disruptions Archives

AppWizard

September 30, 2026

Why is Spotify not working? Thousands of users report issues

By 3:20 PM on September 29, over 4,000 users reported issues with the Spotify app, particularly in the UK. Spotify acknowledged the situation on its X page, stating they were checking out the issues. Users expressed confusion and frustration on X, questioning whether the app was down and reporting difficulties in listening to music. Downdetector is a platform that allows users to report service disruptions for various popular services, and it monitors interruptions by collecting problem indicators from social media and other online sources.

Winsage

September 28, 2026

A Windows 10 Update Was Force Triggering Copilot To Run Every Time A File Was Clicked, Leading To Frequent Crashes That Logged The Culprit As Microsoft Edge

Microsoft's Windows 10 update "KB5126256," intended as a licensing preparation package for Extended Security Updates, has caused issues for users, including one Reddit user whose File Explorer crashes when clicking on files due to the automatic activation of the Copilot feature. The crashes were misleadingly attributed to Microsoft Edge, but further investigation revealed they were linked to "mscopilot_proxy.exe" and the module "ShellEh6055x64.dll," associated with the 4t Tray Minimizer application. Users have reported that uninstalling problematic updates can provide temporary relief, while some have chosen to disable updates entirely, despite Windows not offering a complete option to do so.

Winsage

September 28, 2026

Windows 11 preview update causes black screen after sign-in; Microsoft publishes workaround

On September 24, Microsoft reported an issue affecting devices that installed the August 27 preview update for Windows 11, causing a black screen after sign-in and preventing the desktop from loading correctly. This issue primarily impacts Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) hosts using FSLogix with existing user profiles. The affected OS versions are Windows 11 versions 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2, and the causal update is KB5120998. Microsoft has issued interim workarounds, including a manual desktop launch and a Known Issue Rollback (KIR), which will be automatically delivered to non-enterprise devices. Affected enterprise-managed devices require manual deployment of the KIR policy. The black screen issue is part of a series of update-related problems for Windows 11 in 2026, while Windows 10 has experienced fewer issues during the same timeframe.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

The Elder Scrolls Online’s devs are pushing through hard times after layoffs and delays: ‘We didn’t want to rush to just hit a date’

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) has faced significant challenges, including the cancellation of Project Blackbird in July 2025, which led to the layoff of 62 employees. In July 2026, Xbox's restructuring resulted in a reduction of 213 positions at Zenimax Online, shrinking the studio's workforce by approximately 60% within a year. Despite expressing optimism earlier in the year about refreshing animations and introducing new gameplay mechanics, the layoffs have led to the postponement of several updates until 2027. A representative from the development team emphasized the importance of maintaining quality over meeting deadlines.

Winsage

September 25, 2026

Windows 10 is more stable than Windows 11 in 2026, data shows

The September update for Windows 11 caused significant disruptions, including failures in USB audio functionality and the File History feature. This follows a trend of issues over the past months, with August experiencing printer and PDF problems, July affecting certain Dell PCs, and June reporting startup issues and BitLocker recovery failures. In total, eight out of nine months this year have had at least one major issue. A recurring BitLocker user lockout problem has also been noted. Despite these issues, Windows 11 has improved in overall stability, with fewer system crashes. Windows 10 has maintained stability by focusing solely on security updates since support ended in October 2025, avoiding new feature rollouts. Users satisfied with Windows 10's features may prefer to stay with it for stability. Windows 11 users facing instability can roll back updates or use the Known Issue Rollback feature to revert problematic non-security features.

Winsage

September 22, 2026

Windows has been so buggy I paused monthly updates, and now I wait for reports before installing anything

Users frequently express frustration with Windows updates due to unexpected restarts and frequent breakdowns, leading to a perception of being beta testers for Microsoft. Problems often arise with updates, including significant disruptions from routine maintenance updates. Recent issues included difficulties with the Windows Subsystem for Linux and copy-paste functionality in Microsoft Excel. In July, Microsoft paused an update due to unexpected shutdowns on some Dell PCs. Users are increasingly adopting a wait-and-see approach before installing updates, utilizing Windows 11's ability to pause updates for several weeks. Historically, Windows lacked robust update management, but recent changes have extended the pause period. There is a significant concern regarding the limited control users have over updates and the need for improved quality control from Microsoft.

Winsage

September 22, 2026

Microsoft admits Windows 11’s emergency update still breaks audio, and a fix may not arrive until October

Windows 11 is facing ongoing challenges with audio functionality following recent updates, particularly with the emergency update KB5129195 released on September 14. This update aimed to fix issues from the September Patch Tuesday update (KB5124008) but has led to new problems, including compromised audio output on some devices and disruptions in secure trust relationships for enterprise systems. Users have reported error messages like “This device cannot start (Code 10)” in Device Manager, and issues with USB audio devices. Microsoft is investigating these audio problems but has not provided a timeline for resolution. Additionally, there are reports of GPU issues on AMD systems, including driver timeouts and black screens, affecting various Radeon models such as RX 6600, RX 7700 XT, RX 7800 XT, RX 7900 GRE, RX 7900 XTX, and RX 9070 XT. Some users found that uninstalling the September update alleviated these problems, but the emergency update KB5129195 does not address the GPU errors.

Winsage

September 21, 2026

Internet Explorer is finally, truly dying, and Microsoft wants you ready by 2029

Microsoft has announced the impending cessation of support for IE Mode in the Edge browser, urging organizations to begin their migration strategies. Initially set to be supported until the end of 2029, Microsoft is emphasizing proactive planning for transitioning away from legacy systems. A communication from Microsoft highlighted the importance of providing a year’s notice before the end of support for IE Mode, which is crucial for IT administrators managing legacy applications. IE Mode uses the Chromium engine while allowing access to web pages through Internet Explorer 11's Trident engine. Organizations still dependent on IE Mode need to evaluate their IT infrastructure and identify critical applications that require updates or replacements. Microsoft is offering its App Assure service to help eligible customers improve compatibility with modern Windows platforms. Early planning is essential to reduce migration risks and maintain operational efficiency.

AppWizard

September 21, 2026

First 5-day Tokyo Game Show in 30 years cuts back to 4 in face of Typhoon Dujuan

The Tokyo Game Show (TGS) has canceled its final day due to the impending arrival of Typhoon No. 25, concluding the event after four days instead of the planned five. Ticket holders for September 21 will receive refunds. The decision was made to prioritize the safety of attendees amid expected strong winds and heavy rainfall. Typhoon Dujuan is forecasted to bring nearly 16 inches of rain to the Kanto region, leading to numerous flight cancellations by Nippon Airways and service suspensions on several East Japan Railway lines.

AppWizard

September 20, 2026

Gemini’s rough patch with smart home controls has spread to Android Auto

Recent reports indicate that the Gemini smart home control feature in Android Auto has stopped functioning for many users, similar to issues previously experienced by Wear OS users. Despite Google announcing a fix for Wear OS, the cause of the Android Auto malfunction remains unclear. Users have reported that commands for smart home devices, such as turning on air conditioning, are not working, with Gemini providing a message that it "cannot control smart home devices through Google Maps while driving." Some users have reverted to Google Assistant for reliability, as commands still work within the Gemini app. The exact cause of the disruptions is under investigation, with speculation about a potential server-side bug or unannounced changes in functionality. Efforts to obtain a statement from Google are ongoing.