Taskbar crashes after IDLE - 25H2

Tatof · Dec 1, 2025

Hello,

After updating to 25H2 the taskbar keeps crashing after idling for some minutes.
(KB5068861) (26200.7171)

There are three ways to get it crashed in my case.

1. Use the computer but don't use the taskbar for 5 min.
2. Lock and dont use the computer for longer then 15 min. Loggin in crashes the taskbar and displays until 50% of screen.
3. Open any drag drop related software like "file zilla"

All 3 options: Taskbar freezes and explorer.exe automaticly restarts after pressing windows key multiple times.

What did i try to fix it?
1. Reinstall windows completely
2. sfc scannow
3. dism online restore etc
4. Remove some programs (that uses shell)
5. Disable programs in shell with "shellexview"
6. Clean boot
7. Add app package from here -> KB5072911: Multiple symptoms occur after provisioning a PC with a Windows 11, version 24H2 update - Microsoft Support
8. Update all drivers, update all software etc

Also can't downgrade from the last update.. get an error when i try to uninstall the update.

Still no fix.. i'm lost in possible solutions.
Do you guys know anything about this? Can't find any good info online on what to do.

PC spec
64 GB ram
AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
SSD 970 EVO samsung
3080 RTX

Most used software
- Figma
- PHPstorm
- Sourcetree
- Spotify
- Brave / Chrome
- Onedrive
- G hub
- (filezilla)
- Power toys

Changes (also breaks wihout these)
- Start11 stardock
- Fences stardock
- Winutil - ChrisTitusTech

glasskuter · Dec 1, 2025

Tatof said:
Reinstall windows completely

Did it crash while running a virgin install. (ie: without ANY apps installed or tweaks)

Tatof · Dec 1, 2025

Don't think so. Not sure, not time to reinstall now.

Tatof · Dec 2, 2025

Any idea's how I track more information about the crash? Can't find crash reports anywhere..

OAT · Dec 2, 2025

Tatof said:
Any idea's how I track more information about the crash? Can't find crash reports anywhere..

Create another user and log in as that new user.
See if the crash still occurs.
That will eliminate any potential user hive corruption as a cause.

Tatof · Dec 4, 2025

I think i know whats causing the problem. Its one of these:
- CAM service (NZXT app)
- EasyTuneEngine (Gyga-byte motherboard)

System works good now and I found these services by turning them off in msconfig.

Tatof · Dec 10, 2025

This was not the problem, fixed with last Windows update -> Windows 11, version 25H2 (repair version)

Bastet · Dec 11, 2025

Either the same or similar is happening to me. Everything works on restart but after idling laptop freezes - no cursor movement - I have to force restart.
Nothing changed apart from seeing the new battery icon in the taskbar.

Tatof · Dec 11, 2025

Same here, thought the Windows update fixed the problem.. it did not

Bastet · Dec 11, 2025

Seems to have made it worse as before the 1st Dec update I had no problems. I only discovered it after Patch Tuesday’s update & restart so thought that was the cause, I rolled back to the day before via an image & it’s the same. I’m now rolling back to Dec 1st but may have to roll back to before that.

Tatof · Dec 11, 2025

I can't roll back, stuck on this version for now

. Reinstall again in christmas break

Bastet · Dec 12, 2025

Dec 1st restore didn’t fix it. I’m reading that the problem started with the July update.

Bastet · Dec 15, 2025

Do you have to force restart Windows & the problem reoccurs or does the restart fix it?
Does clicking the Windows key work to recover from the crash?

Tatof · Dec 15, 2025

Restart doesnt fix it. Clicking the taskbar of pressing windows key multiple times restarts explorer.exe. Then its fixed for 10min +/-

Bastet · Dec 15, 2025

Thanks.
If you restart into safe mode does Windows crash?

dacrone · Dec 15, 2025

Boot into BIOS and under ERP disable S4 and S5 and see if it still does it (based off of a handful of other threads online - I’m not positive because I cannot replicate the issue).

Also - just for testing purposes, I’m curious if you use ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack just to replace the taskbar, does it occur? I’m only wondering this because I’m trying to narrow down if it’s even connected to the taskbar at all or another root cause entirely…

Tatof · Dec 16, 2025

I'm trying this solution now:

Explorer hangs and taskbar becomes unresponsive when playing game - Microsoft Q&A

After the latest update, when I try to play games after a while, my explorer hangs and restarts, and before the restart, it's the taskbar that gets unresponsive and has a loading cursor on it, also it freezes everything while restarting(mouse move speed…

learn.microsoft.com

And disabled DCOM from this tutorial: (hope this doesnt give big other errors)

DCOM foutmelding

Telkens na het opnieuw opstarten zie ik in het logboek 46 keer de foutmelding "De server {F9717507-6651-4EDB-BFF7-AE615179BCCF} heeft zich niet binnen de vereiste termijn bij DCOM geregistreerd" met gebeurtenis-id=10010. Deze meldingen komen allemaal in dezelfde tijd. Wat is hier aan de hand?

www.helpmij.nl

And yes I have Start11 installed. But when I deinstall it it still crashes.

Disabling S4 & S5 doesnt sound like a solution for this problem because the taskbar also crashes when i use the computer. (but not the taskbar)
Like this moment i'm typing this message and I know when i'm done posting it the taskbar will be crashed and needs restarting.

sinpool · Dec 16, 2025

Hi, I had something similar to this issue in previous windows 11 installation, when I was watching movies after a while explorer started to crash over and over and only restarting windows was fixing it until next series of crashes start happening, then I tried all sfc, dism and in place repairs nothing fixed it, and after that got 25h2 update, it didn't help as well, after several months I decided to clean install windows and after that old issue is gone or at least didn't occur yet, but this new issue started to show up, when I play an online game after some while taskbar gets unresponsive and I have to click on it or press win key several times to restart explorer and gets back to normal, I notice the hang when I check clock and its not updating. would like to get a fix for this annoying issue, as it makes it impossible to play online and PvP games.

Tatof · Dec 16, 2025

Sinpool. Thats exactly the same problem!
May i ask what your setup is?

Do you use any Taskbar alternative apps?
Did you use AERO tweaker?
Did you use ChrisTitus - WinUtil?
Do you use powertoys?
Do you use G Hub?
Do you use Brave?

sinpool · Dec 16, 2025

I only have Power Toys and NileSoft shell installed, nothing else
My system is a Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16IRX8 Laptop

Taskbar crashes after IDLE - 25H2

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

In the end, it truly does not matter.

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Similar threads