Patch KB5051987 for Windows 11, released on February 11th, was supposed to bring important security improvements and adjustments to the file explorer. However, users who have received the update are reporting numerous problems, ranging from download issues to restrictions on camera use, and even a completely unusable file explorer. It’s worth noting that the page Windows Latest has received various reports of bizarre user experiences after installing KB5051987, which raises questions about the functionality of the update.
File explorer problems
The biggest issue with KB5051987 for Windows 11 is that the file explorer has become unresponsive for some users. When trying to open folders like desktop, documents, or pictures, it simply doesn’t react. The file explorer can’t even be opened via a desktop link or the Windows search. Although it’s not completely defective, as it still runs in the background and can be activated occasionally via the sidebar, content can no longer be displayed, which is extremely frustrating for affected users. System recovery or reinstallation don’t seem to help, and for some, this has even led to a completely black desktop.
Download and installation problems
On the other hand, some users are having trouble installing Patch KB5051987. The security update is mandatory for everyone and should be downloaded and installed automatically, but for some, the installation just stops, and an error message appears. The system then tries to load the patch again at a later date, but that doesn’t seem to work either. As a result, some users report getting stuck in an hour-long update loop. With a bit of patience, the patch seems to be installed eventually, but not for everyone. If you’re experiencing similar issues, it might help to empty the software distribution folder, where Windows stores all update files. If in doubt, it’s best to just give the computer a little longer to install.
Camera problems
Users are also reporting camera problems after installing the February 2025 patch. Something similar happened in January when webcams from different manufacturers stopped working. In this case, the device reports that it can’t recognize the camera. Other problems with KB5051987 include performance drops in gaming, issues with installing applications within the Windows Sandbox, incorrect preview animations of the taskbar, and isolated reports of users who could no longer boot into Windows after the update and had to boot manually via the BIOS.
You can do that
If you’re having serious problems with the February patch, you can uninstall it. Go to the settings under Windows Update and select KB5051987 for uninstallation. Please note that this will leave you without important security patches until Microsoft resolves the issues. Incidentally, the February patch also forced a new version of Outlook on all systems. You can find out how to prevent the new Outlook installation on your PC or how to uninstall the app in a separate article.
