When I right-click an app icon pinned to the taskbar, the jump list doesn't appear.

UPDATE – October 16, 2026: KB5127648 and Windows 11 26H2 – Taskbar Jump List Freezing Persists

I have conducted further testing on my affected Windows 11 Pro desktop, including installing the October cumulative update (KB5127648) and upgrading to Windows 11 26H2.

Unfortunately, neither resolved the problem.

1. Windows 11 25H2 – Build 26200.9711 (KB5127648)

After installing KB5127648, right-clicking pinned taskbar applications once again caused the taskbar/Windows Explorer to freeze. Jump Lists failed to appear.

Interestingly, right-click menus for applications in the system tray, including hidden notification-area icons, continued to work normally. Task Manager also opened promptly using Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

2. Windows 11 26H2 Upgrade

Windows Update subsequently offered the 26H2 feature enablement package (KB5121794), which I installed.

The result was identical. Right-clicking pinned taskbar applications continued to freeze Explorer, and Jump Lists remained inaccessible.

3. Uninstalling KB5127648

I then uninstalled KB5127648 while the 26H2 enablement package was installed.

Following the restart, Windows reported:

Windows 11 Pro, Version 25H2, OS Build 26200.8037

Immediately, all pinned-taskbar right-click Jump Lists worked normally again, without any freezing.

Interestingly, uninstalling KB5127648 also returned Windows to reporting version 25H2 rather than 26H2.

Summary of Findings

I have now reproduced this regression on my desktop with builds 26200.8875, 26200.8894, 26200.8973, 26200.9278, 26200.9445, 26200.9457 and 26200.9711, as well as following the upgrade to Windows 11 26H2.

Every time I return to build 26200.8037, the problem disappears completely.

My other Windows 11 laptops continue to operate normally on newer builds.

This strongly suggests a Windows shell/taskbar compatibility regression affecting certain hardware or software configurations, rather than a general mouse or right-click issue.

I have also previously eliminated StartAllBack and investigated third-party shell extensions without resolving the problem.

I would appreciate Microsoft acknowledging and investigating this issue. The October cumulative update did not resolve it, nor did upgrading to 26H2.

Given the consistent and repeatable results, it would be particularly helpful to identify what changed in the Windows taskbar/Jump List implementation after build 26200.8037.

For now, I have again returned to build 26200.8037, where everything works normally.

Fletchesus

DylanDavis​ 

My question is detailed below. Please click the link.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/WindowsInsiderProgram/win-1011-file-history-is-malfunctioning-after-an-update-why-hasnt-microsoft-fixe/4547296

1. My laptop running Windows 11 is experiencing issues after updating KB5101684 on July 28th.
2. My desktop running Windows 10 is experiencing issues after updating KB5120249 on August 12th.

I too am seeing what appears to be a reproducible regression affecting pinned taskbar apps on one Windows 11 25H2 desktop.

Symptom: Right-clicking any pinned taskbar app causes Explorer to hang for about 30 seconds and the Jump List never appears. Left-clicking works normally. Right-click on the Start menu and normal Explorer context menus also work normally.

I’ve tested multiple builds:

• 26200.8037 - works normally
• 26200.8875 (KB5101650) - problem appears
• 26200.8894 - same
• 26200.8973 (KB5101684 Preview) - same

Rolling back to 26200.8037 immediately resolves the issue every time.

I also have a laptop running 26200.8973 that does not have this problem, so it seems to be specific to this desktop.

Has anyone experienced pinned taskbar right-click/Jump List freezes after these updates or identified a conflicting shell extension, driver, or application?

I have what appears to be a reproducible regression affecting the taskbar Jump List/right-click menu on one Windows 11 25H2 desktop.

Symptom:
Right-clicking any pinned taskbar application causes Explorer to freeze for approximately 30 seconds. During the freeze, the Jump List does not appear (or appears only after a long delay). Left-clicking the pinned app generally works normally.

What does work normally:

• Right-click on the Start menu.
• Normal Explorer context menus (desktop/files/folders).
• General system stability.

Testing performed:

• Build 26200.8037: problem does not occur.
• Build 26200.8875 (KB5101650): problem occurs immediately.
• Build 26200.8894: same problem.
• Build 26200.8973 (KB5101684 Preview): same problem, despite release notes mentioning Explorer/Jump List reliability improvements.
• Rolling back to 26200.8037 restores normal operation every time.

Comparison with another PC:
I have a second Windows 11 machine (laptop) running 26200.8973. It does not exhibit this problem. Right-clicking pinned taskbar apps works normally there.

Other observations:

• Restarting Explorer does not permanently resolve the issue.
• Armoury Crate has been removed/reinstalled without changing the behaviour.
• The problem is isolated to the desktop PC and is reproducible across multiple post-8037 cumulative updates.

Has anyone else seen this behaviour, particularly where only the pinned taskbar right-click/Jump List freezes while the rest of Explorer functions normally? If so, were you able to identify a particular shell extension, driver, or application that conflicts with the newer Windows builds?

This issue is 100% reproducible on my desktop and 100% reversible by rolling back from 8875/8894/8973 to 8037.

You’re losing the recent-file Jump List when right-clicking pinned taskbar apps, and restarting Explorer restores it only temporarily. The taskbar can build the menu, but the recent-items setting, an app-specific list, policy, or Windows component may be interfering. Open Settings > Personalization > Start and enable Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer. If already enabled, turn it off, restart Windows, then enable it and open several files in an affected app. Test multiple apps: if only one fails, use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > that app > Advanced options > Repair, where available. If every app fails, install Windows updates, restart, then run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth followed by sfc /scannow in an administrator Command Prompt. On managed PCs, ask IT whether Hide recent jumplists policy is applied. If it returns, report it in Feedback Hub with the Windows build and reproduction steps.