Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 Updates Cause Black Screens After Sign-In on Some Devices

Microsoft has confirmed that recent Windows 11 updates can leave some devices on a black screen after sign-in, with the desktop session failing to load, according to a new entry on the Windows release health dashboard.

The issue affects Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1, and Microsoft has marked it as mitigated while a permanent fix is in development.

The problem started with the August 2026 non-security preview update, KB5120998, and carries over into subsequent updates. Microsoft opened the known issue on September 24 and says it has primarily been observed on Azure Virtual Desktop hosts that use FSLogix for user profiles. The company adds that the issue appears more often with some existing user profiles.

It is the latest in a run of September update problems for Windows 11, following the File History backup failures Microsoft fixed earlier this week.

Symptoms Listed by Microsoft

Microsoft lists three signs that a device is affected:

• a black screen appears after sign-in and the desktop session does not load automatically
• users cannot reach their desktop until the session is started manually
• the Application event log records Windows Explorer crashes

Server editions of Windows are not affected, according to Microsoft. The affected platform list covers client versions of Windows 11 only, even though most reports so far come from virtual desktop environments.

Workarounds for Affected Windows 11 Devices

Two workarounds are available. The first one is a manual method that starts Windows Explorer by hand, and Microsoft describes it as a temporary mitigation.

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Select Run new task.
3. Type explorer.exe and select OK.

The second option is aimed at IT administrators who manage Windows updates for their organization. Microsoft has published Known Issue Rollback (KIR) Group Policy packages that disable the change responsible for the problem.

Separate packages exist for Windows 11 version 26H1 (KB5124006 260924_20071 Known Issue Rollback) and for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 (KB5124010 260924_20021 Known Issue Rollback).

Administrators need to install the package and then configure the policy under Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, followed by the Group Policy name for their Windows version.

Microsoft notes that affected devices must be restarted before the setting takes effect. The rollback stays in place only until a resolution ships in a future Windows update.

The Group Policy packages are intended for enterprise-managed devices where IT departments control updates. Users on personal PCs who see the black screen can rely on the Task Manager method until the permanent fix arrives.

Microsoft says it is working on a resolution and will release it in a future Windows update, but it has not given a date or named the update that will carry the fix.

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☞ El artículo completo original de Arthur Kay lo puedes ver aquí