Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update, KB5051987, has disrupted functionality for users, particularly impacting File Explorer, the main application for accessing files and folders. Users have reported an inability to open folders, including commonly used ones like Documents and Pictures, after installing the update.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 update disrupts File Explorer functionality
According to Windows Latest, the File Explorer app remains operational, as confirmed by the explorer.exe process running normally in Task Manager. However, it fails to respond when users attempt to open folders through desktop shortcuts or Windows Search. This has prompted some users to consider alternative file management tools as a temporary measure while they await a resolution from Microsoft.
In addition to the issues with File Explorer, users have encountered problems with the update download process, which has stalled at 0% for extended periods. Others experience issues completing the download and receive a “Something didn’t go as planned” error during installation. These problems have elicited mixed reactions, as some users view installation failure as a blessing, sparing them from the troublesome File Explorer bug.
The cumulative February update for Windows 11 24H2 has also resulted in alarming reports. Some users have experienced system crashes, including Blue Screens of Death, while others found that their installations of Windows 11 were compromised. Issues with webcams not functioning properly and sluggish mouse cursor movements have also been noted.
Reports indicate a range of device-specific problems, especially on machines like the HP Spectre laptop, which had its built-in camera disabled, as well as significantly reduced GPU performance on Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics cards. Additionally, some users have noted that Windows fails to boot altogether after applying the update.
For those already experiencing issues after installing KB5051987, Microsoft advises users to consider manually uninstalling the update to restore normal functionality. Users may need to temporarily disable automatic updates since KB5051987 is a mandatory security update likely to reinstall unless paused. To pause updates, users can navigate to Settings > Windows Update and select a pause duration between one and five weeks, with hopes that Microsoft will release a corrective update in that timeframe.
Windows Latest has documented over 30 reported cases of these issues and highlights ongoing discussions among users on platforms like Reddit. Attempts to trace the cause of the File Explorer malfunction have not identified any patterns among affected users; even a clean installation of Windows 11 exhibited the same problem. One potential solution noted by users is to disable Windows Sandbox, although this option is limited to Pro edition users, as Windows Sandbox is not available on Windows 11 Home.
The prevalence of both the File Explorer malfunction and installation failures raises concerns about reliability, prompting advice for users to delay the February update installation until further notice, even at the potential cost of foregoing security improvements.
