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Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken
A major new Windows 11 update has introduced widespread stability issues affecting core system functionality. Many users, including myself, are now experiencing frequent and disruptive problems like File Explorer crashes, slow performance, taskbar glitches, and Bluetooth failures, which together make the operating system frustratingly unreliable for daily use.
20 Replies
- MunasianIron Contributor
Some of the text were not displaying correctly after installing Windows 11 25H2, lol
- AbigailYoungIron Contributor
- Sometimes, Microsoft releases quick follow-up updates to fix initial bugs.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
- Install any available patches or cumulative updates.
- vampshieCopper Contributor
Yay cookie cut response! Clearly you didnt read the comment. Im not an idiot. I've tried those already, it made more issues. Now I dont have a task bar.
- ianken51Copper Contributor
I’ve solved my problems, at least temporarily, by removing Windows 11 from my computers and installing Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Edition LTSC. This version provides security updates until 2032.
This means that I can wait to see what Microsoft does about killing off Windows 11 and introducing Windows 12, or introducing a guaranteed stable version of Windows 11 minus the bloat, spyware and AI slop. Also may see a new CEO as Microsoft’s current PR disaster with small users gains traction.
The downside is that this is a stopgap and I’m fully aware that over time my setup will become progressively obsolete in OS terms. However, I think this is a small inconvenience as I retain Windows 10’s stability, continue to get security updates, and can wait until Microsoft is forced to release a slimmer, stable and adequately tested operating system, and possibly replaces the current CEO with one more attuned to business reality rather than “increase share price, no matter the ultimate cost”.
- BleboiCopper Contributor
Why is it whenever Microsoft do an update the updates makes things worse, some of my flash drives don't work since rthe recent update, anything I try to download ends up crashing, what use to take les than an hour can now take up to 4 times longer because my computer keeps crashing for no reason.
Whwn I first brough my laptop with Windows 11 already installed everything worked fine but since these new updates things have been getting worse.
- Selvyn1Copper Contributor
I've been using the Window's OS since the late 80s and early 90s. I'm a software engineer with over 40 years experience. This is the worst OS I have ever used. It is unstable, badly manages resource allocation, disk usage is out of control, reboots randomly, it's crazy. I have a machine with 64GB of RAM with a CORE i9 processor and still stutters and uses the disk for flashing. What is wrong with the MS engineers??? I just don't understand why they got rid of Windows 10. It was solid and worked. I've been on WIn11 for about 2 years, it's a nightmare. The most unstable piece of software I've ever used. I've had to reinstall the OS twice to get my disk space back!!!
- duchenowCopper Contributor
I am not a high level user, but have years of experience and rarely have difficulty with Windows 11. That said, I have begun to see things that hint at "too many problems and not enough time to solve them all". Case in point - 2025-12 Security Update. This update fails to install for the vast majority of users, and the instructions to get it to install will certainly challenge those same users. The update was not ready for prime time and the answer seemed to be "get it out there and we will fix it on the fly". No, users should not have to do a 'Light Reinstall' or even 'Full in-place repair from ISO' in an effort to install a half-baked Update. Slow down on the AI and refocus on the operating system or you may end up pushing users out the door.
- dm080211Copper Contributor
Windows 11 keeps freezing up and restarting. it happened when I was adjusting display settings. Turning back on it enlarged the display larger than the screen.
I went to reset the computer to factory reset. The bitlock key has letters in it. Windows won't allow me to type any letters.
I think class action lawsuit for Windows 11 ruining my laptop. I thought they were smarter than this.
