Following the rollout of Windows update KB5120998, users are reporting that their desktop background is disappearing or resetting to black. This issue affects Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2, and may also impact other desktop settings such as slideshows and contrast themes.
Microsoft has confirmed that some Windows 11 users have been experiencing issues with their desktop background since the August 27, 2026 update. After installing update KB5120998 , users are noticing that custom backgrounds disappear and are replaced by a solid black color. The cause lies in an error loading certain desktop settings after this update.
It is not just the desktop background that is affected. According to Microsoft, other desktop settings, including slideshows and contrast themes, may also be impacted. For some users, the mouse has been behaving strangely since installing the (optional) update.
Solution in the works
Attempting to manually restore the background or other settings provides no resolution. The issue prevents modified settings from loading correctly, regardless of their value. As a result, only the default black background remains visible on affected devices. Users attempting to reset their desktop find that their changes are lost every time.
Microsoft is working on a solution and indicates that a fix will be provided in a future Windows update. The company will share more information as soon as it becomes available. Until then, the issue persists for users of Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2.
Only client versions affected
The issue is limited to client versions of Windows 11. According to Microsoft, server versions are not affected. This means that primarily end users and organizations working with Windows 11 on laptops and desktops are experiencing disruptions.
Companies and users who rely on custom desktop settings can do little for the time being. Due to the lack of a workaround, they must wait for an official patch.
Microsoft confirms via the Windows Health dashboard that the Patch Tuesday update of September 8 (KB5124008) provides the solution. The monthly security update addresses no fewer than 570 bugs of various degrees in one go, including Teams and Outlook crashing on Arm devices.
This article originally appeared on September 4 and was updated with the latest information regarding a patch.