KB5034204 Crashes File Explorer and Taskbar, Fix the Issues

If Windows 11 KB5034204 crashes File Explorer or the Taskbar, you can refer to this post to find the solutions.

What is Windows 11 KB5034204?

Windows 11 KB5034204 is an optional update released for Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2. This update contains some improvements and bug fixes. But like any other Windows update, this update also brings troubles to some users.

For example, many users report that they cannot download and install KB5034204 on their computers. However, some users who successfully install Windows 11’s January 2024 optional update report that KB5034204 breaks File Explorer or the Taskbar.

If you are bothered by one of these issues, you can keep reading to know what to do to solve the problem.

Windows 11 KB5034204 Brings Some Issues

Here are the common issues reported by Windows 11 users:

• Windows 11 KB5034204 fails to download and install.
• Windows 11 KB5034204 crashes File Explorer.
• Windows 11 KB5034204 breaks the Taskbar.

Windows 11 KB5034204 Fails to Download and Install

Many users have reported that Windows 11 KB5034204 won’t download and install on their PC due to the error message 0x8007000d. This is a common issue. To solve the Windows 11 KB5034204 installation problem, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter or run SFC. You can find more solutions from this blog: What to Do if Windows 11 KB5034204 Won’t Download and Install.

Windows 11 KB5034204 Breaks File Explorer and the Taskbar

Windows 11 KB5034204 Breaks File Explorer

You may still encounter various issues even if you have successfully installed the update. For example, there are many reports about KB5034204 crashing File Explorer.

After installing KB5034204, the desktop screen may go black for a bit and then come back. Users cannot use File Explorer after installing KB5034204 like before. Another situation is that Windows throws an error message about the explorer.exe error during shutdown.

Windows 11 KB5034204 Breaks the Taskbar

Windows 11 KB5034204 may also break the Taskbar. Many users said that they cannot interact with desktop icons such as the PC or Recycle Bin, or cannot access the Taskbar icons after installing Windows 11’s January 2024 optional update. Besides, this update may also cause the Taskbar to disappear. You can press Win + X to make the Taskbar appear again. But the Start Menu may still disappear.

Hide or Uninstall Windows 11 KB5034204 to Fix the Issues

If KB5034204 breaks File Explorer or the Taskbar, you can choose to uninstall this update to make everything go back to normal. While, if you haven’t installed this update and don’t want to install it due to these new issues, you can directly hide this update.

How to Hide Updates in Windows 11?

You can download a special tool from Microsoft and then use it to hide a specific update like KB5034204. This tool is Download Show or hide updates.

This post shows you how to download and use this tool to block an update in Windows 11: How to Hide/Stop/Block Specific Updates on Windows 10/11?

How to Uninstall Updates in Windows 11?

If you cannot tolerate the issues caused by KB5034204, you can directly uninstall it and then hide it using the Download Show or hide updates tool.

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Bottom Line

If you encounter Windows 11 KB5034204 installation issues or KB5034204 crashes File Explorer or the Taskbar, you can use the solutions mentioned in this post to solve the problems.

While using MiniTool software, you can feel free to contact us via [email protected] if you are facing issues.