Windows 11 Updates Cause Desktop Loading Issues and Black Screens

Microsoft has acknowledged issues with recent updates for Windows 11, causing desktop loading problems and black screens on some devices. The affected users may experience a black screen after signing in, or be unable to access their desktop until it's started manually.

The issue is linked to the KB5120996 and KB5124010 updates installed in August 2026. Microsoft has provided workarounds, including manually launching the explorer.exe file through Task Manager or using a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) via Group Policy.

Affected users can mitigate the problem by applying one of these workarounds until a proper fix is released. The company has not yet announced a timeline for resolving this issue.