Microsoft Admits: Core Windows 11 Features Broken for Months

Since the July Patch Tuesday, some users have been experiencing problems with key Windows 11 features such as the Start menu, taskbar, and File Explorer.

November 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM / Marc Stöckel

Some users have apparently been experiencing significant problems using Windows 11 since the July Patch Tuesday. As Microsoft confirms in a new support article (opens in a new window), important core functions of the operating system are affected – including File Explorer, search, the taskbar, and the Start menu. A fix is not yet available. However, users can use a workaround.

According to Microsoft, the cause of the problems lies in the July update for Windows 11 24H2 (KB5062553 (opens in a new window)). Anyone who installs this or any subsequent updates may experience issues with applications such as the Start menu, search, system settings, taskbar, or File Explorer, according to Microsoft.

Affected system components may crash in some cases or refuse to start at all. Users sometimes receive error messages. However, Microsoft also states that the problems sometimes occur in the background, making them difficult for users to understand.

Fix in development, workaround available

Microsoft has identified the cause of the aforementioned problems. The affected applications depend on XAML packages that are not registered in time after the July update is installed. On regular Windows 11 installations, the problems apparently only occur after the first user login following the update installation.

The aforementioned problems are more serious for non-persistent Windows 11 systems, such as those commonly found in virtual desktop infrastructures (VDI) within organizations.

Microsoft assures users that it is working on a solution and will communicate it at a later date. Until then, administrators can use a workaround described in Microsoft's support article. This involves manually registering the missing packages using PowerShell commands, which can be automatically executed at each login, for example, via a login script.

Source German: www.golem.de/news/microsoft-gesteht-kernfunktionen-von-windows-11-seit-monaten-kaputt-2511-202456.html

 

luckily I haven't used Windows Start since 2023, OpenShell or StartAllBack is much better in every way

 

What a mess with Win11 updates lately...
That's Windows Vista level of incompetence

 

I've been having these problems since Win11 released, Windows Explorer is just broken,
it crashes randomly for me out of nowhere.

They already achieved a peak Windows OS with Windows 7, why do they keep reinventing the wheel just to make it dented and broken?

 

i have alot of windows 11 issues.. sometimes hard drives not found. sometimes stuck in start menu. sometimes audio interface not working. sometimes akai mpc not working. sometimes midi keyboard stops workig. sometimes !! DAMN IT

 

Maybe try reinstalling. Repair installation. Or first try these tips:

Run System File Checker
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command, and press ENTER:
sfc /scannow
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...em-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e

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I am a Linux user, so I do not care that much.
But, I think updates going wrong is something all users have to learn to deal with. Since we are more and more depending on having a constant working PC, we need to get used to having up-to-date backup's: data as well as OS.
Doesn't matter whether you're on Windows, Mac, Linux or else.
The OS that has the most convenient way to restore a working image that gets you back to work is the winner.

For me Linux has the most convenient way of backing up and recovery my OS. Although Linux is pretty solid, I once had an update going wrong. Within 15 minutes a had my working system of the day before and could continue my work. Since my data is backupped every day, I did not loose anything I was working on.

So for every user these 2 things are mandatory:
1) Choose a program that can easily create and restore images of your OS
2) Choose a program that can easily backup you all your data files
When an update goes wrong or you have installed a buggy program, you're not doomed!

 

Are you being paid by Avast for advertisements, because that quote is straight from their website.

 

Pulse Wave is a human bot, so allow it, he's half AI

 

Just Upgrade To Windows 11 25H2 Like I Did..No Problem With This Build

 

Just stay on win 10 like i did, no win 11 problems then.

 

StopUpdates10

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Version: 4.7.2025.0424 (Date: 04/24/2025 - April 24 2025)
Windows 11 24H2 is supported!

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Win10 optimized builds here ONLY, in entirety. Also not planning on going past 10 at all. I have shit-canned the metro and "new" start menus since win7. Been running classic shell or now "open-shell" on win10. Makes it look like standard XP/Win7 start - much easier to deal with and actually useful. The utter nonsensical nature of the "metro" style start makes me dizzy.

HAVING Windows 11 issues - pave the system and install a GhostSpectre optimized win10 22H2. Keep your production and internet needs SEPARATE, turn OFF all the junk and updaters - No more issues.

 

an excuse to introduce to win13 ...we should absolutely abandon win platform as soon as we can, I have deep respect for those folks in here that struggle with Linux and still make music ...hats off!

 

I have indexing limited to the start menu. Typing 'indexing' while the start menu is open should take you there - on Windows 10 anyway.



(I use voidtools Everything for searching other files/links)

 

Turned off the indexing svc completely on all my win10 builds. Running ultrasearch which is 100 times faster than any windows search ever was and doesn't need indexing. Running open-shell for start menu - it sorts itself if you turn on that feature which is all that is needed.