Windows 11 KB5074105 Fixes Start Menu, Black Screen, and Activation Bugs

Microsoft has released Windows 11 KB5074105 to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, pushing systems to builds 26100.7701 and 26200.7701.

The update expands Cross-Device Resume, improves Smart App Control flexibility, and delivers a broad set of fixes that roll out gradually and normally.

What got fixed in Windows 11 KB5074105?

Gradual rollout fixes

Start Menu

• Fixed an issue where the shutdown warning message appeared truncated when other users were logged in.
• Fixed the Start menu opening on the wrong side of the screen when using Arabic or Hebrew display languages with non-centered taskbar icons.

Kiosk mode

• Removed an incorrect post-login message in multi-app kiosk mode stating:
  “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer.”

Windows Update and activation

• Fixed Windows license migration failures during upgrades caused by activation server registration issues.
• Fixed an issue where joining the Windows Insider Program from Settings > Windows Update could get stuck.

Lock screen and sign-in

• Improved system behavior to reduce cases where the lock screen became unresponsive.
• Fixed an issue where Explorer.exe hung at first login with certain startup apps, preventing the taskbar from appearing.

File Explorer and desktop icons

• Improved performance when browsing network locations.
• Fixed an issue where desktop icons moved unexpectedly when opening or renaming files.

Input

• Fixed reversed labels for keyboard character repeat delay in
  Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Keyboard.

User Account Control (UAC)

• Fixed a system freeze that occurred when launching Windows Terminal as administrator from a non-admin account.

Normal rollout fixes

Start Menu

• Fixed an issue where clicking “hide this pane” in the mobile device side panel did not correctly open the related setting.

Display and graphics

• Fixed black screen issues in isolated multiuser environments, typically after Windows upgrades.

Narrator

• Fixed an issue where Narrator failed to start during Windows installation from an ISO file.

Other fixes

• Fixed a system crash during startup when Windows Boot Manager debugging was enabled.
• Fixed iSCSI boot failures that caused “Inaccessible Boot Device” errors.
• Fixed Windows SDK CRT libraries being flagged as non-compliant with Microsoft SDL by BinSkim.

Microsoft also released KB5074169 to the Beta Channel, offering another option for Insiders who want to test upcoming Windows 11 changes ahead of wider availability.