- Libra_BiinxCopper Contributor
Gonna be straight to the point here, and keep in mind this is in no way shape or form any kind of slander of any sorts, this is a testimony of a chain of events that happened literally over the course of a month in my scenario, I understand milage may very for other people, but, this is just my input on the issue, It's not just enterprise or IT users. Me and my wife have PCs. Ones a custom build desktop, and the other is a 15.5" clevo notebook. The custom pc ran Windows 11 Home and has experienced these issues, and a few unique issues directly caused by those issues. Including corrupted SSDs and total OS failures. The laptop ran on Windows 11 Pro out of the box and started experiencing half of its available resources, literally, eaten up by Windows 11's core services, lagging me out of lightweight gaming sessions, followed up by these underlying core issues and eventual OS failures. Mind you both are gaming PCs and are very capable of just about anything you throw at em. These failures have happened multiple times, even after reinstall on top of reinstall. I even went as far as pausing updates only both machines as far out as Windows would let me, only to find that they still download and install anyway directly after pausing, I'm not entirely sure whats up with that, but, whatever. The point of the story, not just a specific group of people at all, thats pure PR damage control at its finest if I've ever seen it, and in my case afterwords, I said forget Windows 11, (I'm totally improvising on what I actually said, based off of pure frustration of wasted time and data loss, tech can litterally be a pain to work with sometimes.), installed Windows 10 on both, enrolled in the esu program, uninstalled the preloaded AI after the updates, reinstalled all of mine and the wife's programs and games, and haven't had a single issue since. It's not pure coincidence. The title is not over exaggerated. Windows 11 is unfortunately a complete dumpster fire for most people, and those very people are wishing MS didn't 86 Windows 10 support, Me and my wife are just 2 of the many people in that group.
- SpWCopper Contributor
So, I used the AI we love so much and it provided a sensible answer to this ^^
I asked "is this actually true? "Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken""
The headline you quoted, "Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken," appears to be a highly sensationalized and exaggerated title used in articles and discussions to report on a specific, but significant, technical problem Microsoft acknowledged.
Here's a breakdown of what the reports indicate:
The Admission: Microsoft did acknowledge a widespread issue affecting core Windows 11 components like the Start Menu, Taskbar, File Explorer, and System Settings.
The Cause: The issue is a specific bug related to XAML components failing to register correctly after certain cumulative updates, particularly those released on or after July 2025 (e.g., KB5062553).
The Scope: While the affected features are indeed "core," Microsoft indicated the problem primarily affects a limited number of enterprise or managed environments, especially those using non-persistent OS installations like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) or installations where updates were applied before the first-time user login. It was less likely to impact personal home devices, though some individual users reported issues.
The Severity: For the affected users, the malfunctions were severe, resulting in issues like Explorer crashes, Start Menu failures, and the Taskbar not appearing. These are the problems that led to the "broken core features" headlines.
The Workaround/Fix: Microsoft provided temporary workarounds (like PowerShell scripts) for IT administrators and has been working on an official fix.So, while Microsoft confirmed serious, widespread failures in fundamental parts of the OS (Start Menu, Taskbar, etc.) for a particular set of users and under specific conditions, the phrase "almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken" is an overstatement of the company's official admission and the overall state of the operating system for all users. It's a prime example of a dramatic headline emphasizing the severity of the bug rather than the technical nuance of the admission.
- mrsoulCopper Contributor
I've had zero issues, use win 11 every day on my work laptop, least every second night gaming. Dont seem to ever have any of these issues I see in these frequent click baity articles lately in fact.
You know it's funny, guy created Linux recently said he believes Windows gets a lot of flak for "bad software", when it's people's hardware and their upkeep of it that are the problem. Just weird right. You'd think he'd say opposite given all these "news", blogs or w/e this is.
But this couldn't possibly be some form of astro turfing...right?
- vampshieCopper Contributor
I mean I've been having issues across the board. copilot crashes, xbox app crashes, control panel is corrupted, my laptop crashes every time i open it or its dead cause it wont go to sleep. cant be a virus since the only things after having it reset from a bsd is Microsoft programs and dnd-beyond. issues started up again after 2-3 weeks of reset. glad yours is fine though
- PearlClutcherCopper Contributor
It's lovely you don't have any issues. When something works fine across four hardware endpoints for a few years and then stops after a Windows update, I'll go with the "broken" theory. It's possible that a two-year-old desktop PC is no longer the right kit, but it was before the upgrade.