Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 24H2 Update Broke Multiple Core Features

Microsoft has officially acknowledged an issue affecting Windows 11 version 24H2, where monthly cumulative updates released on or after July 2025 are breaking multiple core system features.

The problematic update, tracked as KB5072911 (KB5062553), is causing widespread failures in essential Windows components, including the Start Menu, Taskbar, System Settings, and File Explorer.

Critical Shell Components Failing Across Systems

The issue primarily impacts users during their first logon after applying the cumulative update.

Additionally, all user logons to non-persistent OS installations, such as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments, are experiencing these failures because application packages must be reinstalled with each logon session.

Users affected by this update may encounter Explorer.exe crashes, the Start menu failing to launch with critical error messages, System Settings silently failing to open, and ShellHost.exe crashes.

In some cases,…