● Covered by 2 sources · 4 reportsLow impact1 negative3 neutral
Windows 11 August 27 preview update causes mouse cursor, wallpaper, and font issues
Key points
- August 27 Windows 11 preview update (KB5120998) affects mouse cursor settings.
- Personalized mouse cursors may appear incorrect or revert to default.
- Some users report black wallpaper and blurry fonts after the update.
- Microsoft is investigating the mouse cursor problem; uninstalling the update is the current fix.
- The mouse cursor bug affects only non-English Windows 11 systems.
- The KB5120998 update includes Start menu, taskbar, and Windows search improvements.
- The update is for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2.
- Microsoft confirmed the bug on Friday, one day after the update's release.
- Microsoft released an update in September 2026 that resolves the bug.
- The bug caused desktop settings to be lost or reset.
- The September 2026 Patch Tuesday updates fix the known issue.
- The issue prevents the correct loading of settings, regardless of their value.
- The fix is included in the KB5124008 September 2026 cumulative update.
- Users are advised to install the KB5124008 September 2026 cumulative update.
- KB5120998 is an optional update that requires users to click "Download and install".
Windows 11 Update Causes Cursor Glitches
An optional Windows 11 preview update, released on August 27 (KB5120998), is causing issues with personalized mouse cursor settings. Users who installed this update are experiencing their custom cursor configurations being wiped out or modified, leading to cursors appearing too large, too small, or not at all.
Microsoft Acknowledges Cursor Problem
Microsoft has acknowledged the mouse cursor problem on its Windows 11 known issues page, stating that personalization settings are changed or reverted to standard after the update. The company noted reports of "appearance regressions and intermittent animation changes," including high-DPI cursors being replaced with larger, white ones, and custom animations reverting to default. Attempts to restore previous customizations have been unsuccessful.
Additional Reported Issues
Beyond the mouse cursor, some users are reporting that the update is resetting their Windows wallpaper to a black screen and causing fonts to appear blurry on certain systems. While Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the wallpaper and font issues, the wallpaper complaints are appearing in Microsoft's Feedback Hub.
Update Type and Workaround
This problematic update is a preview version, meaning it is optional and not part of the mandatory monthly Patch Tuesday rollouts. It appears in Windows Update as ready for download. Microsoft is currently investigating the mouse cursor problem. The only available workaround for affected users is to uninstall the update.
Updates
- The fix is included in the KB5124008 September 2026 cumulative update.
- Users are advised to install the KB5124008 September 2026 cumulative update.
- KB5120998 is an optional update that requires users to click "Download and install".
- Microsoft released an update in September 2026 that resolves the bug.
- The bug caused desktop settings to be lost or reset.
- The September 2026 Patch Tuesday updates fix the known issue.
- The issue prevents the correct loading of settings, regardless of their value.
- The mouse cursor bug affects only non-English Windows 11 systems.
- The KB5120998 update includes Start menu, taskbar, and Windows search improvements.
- The update is for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2.
- Microsoft confirmed the bug on Friday, one day after the update's release.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
Microsoft has resolved an issue in Windows 11 where mouse settings were reset after installing the KB5120998 August 2026 preview update. The fix is included in the KB5124008 September 2026 cumulative update, which users are advised to install.
Microsoft released an update in September 2026 that resolves a bug causing desktop settings, including wallpaper, to reset to a black background on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems. The issue stemmed from the optional KB5120998 August 2026 preview update, which also affected mouse settings. Users are advised to install the latest security updates to fix the problem.
Microsoft has updated its guidance on the KB5120998 August 2026 preview update, stating that the mouse settings reset bug only impacts non-English Windows 11 systems. This issue causes mouse cursor personalization settings to revert to default after installation, affecting users in specific locales.
Microsoft's optional Windows 11 preview update (KB5120998), released on August 27, is causing personalized mouse cursor settings to reset or change, and some users report wallpaper and font problems. Microsoft is investigating the cursor issue, and the only current workaround is to uninstall the update.