A new update warning for Microsoft Windows users, with reports that February’s Windows 11 KB5051987 is creating some localized havoc. This is the latest pain point for Windows 11 updates, coming as the clock continues to tick down to the end of support for the more popular Windows 10. Tricky times for Microsoft.
Windows Latest reports the new update “is not installing for some users and causing other problems,” including breaking File Explorer. Specifically, “KB5051987 has a major problem where File Explorer does not respond when you try to open folders, such as Desktop, Documents or Pictures. Worse, we’ve also observed that File Explorer does not open when you try to access it via the desktop shortcut or use Windows Search.”
It’s not actually broken — it just seems that way. The exe can be found running if you check the Task Manager, but that won’t be much help to you. “One user told Windows Latest that File Explorer’s interface isn’t completely broken because they can still open Home and Gallery through the sidebar. No other folders will open.”
With that and other problems — such as the sidebar becoming inoperable — the fact that File Explorer hasn’t crashed doesn’t matter. You need to take action to restore some normality to your PC. If you do find this broken Windows problem, the best bet is likely to uninstall Windows 11 KB5051987. You can do this through Windows Update in Settings, where you’ll find the Uninstall buttons.
Per Windows Latest, “next to the patch, click ‘Uninstall’, and confirm your decision by selecting Uninstall again. Reboot your system. Once done, you’ll be downgraded to January 2025 Update. You can try reinstalling the patch, but if you run into the same problem again, we recommend pausing updates for a couple of weeks. Windows Latest expects most of the issues will be resolved in the February 2025 optional update, which will ship in the third week of the month.”
The update in question is a mandatory security update, “so it will install automatically whether you like it or not.” That means if your PC is susceptible to this issue, you’re going to find out, like it or not. “You’ll need to manually uninstall the patch and pause updates for up to three weeks or wait for the February 2025 optional patch.”
This is the latest in a run of such Windows 11 issues. Microsoft will want this all to smooth out before we hit the Windows 10 deadline in October. Optically, the Windows 11 experience should be a seamless as possible, especially when it comes to security and security updates, as that’s been the critical driver for the upgrade. I have asked Microsoft for any additional information on these latest reports.
