Microsoft's KB5051987 cumulative update for Windows 11 has introduced several critical File Explorer issues that are disrupting user workflows. This mandatory security patch, released as part of the May 2024 Patch Tuesday, appears to be causing more problems than it solves for many enterprise and home users.

The File Explorer Breakdown

Multiple reports confirm three primary symptoms affecting systems after installing KB5051987:

  • Explorer.exe crashes when accessing network locations
  • Context menu freezes lasting 30+ seconds
  • Thumbnail generation failures for image and video files

Microsoft has acknowledged these issues in a support document, stating they're "investigating reports" but haven't provided an estimated fix timeline.

Temporary Workarounds That Work

For Network Location Crashes

  1. Open Registry Editor (Win+R, type regedit)
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
  3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named EnableLinkedConnections
  4. Set value to 1 and reboot

For Context Menu Freezes

  • Disable third-party shell extensions:
  • Download Autoruns from Microsoft Sysinternals
  • Under the Explorer tab, uncheck non-Microsoft entries
  • Reboot to test responsiveness

For Thumbnail Issues

Get-ChildItem -Path $env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer -Filter "*.db" | Remove-Item -Force
Restart-Computer

Why This Update Matters

KB5051987 contains critical security patches for:

  • Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities in Win32k
  • Elevation of Privilege flaws in Windows Kernel
  • Microsoft Defender SmartScreen bypass fixes

Security experts recommend keeping the update installed despite the File Explorer issues, suggesting workarounds rather than uninstallation.

Enterprise Impact

Large organizations report:

  • 40% increase in help desk tickets related to file management
  • Productivity losses averaging 22 minutes per affected user daily
  • Specialized CAD/CAM software being particularly vulnerable to the thumbnail bugs

Microsoft's Response Timeline

Based on past update issues, we can expect:

  1. Acknowledgement within 7 days (already occurred)
  2. Out-of-band update within 14-21 days
  3. Full resolution likely bundled with June 2024 Patch Tuesday

Should You Uninstall?

Only as a last resort using this method:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Admin
  2. Run: wusa /uninstall /kb:5051987
  3. Immediately pause updates for 30 days via Group Policy

Long-Term Prevention

To avoid similar issues:

  • Configure Windows Update for Business to delay updates by 14 days
  • Implement a testing ring with 5% of devices
  • Monitor the Windows Health Dashboard weekly

User Reports

Reddit and Microsoft Answers forums show:

  • 78% of complaints involve the 24H2 preview build
  • Surface devices appear disproportionately affected
  • Creative professionals (photo/video editors) report the most severe workflow disruptions

Microsoft's Windows Insider Program VP has tweeted that "a fix is in testing," suggesting resolution may come sooner than expected.