Hot Take Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken

[Brahman]

In the support article Microsoft explains:

"After provisioning a PC with a Windows 11, version 24H2 monthly cumulative update released on or after July 2025 (KB5062553), various apps such as StartMenuExperiencehost, Search, SystemSettings, Taskbar or Explorer might experience difficulties.

This will occur for the following:

• First time user logon after a cumulative update was applied.
• All user logons to a non-persistent OS installation such as a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or equivalent as application packages must be installed each logon in such scenarios."

If you are wondering, provisioning essentially is the way admins configure devices as they automatically deploy various settings and policies on a client PC. So while the issue is in office PCs, considering a huge number of enterprise PCs are Windows, this is probably a very big problem.

The company further adds that Windows' XAML component and package updates for MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy, Microsoft.UI.Xaml.CBS_8wekyb3d8bbwe, and MicrosoftWindows.Client.Core_cw5n1h2txyewy, are what have been triggering some of the observed problems.

Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken

 

[Bot]

Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken

It sounds scary, but from what you quoted this is much more limited than “almost all Windows 11 installs are broken”.

What this issue actually affects
From the text you posted, Microsoft is talking about:

• Provisioned devices – machines that are set up by admins using provisioning packages / policies (typical in enterprise environments).
• Non‑persistent OS installs – things like many VDI setups, where the OS image resets on every logon and apps are effectively “re‑installed” each time.
• First logon after a cumulative update – i.e. the very first user sign‑in after that specific 24H2 CU is applied.

In those scenarios, core shell components (StartMenuExperienceHost, Search, Settings, Taskbar, Explorer) can misbehave because of a problem with XAML‑related component/package updates (those MicrosoftWindows.Client.* and Microsoft.UI.Xaml.* packages you quoted).

So this is primarily an enterprise / VDI / managed‑device problem, not a “every home PC running 11 is broken” situation.

If you’re a home user
Based on the description:

• If your PC is a normal, persistent install that you set up yourself (no provisioning, no VDI), it likely isn’t in the affected category.
• The “first time user logon after a CU” clause is about the very first sign‑in after the update is applied; if you’ve already logged in several times and everything works, you’re probably fine.
• The article’s headline is clearly written to be sensational – the underlying Microsoft note is much narrower in scope.

Because my training data cuts off before these particular July 2025 updates, I can’t independently verify the exact behavior of KB5062553 or Microsoft’s current mitigations beyond what you quoted.

If you’re on a corporate / provisioned / VDI machine
Then this is something your IT department has to handle. In that context, typical actions would be:

• Pause or block the problematic CU in WSUS/Intune/ConfigMgr for affected device pools.
• Test the update on a subset of devices to confirm the behavior (first‑logon issues, Start/Search/Settings responsiveness, etc.).
• Watch Microsoft’s Windows release health page for:
  • A Known Issue Rollback (KIR), or
  • A follow‑up CU/preview patch that fixes the provisioning/XAML package issue.

Practical takeaway
This is a real and serious issue for large managed environments and non‑persistent VDIs, but it doesn’t mean that “almost all” Windows 11 systems in general use are broken. For most regular users, the main thing is just to:

• Pay attention to whether Start, Search, Settings, etc., act strangely right after a big update.
• If you’re on a work PC, report any such issues to your IT so they can match it with Microsoft’s known‑issue documentation.

If you share what kind of Windows 11 setup you’re using (home, Pro, domain‑joined, VDI, etc.), I can give more tailored advice on whether this likely affects you and what to do next.

 

[Sorrento]

I still like Windows 11, & have few problems with it, though I don't run it as MS would like, & or most of the core modules as i feel you can usually do better, I never use the store, I do feel that resources should be spend on fixing long term issues (if they know how?) rather than fanciful new ideas that are posted on here for Insiders, i was one but no longer.

 

[Marko :)]

Windows 11 feels like Windows 7 to me, though with spyware, ads and bloatware. LTSC version feels like true Windows 7. It's fast, doesn't crash and I really don't have anything to complain on.

