Insider KB5074177 Windows 11 Insider Beta build 26220.7752 (25H2) - Feb. 3

Alonzo Mosley · Feb 4, 2026

I downloaded the installer scripts for the ISO - it's a 9GB file, it's 5PM, I have other work to do, and so I'm just gonna punt.

This is SUPER annoying behavior, but I'm going to try to make it through the weekend - and if I'm still not functioning, will try to rollback. I'm not wiping, unless the next push doesn't fix it.

I joined Insider years ago when I was doing work aligned with tech folks and thought it would be fun and cool and worthwhile - and kinda forgot. Now I don't need to be cutting edge, and this is a lesson in why! So once this is fixed, it's Build Vani.11a for me.

magilla · Feb 4, 2026

I too have flashing desktop icons—what’s with that?

FrancoDT · Feb 4, 2026

magilla said:
I too have flashing desktop icons—what’s with that?

Glad I don't use desktop icons in that case cause that sounds like an annoying bug.

Bree · Feb 4, 2026

Alonzo Mosley said:
Desktop icons now blink all the time

magilla said:
I too have flashing desktop icons—what’s with that?

I had that issue on 1 out of my 3 machines. The 'fix' was to change change the display scale. I went from '100% (Recommended)' to 125% then back to 100% again. The icons stopped flashing.

somagaze · Feb 4, 2026

somagaze said:
Hey there, I made an account just to jump into the discussion. I have the exact same problem as you: default apps screwed up (especially Firefox), flashing icons, unsuccessful rollbacks and re-installs. I've narrowed something down: take a look at task manager and CPU usage of explorer.exe and service host: state repository service. it appears something is wrong with these files (and their extension variations in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\

StateRepository-Machine.*
StateRepository-Deployment.*

Window event viewer also shows a lot of errors related to default apps. "System" is continually writing ~2k events to this log every few seconds:

C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Core%4AppDefaults.evtx

A few examples:

AppDefault Info: SetDefault-Error: process=C:\Windows\explorer.exe
AppDefault Info: SetDefault-Error: OneCore\Internal\Shell\inc\userchoicecore.h(333)\windows.storage.dll!00007FFA1D45530A
AppDefault Info: SetDefault-ProgIdAndHash: UserChoice Association=.bmp, ProgId=AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc, U=S-1-5-21-4241332490-2131394795-625187901-1001, T=2026:02:04:05:00:38:28, H=x4O7T0QKF/E=

I only know all this from googling about every step of the way. I've rolled back to a system restore point, uninstalled a .NET preview I that windows updated, a few registry default app deletions for browsers, and nothing has worked.

Currently, I am moving my documents out of C: to wipe and restore to vanilla.

Have you made any progress?

I think I got it fixed with a registry edit. it seems there was an issue with how default browsers are handled and the "user choice" hash. Something in the update must have caused an issue, so all the "default app" junk that goes on in the background was stuck in a logic loop or something.

I will admit I worked with AI to get this regedit done, but I did check with several different providers walking through the logic of what I was trying to do and any potential risks. If this is something you want to try, just make sure you know what you're doing. Place the following text in a *.reg file and run it and restart.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\http\UserChoice]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\https\UserChoice]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.html\UserChoice]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.htm\UserChoice]

HeavyHemi · Feb 5, 2026

Apparently this might be part of the new MIDI 2.0 that is being rolled out.

Windows MIDI Services rollout - known issues and workarounds - Windows MIDI and Music dev

There’s a larger blog post with the features and benefits of Windows MIDI Services coming later this month (February 2026). This is just a quick post here to assist users with known issues or workarounds, in the interest of remaining transparent on this project. We performed a ton of testing...

devblogs.microsoft.com

rseiler · Feb 5, 2026

Alonzo Mosley said:
As in several recent updates, my default apps were all wiped and reset.

And, for the life of me, it will not let me change my default browser. No matter what I do, it insists on using Edge to open links, PDFs, webps, etc. etc. etc. (If I go at it through Control Panel=>App, Control Panel=>File Type, launch the program and "This is not your default browser [Set]", nothing...)

Suffering the same thing on Dev, which has the same issue (reported here). I'd suggest doing an "Add feedback details" to maybe spur them along on this time-wasting issue. I hate when links don't open in my default browser!

der_7e_schatten · Feb 6, 2026

Aaaaand it broke Admin Protection again. God dang it...
The two previous ViVe ids does not work anymore. I would be happy if someone identifies the new IDs to enable

Alonzo Mosley · Feb 6, 2026

I just rebooted - the icons weren't blinking. So I launched Firefox and set it as my default browser - it stuck! And I set Adobe as my default PDF - it stuck!

I'm still on 7752.

The only thing I've done - and I can't imagine it's related, but I'm throwing it out there - I ran the Windows Update Troubleshooter (my sissyphean semiannual battle with HP drivers has recommenced).

rseiler · Feb 6, 2026

You're the second person I've seen mention a reboot in passing. In that case they thought it was a Defender update that helped, and in yours a WU troubleshooter. Both seem unlikely. What if it's the reboot? As in MS pushed some kind of silent fix late this week and it's only picked up on reboot? I think I'm going to try it myself.

Alonzo Mosley · Feb 6, 2026

Yeah, I can't imagine the troubleshooter fixed it. It was a change, just likely irrelevant. I just threw it out there, just in cases, as they say.

You can rest assured I've rebooted many, many times the last few days, though - and this is the first time it's improved!

It would be interesting if MSFT pushed out a completely silent fix - doesn't show up on the "Update" panel, or in the system tray!

rseiler · Feb 6, 2026

Well, I guess I can add me to this extremely anecdotal list: the problem seems gone with a reboot. And I had no problem at all reproducing it before.

I don't even have the WU "toggle" on, which I think is the only real way of getting something pushed out that wouldn't necessarily appear in WU history. I really wish MS would actually communicate about major problems like this between their weekly pronouncements.

Like you, I did reboot before today, but that was on Wednesday, about 24 hours after the build came out, since I had no idea what else to do. If they did push something, it was either yesterday or today.

Brink · Feb 9, 2026

KB5077201 Windows 11 Insider Beta build 26220.7755 (25H2) - Feb. 9

UPDATE 2/12: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/kb5077223-windows-11-insider-beta-build-26220-7857-25h2-feb-12.44541/ Windows Insider Blog: Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7755 (KB5077201) to the Beta Channel. Changes in Beta Channel builds and...

www.elevenforum.com

Insider KB5074177 Windows 11 Insider Beta build 26220.7752 (25H2) - Feb. 3

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Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Built-in Sysmon]

[Voice Access]

Fixes gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[File Explorer]

[Other]

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel