 degrees when the New Message window in the client was open. Microsoft adds that the issue can occur after updating to Version 2406 Build 17726.20126+, which was released in June 2024, on the Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, or the Insider channels. There's still no fix for the issue. While the Outlook Team continues to investigate the matter, Microsoft recommends users move to the Semi-Annual Channel release, where the issue has not been observed. Organizations can use the "Change the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel for devices in your organization" guide for instructions on how to switch update channels. For home users, a quicker method is to add a key to the Windows Registry by following these steps: // Related Stories 1. Open a Command Prompt window (ensure Run as administrator was selected). 2. Paste the command below and press Enter: reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate /v updatebranch /t REG_SZ /d SemiAnnual3. After you add the registry key, go to Outlook and select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now to initiate the switch to Semi-Annual Channel. In other Microsoft news, last week brought reports that the company finally appears close to launching Recall. The controversial feature, which is designed to capture screenshots of everything you do on a Copilot+ PC, has been delayed multiple times over security concerns, but a preview version is being rolled out to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel on Windows 11, version 24H2.