Solved Disappearing desktop background since 23H2 install this afternoon

Hi all,

I installed the 23H2 update this afternoon, prompted by some issues I was having with the Bitwarden password manager.
Those issues resolved, only to be replaced with something more annoying.

Every time I restart my computer now my desktop background disappears...to be replaced by a solid black background.

I don't want to roll the update back, and wouldn't know how to anyway...

I'm just wondering whether this is an isolated case, or if there are others experiencing this issue as well.

I read elsewhere that disabling 'Remember my preferences' might fix it...but that hasn't worked for me.

I look forward to your comments.

Many thanks,

Casey

Not happening here. Try setting it to a background color manually, set it to remember, reboot, then set it again to your desired image, set it to remember, and reboot again.

Hi Casey, does the background reappear at any point? Or do you have to manually select it again. Have you tried changing the background, for testing purposes?

Edit; John has beaten me again. Worth a try.

Just curious. Does your Windows still show to be activated? I've seen unactivaterd Windows show black desktop. Settings>system>activation

@CaseyBee


What version were you on before you updated?

When you updated, did you do it through Windows Update or with the Enablement Package?

Thank you all for your comments.

I updated through Windows Update.
The OS is activated.
Thankfully the problem resolved itself.

I don't know how, but I am grateful.

Thank you for your time.

Casey

Same here on my PC, but not on the Laptop.
Black screen after Login. All icons on place, Windows shows activated. Everything works normal.
I set my Desktop background picture again and it remains for a few windows restarts.
Already four times happened. It occured two times on 22H2 and once again after update to 23H2.

I'm having a similar problem, the desktop periodically goes black, some of the icons in the tray at the bottom of the screen still appear for various programs such as MS Word, PDF's, Office, etc, but the start/sleep mode icon, date/time, internet, folders, and other feature have disappeared. This started happening about a week or so after the 23H2 update. A restart corrects it and it doesnt happen for a few days, but then happens again out of the blue.

I ran into nearly the same issue after Windows automatically installed the recent KB5033375 update -- screen is black with nothing but a cursor.

Sometimes, the desktop will reappear but when it does, there is no taskbar anymore.

I opened a separate thread about this because I need to find out how to block this update.