Users report issues with cursors and wallpapers after installing Windows 11 KB5120998

**The optional update KB5120998 brings expected features to Windows 11, but some users report that it resets the cursor and turns the wallpaper black.

• Some users claim that KB5120998 replaces custom cursors with a large white pointer that is difficult to modify.
• The patch also reportedly changed the wallpaper to a solid black color on certain machines, even after restarting or logging out.
• Uninstalling the update is noted by users as a temporary solution, while Microsoft requests more reports and has not yet formally acknowledged the issue.

The optional August update for Windows 11, identified as KB5120998, has begun generating complaints about errors affecting basic system customization elements. The patch includes a movable taskbar, a resizable Start menu, and a cleaner Search box, but some users claim that these improvements came with reset cursors and wallpapers replaced with solid black. Windows Latest reviewed reports published on Reddit and recommended acting with caution until Microsoft clarifies or corrects the behavior.

The warning does not imply that all machines exhibit the faults. The author of the report indicated that they installed KB5120998 without experiencing either problem, while several commenters and a moderator stated that they also did not observe any anomalous changes on multiple machines. This difference suggests that the error may depend on theme settings, screen scaling, or specific hardware, although the available testimonies justify following the case without treating it as a widespread issue.

KB5120998 is an optional update, so users can choose not to install it from Windows Update and wait for the next mandatory package. However, Microsoft has indicated that skipping it will not necessarily prevent the arrival of its main changes, as the included features will eventually become part of a required update later on. The decision, therefore, faces two priorities: accessing Windows 11's new features sooner or preserving a stable and personalized configuration.

For those who rely on their machines for work, study, or content creation, the provisional recommendation is particularly relevant. An altered cursor can affect visibility and accuracy, while a wallpaper reverting to black after each restart reveals that the problem is not always limited to a specific aesthetic modification. Until an official solution exists, prudence consists of postponing the patch, observing the reports, and keeping system recovery options handy.

Custom cursors revert to default appearance

The most repeated complaint describes an abrupt change to a large white pointer, associated by some users with the visual style of Windows 98. One person wrote that after installing build 26200.9278, corresponding to KB5120998, their high-density pixel custom cursor disappeared and was replaced by that design. According to their testimony, reverting to the previous build resolved the issue, a sign that the update would be related to the change, although it does not alone prove a causal relationship.

Other participants explained that the system stopped accepting any alternative to the default cursor. In one report, the user claimed that it was impossible to change the pointer, while another stated that it always appeared white and enlarged, not responding to accessibility selectors intended to modify it. These statements point to a blockage of customization, but do not yet allow establishing the real extent of the problem.

Some users also mentioned that the cursor tail appeared noticeably longer after installing the patch. The original report suggests that this perception could be related to confusion between the old-style Aero pointer and the theme logic applied by the new version, but there is still no technical explanation confirmed by Microsoft. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the symptoms described by the community and a cause that has not yet been officially recognized.

The measure that has the most testimonials as effective is uninstalling KB5120998 from the Windows Update history. Several people claimed that the cursor returned to its normal functioning after removing the patch, although this action also removes the improvements to the taskbar, Start menu, and Search that prompted the installation. The procedure appears as a temporary workaround, but it does not replace a fix that allows retaining the new features without sacrificing customization.

Black Wallpaper Replaced

The second major issue affects the desktop background, which disappears on some machines and is replaced by a solid black color. One user reported that the change occurred on both their desktop computer and a laptop, and they had to reconfigure their image; other responses echoed the same behavior. These testimonials have heightened concern among those following the megathread dedicated to this Windows 11 build, although they do not allow for calculating how many devices are affected.

In several cases, the black background appeared alongside the enlarged white cursor. One participant recounted that the update turned their desktop into a single-color space and seemed to modify the normal size of the pointer, suggesting that both issues could be connected to theme management. However, the available information does not allow for a conclusion on whether they share an internal cause or if they coincide by affecting nearby customization components.

Manually restoring the image did not always resolve the issue. Some users indicated that the background returned to black after logging out or restarting the machine, a persistence that turns the visual change into a recurring problem rather than a setting lost during installation. The uninstallation of KB5120998 appears again as the solution that allowed recovering the configuration, according to testimonials published by those who tried that alternative.

The absence of failures on other machines prevents generalizing the impact to the entire installed base of Windows 11. The report notes that the gradual distribution of updates may expose differences related to hardware, screen scale, or theme settings, factors that would explain why some users do not detect anomalies. Nevertheless, the combination of reports about the cursor and the background deserves monitoring until Microsoft publishes a technical assessment.

Microsoft Requests Reports as Doubts Grow

In addition to the visual problems, a small group of users mentioned the DISM error 0x800f0915 when attempting to repair the system image after installing the update. That code had already circulated for months in different builds of Windows 11 and usually appears when DISM cannot find a valid repair source, so there are not enough elements to directly attribute it to KB5120998. The temporal coincidence does not prove that the patch originated that inconvenience.

Jen Gentleman, a software engineer at Microsoft, responded in the thread to remind that KB5120998 is optional and asked affected individuals to submit reports via Feedback Hub. The official requested to include as much detail as possible, a practice that can help identify specific combinations of hardware, scaling, and issues. Her intervention did not specifically mention the cursor or wallpaper failures.

As of the time described in the report, Microsoft had not published a formal notice acknowledging both symptoms as known issues. This lack of confirmation does not invalidate user testimonies, but it does mark a difference between an incident documented by the community and a defect officially investigated by the manufacturer. The company may need more reproducible data before deciding whether to apply a general fix or a selective rollback.

The Known Issue Rollback tool, known as KIR, represents one of the ways Microsoft uses to revert problematic changes without necessarily withdrawing an entire update. However, no timeline had been announced for its use in this case, and it was also unclear whether the errors were due to a modification that could be reverted in that manner. For now, those who have already installed the patch and are not experiencing issues can keep it, while others have the option to wait.

What to Do Before and After Installing KB5120998

The most conservative recommendation is not to install the optional update yet if the machine relies on a custom cursor or a specific visual configuration. Windows Update allows waiting for the next cycle, although the highlighted features of the patch will arrive later as part of a mandatory update, according to Microsoft's reminder. This wait does not eliminate the novelty but reduces the risk of having to manually restore the system while the investigation continues.

Those who have already installed KB5120998 should check if the pointer retains its design, size, and color, as well as verify if the background remains after logging out and restarting. If the cursor gets stuck or the image turns black again, it is advisable to document the machine's configuration and submit a report in Feedback Hub before modifying the system. This information can help Microsoft differentiate a reproducible error from a specific incompatibility.

Uninstalling the patch may return the cursor and background to their previous state, according to available testimonies, but it also removes the new features of the mobile taskbar, resizable Start menu, and updated Search box. Therefore, the decision should consider whether those functions are necessary for the user and if the issues affect their productivity. The procedure should also be carried out carefully, as any change in a system update may require restarting and rechecking the configuration.

The situation will continue to depend on an official response and the arrival of a solution that does not force a choice between customization and new features. As long as there is no formal acknowledgment, reports from Reddit offer relevant signals but do not replace Microsoft's technical confirmation. The safest option for those who have not yet installed KB5120998 is to wait for the company to publish a notice, a fix, or a known rollback.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Any events, rewards, online promotions, or related information mentioned herein should not be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or invitation to purchase, sell, trade, or otherwise deal in any crypto assets. Crypto assets are highly volatile and may result in loss. The availability of WEEX services, products, and related events may vary by region. You are responsible for ensuring that your participation is in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations.