Windows Users Hit with Desktop Loading Issues After Recent Updates
A growing number of Windows users have been reporting issues with their desktops loading properly after installing recent updates. Microsoft has confirmed that these problems are related to its August 2026 preview updates and subsequent patches, which seem to be causing black screens and other system crashes on some systems.
The issue primarily affects Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts using a software solution called FSLogix, designed to speed up user profile loading in virtual desktop environments. However, it’s not just users of AVD who are experiencing problems – Windows 11 users who installed specific updates, including KB5120996 and KB5120998, may also be affected.
When this issue occurs, users can expect to see a range of symptoms, from being unable to access their desktop after signing in to seeing application event logs showing Windows Explorer crashes. For those who have already installed the problematic updates, there’s a temporary workaround available: manually launching Windows Explorer by opening Task Manager and entering explorer.exe.
Microsoft has also taken steps to mitigate this issue for enterprise customers via its Known Issue Rollback (KIR) feature. This allows IT administrators to reverse buggy updates delivered through Windows Update by installing specific group policies on their managed devices. For example, users of Windows 11 version 26H1 can install the KB5124006 KIR policy, while those using versions 25H2 and 24H2 should apply the KB5124010 policy.
To resolve this issue for enterprise-managed devices, administrators will need to install and configure the relevant group policy for their version of Windows. A restart may be required after applying the policy to take effect. It’s worth noting that these policies will only disable the problematic update until a permanent fix is released in a future Windows update.
In related news, Microsoft has also resolved issues with its KB5120998 August 2026 optional update, which was previously reported to wipe desktop and mouse settings on some Windows 11 systems.
For home users who have experienced these problems, it’s essential to be cautious when installing updates. While the temporary workaround may help resolve the issue, a permanent fix is still pending. In the meantime, being aware of this issue and taking steps to mitigate its effects can help minimize disruption to your system.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-09-25