Microsoft revives broken Windows update, but now breaks taskbars

Last week, Microsoft introduced an optional Windows update that could’ve sent your PC into a reboot loop. The update rollout was stopped mid-delivery so Microsoft could fix the issue.

As of now, that particular bug has been addressed and the KB5039302 update has been made available again for Windows 11 users.

When installing this update, Windows 11 now checks whether you have virtualization software (such as CloudPC, DevBox, Azure Virtual Desktop, or VMware) running on your PC. You can only install it if you aren’t, as Microsoft writes in the relevant support document.

But with one fix comes another bug: the repaired version of the latest Windows update could render your taskbar unusable.

Some users are now reporting that Windows no longer loads the taskbar with the KB5039302 update. This problem apparently only affects Windows N users and Window 11 users (versions 23H2 and 22H2) who have deactivated “Media features” in the Windows settings. Microsoft explains this problem in more detail here.

In practice, hardly anyone is likely to be affected. However, if you’re now inexplicably missing a taskbar in Windows 11, know that Microsoft is working on a solution to the problem and plans to make it available with one of the upcoming releases.