Microsoft has acknowledged performance issues caused by the bug in Windows 11 File Explorer. Some of those issues can also affect the Windows taskbar causing PCs to stop working in some cases. Some of the reported issues with File Explorer affect its performance while browsing for and selecting files, while in other cases File Explorer might become unresponsive and stop working.
Taskbar-related issues affect apps icons that are showing as active even when the apps are not running while the other bug in the auto-hide taskbar feature can also cause the PC to stop working. Microsoft has released an optional update for Windows 11 devices (KB5008353) addressing above mentioned issues.
The KB5008353 can be installed from Windows Update or Microsoft Update:
Here’s the list of all of the addressed issues with this update:
File Explorer issues
- Addresses some issues that affect File Explorer’s performance when you browse for files and select files.
- Addresses a reliability issue that causes File Explorer and desktop context menus to stop working.
Taskbar issues
- Updates an issue that affects icons for apps when the apps are not running. On the taskbar, these icons might display as active as if the apps are running.
- Addresses an issue that incorrectly shows the volume icon in the taskbar as muted.
- Addresses an issue that affects the loading of badging information on the taskbar, which sometimes causes a device to stop working.
- Addresses an issue that affects the auto-hide feature of the taskbar. The taskbar might not reliably appear when you hover over the primary or secondary display.
- Addresses an issue that might prevent icons from appearing on the taskbar of a secondary display.