Microsoft: Recent Windows updates cause desktop loading issues
Microsoft has confirmed that some users may experience desktop loading issues, including black screens, after installing the August 2026 preview updates and subsequent updates.
However, the company says this mainly affects Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts using FSLogix (a software solution that speeds up user profile loading in virtual desktop environments).
Windows users affected by this known issue may experience multiple symptoms. The most common symptoms include a black screen after sign-in, so users can't access their desktop until they start the desktop session manually, and application event logs showing Windows Explorer crashes.
Until a permanent fix is available for those who installed KB5120996 (Windows 11 26H1), KB5120998 (Windows 11 24H2/25H2), and this month's Patch Tuesday updates (KB5124008 and KB5122880), Microsoft says users can temporarily work around the issue by manually launching Windows Explorer.
This can be done by opening Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), selecting Run new task, entering explorer.exe, and clicking OK.
Microsoft has also mitigated this issue for enterprise customers via Known Issue Rollback (KIR), a Windows feature that reverses buggy updates delivered through Windows Update.
IT administrators can apply the mitigation on enterprise-managed devices by installing one of the following group policies:
- Windows 11, version 26H1: KB5124006 Known Issue Rollback
- Windows 11, version 25H2 and Windows 11, version 24H2: KB5124010 Known Issue Rollback
"You will need to install and configure the Group Policy for your version of Windows to resolve this issue. You will also need to restart your device(s) to apply the group policy setting," Microsoft said. "Note that this Group Policy will disable the change causing this issue until a resolution is released in a future Windows update.
Admins can find further guidance on deploying and configuring KIR group policies on Microsoft's support website.
Earlier this month, Microsoft also resolved known issues that wiped mouse and desktop settings on some Windows 11 systems that were also triggered after installing the KB5120998 August 2026 optional update.
References in this story
- What is FSLogix - FSLogix learn.microsoft.com An overview of FSLogix Containers, Application Masking and Java Version Control
- August 27, 2026—KB5120996 (OS Build 28000.2804) Preview | Microsoft Support support.microsoft.com August 27, 2026—KB5120996 (OS Build 28000.2804) Preview
- August 27, 2026—KB5120998 (OS Builds 26200.9278 and 26100.9278) Preview | Microsoft Support support.microsoft.com August 27, 2026—KB5120998 (OS Builds 26200.9278 and 26100.9278) Preview
- September 8, 2026—KB5124008 (OS Builds 26200.9445 and 26100.9445) | Microsoft Support support.microsoft.com September 8, 2026—KB5124008 (OS Builds 26200.9445 and 26100.9445)
- September 8, 2026—KB5122880 (OS Build 22621.7582) | Microsoft Support support.microsoft.com September 8, 2026—KB5122880 (OS Build 22621.7582)
- Windows 11, version 26H1 known issues and notifications learn.microsoft.com View announcements and review known issues and fixes for Windows 11, version 26H1
- Use Group Policy to deploy a Known Issue Rollback - Windows Client docs.microsoft.com Discusses how to configure Group Policy to use a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) policy definition that activates a KIR on managed devices.
- Microsoft says September updates fix mouse settings reset issues www.bleepingcomputer.com Microsoft has fixed a known issue that wiped mouse settings on some Windows 11 systems after installing the KB5120998 August 2026 preview update.
- Microsoft fixes bug that wiped Windows desktop settings www.bleepingcomputer.com Microsoft says the September 2026 Patch Tuesday updates fix a known issue causing desktop settings to be lost or reset on some Windows devices.