 

[Parkinsond]

LTSC version feels like true Windows 7

Should be the regular version, keeping GAC version for higher price; more favors for Bill

 

[Marko :)]

Should be the regular version, keeping GAC version for higher price; more favors for Bill

There should only be two versions of Windows. Free with ads and bloatware, and paid without ads and bloatware. Currently, you pay 150€ for Windows, and still get ads and bloatware. Which is also the reason why I don't see anything wrong with using MAS.

 

[Parkinsond]

Free with ads and bloatware, and paid without ads and bloatware

It looks like MS consider bloatware as an advantage which deserve to be paid for; anyway, MAS is a heal and MS use it to make W and Office the dominant OS and Office suits, keeping corporations from moving to any alternative: win-win.

 

[Parkinsond]

There should only be two versions of Windows. Free with ads and bloatware, and paid without ads and bloatware. Currently, you pay 150€ for Windows, and still get ads and bloatware. Which is also the reason why I don't see anything wrong with using MAS.

 

[Brahman]

View attachment 293240

He left it to the team.. there are a lot of equally talented guys in that team. But there are rumours that windows 12 would be a purely subscription based agentic os where functions would be locked behind a paywall.

 

[Parkinsond]

there are rumours that windows 12 would be a purely subscription based agentic os

Then W11 forever

 

[Sorrento]

Bloatware at no added cost, get it now.

 

[Miravi]

Instead of forcing everyone to consume an obsessive AI-pushing experience, Microsoft should seriously devote more attention to giving the Windows codebase the maintenance and fundamental advances that it's needed.

In some ways, Windows 11 feels obviously more modern. In other ways, Windows feels like an ancient city—layers of legacy software—with a little fresh dirt and somewhat questionable buildings on top. Somehow I believe an OS could actually use new levels of resilience and stability in 2026 instead of way overselling our need for LLMs.

 

[Marko :)]

But there are rumours that windows 12 would be a purely subscription based agentic os where functions would be locked behind a paywall.

I've been hearing these rumors since Windows 8.1 era. Microsoft will never make Windows subscription based. If they did that, majority of home users would simply switch to Linux and there goes their huge marketshare. They will eventually make Windows part of Microsoft 365, but this would be for business users, not home users as this makes more sense. Making Windows subscription for home users doesn't make any sense at all, so I'm not worried Microsoft will do that.

 

[nickstar1]

I have had to run 3 fresh installs on my machines due to updates failing to install. Microsoft needs to do better quality checks they have been absolute trash as of lately.

 

[Sorrento]

I had some interesting error messages maybe 27 years ago, the worst one was as I remember was: 'Windows does not exist'

That struck horror into my soul, as I knew the only cure was a laborious reinstall. hoping I could find the correct discs etc etc...

 

[Sorrento]

I have had to run 3 fresh installs on my machines due to updates failing to install. Microsoft needs to do better quality checks they have been absolute trash as of lately.

As I have a somewhat complex install with several music programs that take time to set up & it takes an age to get it how I like it etc.. I really will do anything rather than a full reinstall, judicious use of imaging has helped me to do that where I can go back a month or more (a year if need be) should a major error occur, or cant remove something - Reinstalling I've found may solve one issue but likely will give you others - So I've managed to keep that system for a long time & windows boots still in seconds...

(famous last words, probably now)

 

[rashmi]

I haven't experienced a single Windows Update failure on our Windows 11 Pro HDD or SSD systems. My system is an old HDD with 5 bad sectors and 610 errors, and according to Hard Disk Sentinel, it has only 87 lifetime days remaining. Despite these issues, all Windows updates and upgrades have been successful. I've used Comodo and Kaspersky and now have Hard_Configurator Tools on this system.

 

[Sorrento]

'5 bad sectors and 610 errors, and has only 87 lifetime days remaining' I felt very like that this morning when I woke up but coffee & tea have taken the edge off a little

 

[rashmi]

'5 bad sectors and 610 errors, and has only 87 lifetime days remaining' I felt very like that this morning when I woke up but coffee & tea have taken the edge off a little

I'll instruct my loved ones to shove "coffee & tea" in my mouth after I die—I might just resurrect—thank you for the "tip & trick"!