Microsoft’s recent patch, KB5051987, rolled out just five days ago as part of the regular Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 version 24H2. This update was designed to enhance security and introduce new features, notably a OneDrive integration reminiscent of Apple’s Handoff, which aims to streamline the user experience across mobile devices and PCs. Additionally, improvements to File Explorer were included, such as the ability to remember previously opened tabs and restore them upon login.
However, the rollout has not been without its challenges. A significant number of users have reported that File Explorer has become unresponsive following the update. Complaints have flooded in from various platforms, including Reddit and Microsoft’s help forum, detailing issues such as the inability to open folders, save Office files, or download content. While the explorer.exe process remains active in Task Manager, it appears that specific functions within File Explorer are malfunctioning, leading to considerable frustration among users.
In addition to the File Explorer troubles, some users have encountered installation failures with the KB5051987 patch itself. Reports indicate that the update can become stuck at a certain percentage for extended periods before ultimately displaying an error code. Beyond these primary concerns, other issues have emerged, including problems with Taskbar preview animations and camera functionality.
There’s a fix, but it isn’t ideal
Regrettably, there is no immediate or straightforward solution for those affected by these issues. As KB5051987 is a mandatory security update, it will eventually be installed on all systems. Users facing difficulties have limited options: they can either wait for Microsoft to issue a fix or opt to uninstall the patch themselves. To uninstall, users can navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Uninstall, select the problematic patch, click Uninstall, confirm the action, and restart their system. To prevent the patch from reinstalling automatically, users may also choose to temporarily pause updates.
