A recent batch of Windows 11 updates has left some users frustrated with their mouse settings being reset or altered without warning. The culprit appears to be Microsoft’s KB5120998 update, which was released last Thursday as a non-security preview update aimed at improving the Start menu, taskbar, and Windows search functionality.
According to user reports, installing this update can result in mouse cursor personalization settings being changed or reverted to standard settings. What’s more concerning is that these changes cannot be easily reversed once made – users have reported trying to restore their previous customizations but were unsuccessful. Some affected individuals have even mentioned that high-DPI mouse cursors are being replaced with larger, white cursors, and custom cursor animations are reverting to default settings.
Microsoft has acknowledged the issue, stating that it’s currently investigating the root cause of this problem. In the meantime, the company is asking users who experience this issue to file a report via the Feedback Hub. This update was initially released as optional, but for those with the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option enabled, it may have installed automatically.
It’s worth noting that KB5120998 isn’t the first Windows 11 update to cause issues related to mouse settings. In October, Microsoft addressed a known issue that disabled USB mice and keyboards in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), rendering it unusable. Additionally, there’s an ongoing bug affecting some classic Outlook users, where the mouse pointer can disappear when moved over the interface.
The fact that this update is resetting user-configured settings raises concerns about data integrity and user control within the operating system. Microsoft’s decision to make this update optional may be seen as a step in the right direction, but it also highlights the importance of carefully evaluating changes made by these updates before installing them.
If you’re running Windows 11 and have installed KB5120998, it’s worth keeping an eye on your mouse settings to see if they’ve been altered. While this issue may not be critical from a security perspective, it can still cause frustration for users who rely on specific customizations for their workflow or productivity. In any case, exercising caution when installing non-security updates is always a good idea – make sure to review the changes and fixes included before clicking “Download and install”.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-08-31