Explorer.exe Archives

Winsage

February 15, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 fixes gaming bugs, Nvidia black screen, and performance issue affecting explorer.exe, taskbar, and Start menu

Windows 11 KB5077181 is a mandatory update that resolves up to 58 critical vulnerabilities, including a serious flaw in Windows Notepad that could allow for remote code execution. It introduces new features like an Apple Handoff-like Resume function and addresses gaming issues, particularly graphical artifacts in games such as Forza Horizon 5. The update fixes the black screen problem affecting certain Nvidia GPUs and resolves issues related to explorer.exe freezing or crashing upon login. Microsoft has confirmed that the update addresses black screen problems in isolated multiuser environments and rectifies boot failures linked to specific GPU configurations. Users can check if the update is installed by navigating to Settings > System > About, with the latest version being Build 26200.7840 or newer.

Winsage

February 1, 2026

Microsoft says latest Windows 11 issue crashes explorer.exe, makes taskbar disappear, but a fix is rolling out

A bug in Windows 11 has been causing disruptions, particularly affecting the Explorer.exe process, leading to the desktop user interface and taskbar disappearing for users. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and will release a fix in the optional update, Windows 11 KB5074105, in January 2026. The problem affects Windows installations with certain startup applications configured, causing Explorer.exe to stop responding upon signing in. Users are advised to manually restart Explorer.exe via Task Manager if it becomes unresponsive. The KB5074105 update will also fix issues with Explorer not displaying custom folder names correctly and resolve problems with an unresponsive lock screen and black screens linked to a previous update.