Microsoft fixes a bug causing flashes and File Explorer issues in Windows 11 Safe Mode

Microsoft has updated the Windows 11 Health Dashboard with details about a new now-fixed issue in the operating system. According to the company's findings, Windows 11 users could encounter weird screen flashes after entering Safe Mode with no network capabilities. Also, the bug was causing stability issues for various parts of the OS that rely on explorer.exe - a process responsible for rendering the shell, File Explorer, etc.

Fixing the bug does not require installing a new update or removing one. The software giant used a neat "Known issue rollback" system that can quietly undo updates with bugs and instabilities. The problem with flashing displays should be gone without user intervention, but it might take up to 24 hours to apply. To speed up the process, Microsoft recommends restarting your computer.

Of course, users do not boot in Safe Mode for no reason. People use it most of the time to troubleshoot broken systems that cannot start in regular mode. If you need to launch Windows 11 in Safe Mode and the display flashes, try using Safe Mode with Network.

According to the official documentation, the bug affects systems with KB5012643 (OS Build 22000.652), released on April 25, 2022. The update contains a hefty list of bug fixes and improvements that will be included in the monthly cumulative updates due to release on May 10, 2022.

Microsoft fixes a bug causing flashes and File Explorer issues in Windows 11 Safe Mode