Microsoft Admits Windows 11 KB5120998 Update Breaks Mouse Cursors, With Wallpapers Turning Black Until You Uninstall It - Wccftech
The issue appears to be widespread, which has caused even Microsoft to acknowledge the problem with its latest Windows update. As reported by Windows Latest, there are apparently so many reports of users that suggest a mouse cursor issue with this optional update. Both mouse cursor and wallpaper bugs are reportedly fixed when the update is removed.
The issue appears to be widespread, which has caused even Microsoft to acknowledge the problem with its latest Windows update.
A few days ago, Microsoft rolled out its one of the major Windows 11 updates, which affects the Taskbar, Start Menu,l and Windows Search. This is the optional Windows 11 KB5120998 update, which brings some major changes to the operating system, but at the same time, resulted in a lot of bugs causing problems for the users.
As reported by Windows Latest, there are apparently so many reports of users that suggest a mouse cursor issue with this optional update. Users are reportedly seeing their mouse cursors broken after applying the latest update. Windows Latest seems to have confirmed it in their own testing as the issue appeared right after the update was applied. With this update, the mouse cursor either goes missing or may become very large.
In some cases, the cursor goes very small, making it uncomfortable for the users. Some users also reported the cursor going back to the default settings and may change its color and size despite applying the changes. After this became a widespread issue, Microsoft finally acknowledged the problem and has included a note in their release notes.
Microsoft has received reports indicating that mouse cursor personalization settings are being changed or reverted to certain standard settings,
This occurs following installation of Windows updates released August 27, 2026 (KB5120998) and later.
It's clear that Microsoft knows that the problem is related to the latest KB5120998 update, which is why it explicitly mentioned it. However, the problem doesn't just include mouse cursor changes, but also involves wallpaper changes as well. Windows Latest found that this bug causes your wallpaper to turn into a black screen despite making changes. Whenever you change the wallpaper and restart your system, the operating system keeps displaying the black screen.
Both mouse cursor and wallpaper bugs are reportedly fixed when the update is removed. We expect Microsoft to release an update to fixe these issues in the coming days. Meanwhile, if you are suffering from these problems, you may roll back to the previous update by uninstalling KB5120998.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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