● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 neutral
Microsoft confirms desktop loading issues after August 2026 Windows preview updates
Key points
- August 2026 Windows preview updates cause desktop loading issues.
- Primarily affects Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts using FSLogix.
- Symptoms include black screens and Windows Explorer crashes.
- Microsoft issued a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) for enterprise users.
Desktop Loading Issues Confirmed
Microsoft has acknowledged that some users are experiencing desktop loading problems, such as black screens, following the installation of August 2026 preview updates and subsequent updates. This issue mainly impacts Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts that utilize FSLogix, a software solution designed to accelerate user profile loading in virtual desktop environments.
Symptoms and Temporary Workaround
Affected Windows users may encounter a black screen after signing in, preventing access to their desktop until the session is manually started. Application event logs often show Windows Explorer crashes. Until a permanent fix is released, users can manually launch Windows Explorer by opening Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), selecting 'Run new task', entering 'explorer.exe', and clicking 'OK'.
Enterprise Mitigation via KIR
For enterprise customers, Microsoft has provided a mitigation through Known Issue Rollback (KIR). KIR is a Windows feature that allows the reversal of buggy updates delivered via Windows Update. IT administrators can apply this mitigation by installing specific group policies relevant to their Windows version, such as KB5124006 for Windows 11, version 26H1, or KB5124010 for Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2.
Deployment and Configuration
To resolve the issue, administrators must install and configure the appropriate Group Policy for their Windows version and restart affected devices. This Group Policy will disable the change causing the problem until a resolution is included in a future Windows update. Further guidance on deploying and configuring KIR group policies is available on Microsoft's support website.
Previous Update Resolutions
Earlier in the month, Microsoft also addressed other known issues. These included problems that reset mouse and desktop settings on some Windows 11 systems, which were also triggered after installing the KB5120998 August 2026 optional update.
✨ 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 →
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Reporting from
Microsoft confirmed that August 2026 preview updates and subsequent updates cause desktop loading issues, including black screens, primarily affecting Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts using FSLogix. The company provided a temporary manual fix and a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) for enterprise customers to mitigate the problem.