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No taskbar after update to windows server 2025
On a machine with windows server 2025 24h2 I recently installed update kb5066835 and after rebooting I was left with no taskbar.
I tried restarting explorer.exe 1000 times to no avail as well as sfc and DISM recovery and still the same issue. Along with plenty more fixes online.
Any help would be much appreciated
1 Reply
hi Collin11 Here are the known causes and the working fixes for the missing taskbar issue on Windows Server 2025 / 24H2 after installing KB5066835.
This update is currently causing Explorer and Shell UI components to fail on some systems.
Working Fixes
Fix 1 — Uninstall KB5066835 (Most Reliable)
This update is the root cause, and uninstalling it restores the taskbar immediately.
Method A — Using Command Line
Open an elevated PowerShell or CMD:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5066835
Reboot when prompted.
Method B — Using DISM
If WUSA fails:
dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB5066835
Reboot → Taskbar should reappear.
Fix 2 — Reinstall Windows Desktop Experience
Some systems lose ShellExperienceHost registration.
Run:
Add-WindowsFeature Desktop-Experience
Then reboot.
Fix 3 — Re-register Shell Components
This sometimes helps, but rarely works for KB5066835 (still worth trying if you cannot uninstall):
Run PowerShell as admin:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
And:
sfc /scannow
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Temporary Workaround (If you must keep the update)
Install a third-party taskbar just to keep the system usable until Microsoft fixes the issue:
StartIsBack++
ExplorerPatcher
StartAllBack
Not ideal, but works.
