Microsoft has confirmed what we reported a week ago. A bug in Windows 11’s latest update can reset the desktop background on every reboot or randomly, and in some cases, you can end up staring at a black screen.

You can also run into other desktop-related issues where features such as the ability to hide icons may not work, or personalization settings could fail to load.

Windows Latest originally found two major issues in Windows 11 KB5120998, which was released on August 27, 2026, with a movable taskbar, Bing-free Search, and a resizable Start menu. It’s one of the biggest releases of the year, but it can also break the cursor and desktop background.

However, the problems may not show up immediately after installing the update.

Everything in Windows 11 KB5120998 is rolling out gradually, and that includes the changes responsible for the known issues. One bug can make the cursor too large or change its colour, while another can reset desktop settings on every reboot.

Many users would not run into these issues immediately because the features or changes causing them may not yet be enabled on their PCs.

Windows 11’s gradual rollout means the black desktop bug may appear later

This approach is officially called Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR), which is a phased and measured way to introduce new features in Windows 11.

In this case, if the particular change in Windows 11 KB5120998 that breaks the cursor, desktop background, or other settings has not yet reached your PC through CFR, you won’t have these issues.

But Microsoft has now clarified that it cannot roll back the bugs. So when the affected feature is enabled on your PC, you could automatically run into the problem in the coming days.

It’s both a good thing and a bad thing. A phased rollout means you might not immediately get new features, but it also lowers the possibility of running into a bizarre bug. At the same time, things can go haywire when the affected feature finally reaches your PC.

In an updated support document published earlier today, Microsoft finally confirmed that Windows 11 has a bug that resets the desktop background, breaks desktop-related settings, including personalization settings, and can leave you with a black background.

“On affected devices, attempting to manually restore customized settings does not work. This is because the issue prevents the correct loading of settings, regardless of their value. In this case, a default black background is used instead,” Microsoft noted in a document.

Microsoft also warned that legacy Windows features such as slideshow settings and contrast themes can break after the update.

Microsoft is rushing to fix it before Patch Tuesday

Microsoft says it’ll issue a fix as soon as possible, but I don’t think it’s coming before the next Patch Tuesday, which is September 8.

Patch Tuesday updates are mandatory, and Microsoft is rushing to fix the cursor and desktop bugs before the update reaches more PCs next week.

If you don’t like the idea of a broken desktop background or staring at a black screen, you should avoid Windows 11 KB5120998 until Microsoft patches it.

Otherwise, I don’t see much reason to skip the update because this specific release adds some of the most requested Windows 11 features.

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