Microsoft Confirms Desktop Loading Issues After Windows Updates

Microsoft says some users are experiencing desktop loading problems, including black screens, after installing the August 2026 preview updates and later updates. The issue mainly affects Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts that use FSLogix, software that speeds up user profile loading in virtual desktop environments.

For affected users, the desktop may remain inaccessible after sign-in until they start a session manually. Application event logs may also show Windows Explorer crashes.

Microsoft says users who installed KB5120996 for Windows 11 26H1, KB5120998 for Windows 11 24H2/25H2, or this month’s Patch Tuesday updates, KB5124008 and KB5122880, can temporarily work around the problem by launching Windows Explorer manually. The steps are to open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, choose Run new task, enter explorer.exe, and select OK.

Microsoft says it has also mitigated the issue for enterprise customers through Known Issue Rollback (KIR), which reverses problematic updates delivered through Windows Update. IT administrators can install and configure the Group Policy for their Windows version, then restart affected devices. Microsoft says the policy disables the change behind the issue until a fix is released in a future Windows update.

Earlier this month, Microsoft also resolved issues that reset mouse and desktop settings on some Windows 11 systems after the KB5120998 August 2026 optional update.