Microsoft's Latest Update Resolves Windows 11 Taskbar Issues and Freezing Problems

At the end of June, Microsoft received feedback from users about peculiar errors with the Windows 11 taskbar, such as it becoming unresponsive or getting stuck on the screen.

In the cumulative update released today, Microsoft has successfully addressed this issue. The update, identified as KB5040442, notes in its changelog that it fixes errors where users might not be able to view or interact with the taskbar.

It's important to highlight that this issue primarily affected users of the Windows N edition, a special version that by default disables certain media features, typically intended for the European market.

The problem initially emerged with update KB5039302, affecting versions lacking media features or users who had manually disabled media features from the Control Panel. After installing the update, users encountered strange issues with the taskbar.

The new patch, KB5040442, is part of the July 2024 routine cumulative updates. It will be automatically checked for, downloaded, and installed by the system. It includes multiple bug fixes and patches for security vulnerabilities, so installation of this update is highly recommended as soon as possible.

However, one issue that remains unresolved in this update is the inability of Windows 11 versions 22H2/23H2 to upgrade from the Professional edition to the Enterprise edition, even when a valid license has been purchased by the enterprise. Resolving this issue may take some additional time.