The KB5051987 February 2025 update for Windows 11 24H2 is causing major issues.
At a time when Microsoft is aggressively urging users to update to Windows 11 24H2, the last thing the company needed was yet a further series of issues created by an official update. One of the main reasons users are reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 is because of these sorts of stability issues.
Complaints about update KB5051987 are rife across multiple forums, including a Reddit thread where users are reporting that the update is taking up to 4- 6 hours to install, if at all. However, the most concerning issue being reported is that the update breaks Windows Explorer, one of the most vital elements of a Windows operating system.
In the past I’ve been known to blame users who do not properly maintain their operating systems for these types of issues. However, I have tested this update on a fresh Windows 11 install inside a VM and can confirm that it does break Windows Explorer, even in the absence of any potential clashes with third-party software.
- You also might like: How To Block Windows 11 24H2 Upgrade
How To Fix KB5051987 Issues
If you’ve managed to install KB5051987 and are experiencing issues, I suggest that you uninstall the update:
- Navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Uninstall Updates
- Locate KB5051987 and click the associated Uninstall button
- Click Uninstall again to confirm
- Restart the system
BOTTOM LINE:
Microsoft is currently pushing a very heavy wheelbarrow up a very steep hill trying to convince users to upgrade to Windows 11 24H2, especially when these types of issues continue to occur. I have continually urged users to delay the upgrade to 24H2 for as long as possible and these types of incidents do nothing to change that advice.
We recently reposted an article from 2020 – Idiots In charge Of Windows 10 – and it seems nothing has changed, with the same idiots in charge of Windows 11.
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Thankyou, nice to know!
You are most welcome.
With a handle like “KBURRA” I’m guessing you’re Australian, yes?
agree with you wholeheartedly
Another interesting Article, Jim. Strange thing is, I installed that particular update on Windows 11 24H2 on the 11th of February and haven’t had any problems, so I’m kind of feeling left out.
Seriously, why do you suppose some have snags with updates and others do not?
Hey Nicke,
Yes, the update won’t cause issues for some users. You have to consider the billions of Windows users worldwide and the unlikelihood that two systems would be identical, both in terms of hardware and software. That means there are literally billions of PCs with differing configurations.
That alone is a recipe for users experiencing differing results.
I hope that helps clarify.
You always make good sense, sir. All the best!