Microsoft says Windows updates can cause desktop loading failures
Affected virtual-desktop users may need a manual step to regain access, while enterprise customers have a mitigation.
Microsoft has acknowledged that desktop startup failures, including black screens, can follow the August 2026 preview updates for Windows and later updates, disrupting access to virtual desktops. Azure Virtual Desktop hosts running FSLogix are the main group affected; users may be unable to reach their desktop after signing in, and application logs can show Windows Explorer crashes. As a temporary workaround, users can open Task Manager and start explorer.exe themselves. For enterprise customers, Microsoft has mitigated the problem with Known Issue Rollback. Separately, Microsoft says it fixed a Windows 11 issue that wiped mouse and desktop settings after optional update KB5120998.
Why it matters
For affected users, this can turn signing in into an access problem rather than a simple display glitch. The impact differs by issue: the desktop failure may still require a workaround or mitigation, while Microsoft says the separate settings-loss problem is fixed.
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