- Windows 11 updates KB5070311 and KB5071142 cause errors in dark mode
- File Explorer displays white flashes when opening or browsing in dark mode.
- The lock screen hides the password entry button, although it remains functional.
- These are optional preview patches, and Microsoft is working on a future fix.
More and more users feel that Upgrading to Windows 11 has become something of a risky gamble.What once seemed like an occasional stumble after some isolated patching, now feels almost like the norm: A new update arrives, and with it comes an unexpected bug. which disrupts the daily functioning of the system.
The latest optional updates for Windows 11, especially those identified as KB5070311 and KB5071142Their demand was for better integration of dark mode and visual tweaks to the interface. However, some users have encountered the exact opposite: There are some pretty annoying visual glitches in File Explorer and on the lock screen.which again call into question the polished state of the system.
Preview update and known bugs in dark mode
Microsoft released the optional preview update KB5070311 for Windows 11 on the branches 24H2 and 25H2with the stated goal of improving performance, reliability, and, above all, the consistency of the dark theme across the entire system. A few days later, the company also released KB5071142Another update unrelated to security, which follows the same line of polishing aesthetic and functional details.
In theory, these patches were supposed to make The dark mode would be more consistent and that the old, garish white dialog boxes would finally adapt to the dark appearance used by most users. But, in practice, the company has had to admit that, after installing these updates, Significant visual glitches may occur when using the dark theme in Windows 11..
Both patches share a common denominator: they are optional preview updatesIn other words, they don't include critical security patches and aren't automatically installed on all devices. This gives some leeway to those who haven't yet applied them and prefer to avoid surprises with dark mode.
Microsoft acknowledges in its official documentation a specific set of problems linked to these patches, mainly related to the behavior of File Explorer and the lock screen, two components that are used constantly in everyday life.
White flash in File Explorer when using dark theme
The most visible mistake—and probably the most irritating—is a white flashing light that appears in File Explorer when dark mode is activeAccording to Microsoft itself, after installing KB5070311 some users notice that, when opening Explorer or moving through its sections, the window briefly displays a completely white background before loading folders and files.
This is not a one-off phenomenon that only occurs when opening the application: the flash can be repeated when Navigate to or from Home or Gallery, create a new tab, to activate or deactivate the details panel or even when the option is selected to “More details” when copying filesIn short, any action that involves reloading the Explorer's content can cause that white flash.
The flash lasts barely a second, but its impact is considerable. For those who have The entire system is configured in dark mode.Seeing the screen suddenly switch from muted tones to a stark white is jarring, especially in low-light environments. Furthermore, it completely undermines the main promise of this type of interface: reduce eye strain and avoid sudden changes in brightness.
Several technical sources have described the bug as an interface loading issue: while the File Explorer content is rendering, the background appears white before the final dark styles are applied. In other words, dark mode is present, but the loading sequence causes the user to briefly encounter this problem. a white screen that flickers between black and white every time you interact with the application.
A problem that affects the daily experience of users
Beyond the purely aesthetic aspect, this behavior has practical consequences. Many Windows 11 users in Europe and Spain use dark mode precisely for Avoid harsh glare and contrasts at night, during long work sessions or on laptops, where light management and battery life matter more.
With this bug, every access to the Explorer becomes a source of visual distractionThose who work with many tabs, copy large volumes of files, or constantly move between directories notice the problem more, since The flashes repeat over and over againThe longer it takes to load the content, the more noticeable the flashing white background becomes.
Furthermore, it's paradoxical that this update was announced as a step forward in consolidating the dark theme, including improvements for the dialogs for copying, moving, or deleting filesIn other words, the goal was for these windows to abandon their classic dazzling white and blend seamlessly into the dark environment. However, the current result is that the user continues to face sudden white screens right in the core of the file system.
For many, the bug reinforces the feeling that Windows 11 is accumulating small, broken details: animations that aren't quite right, icons that disappear, menus that are slow to load… Taken together, these visual problems fuel the idea that The overall system experience is less robust than one might expect. in an operating system already established in the market.
Invisible icons and lock screen problems
The other relevant error linked to these updates is not related to File Explorer, but to the lock screen and login methodsAfter installing update KB5071142, some users have noticed that the button that allows manually entering the password on the lock screen is no longer visible.
When there is multiple authentication methods configured —for example, PIN, Windows Hello, or a traditional password—, the interface usually displays an icon to choose the option to enter the password. After the patch, that icon becomes invisible: the button still exists, and if you move the cursor over the area, the pop-up description appears, but There is no graphical indication on the screen that it can be clicked there..
It's a more subtle glitch than the Explorer's white flash, but no less unsettling. It directly affects accessibility and usability of the loginAnyone unfamiliar with the previous behavior or who hasn't read the official notices might think the option to enter the password has disappeared, when in reality it has only lost its visible icon.
In European corporate or educational environments where Windows 11 is used with varied authentication policies, this type of detail can generate confusion among users and increased burden on technical supportIt also doesn't help that the affected component is such a basic element as system access.
Microsoft admits the errors and promises future fixes
On its support pages, Microsoft has labeled the problem as both the white flash in File Explorer such as the failure of invisible button on the lock screen as "known issues" with these updates. The company indicates that it is already aware of the situation and that They are working on a fix that will arrive in a later patch..
For now, there is no specific date for the solution, but the official message indicates that the fix will be included in a future cumulative updateMeanwhile, those who have not yet installed KB5070311 or KB5071142 have the option of waiting for the next monthly update cycle and thus avoiding these anomalous behaviors with dark mode.
In practice, this makes installing these previews something like a lottery for the userIf everything goes well, you get visual improvements and new features; if a bug arises, the daily experience can be affected by details as obvious as a constant white flash or a disappearing icon, and some resort to tools like Autoruns to analyze problematic processes and startups.
For those who have already installed the patches and are experiencing these errors, the options are to uninstall the update—if the system allows it without issues—or temporarily accept the problem until Microsoft releases the final fix. In any case, this is not a security issuebut rather a primarily visual and usability drawback.
Real improvements to dark mode versus a feeling of neglect
It's particularly striking that these errors appear in an update that also includes long-awaited improvements. With KB5070311, many of the legacy Windows dialog boxes —such as confirmation windows when deleting files, progress bars when copying them, or classic error messages— are finally starting to respect the system's dark theme, something the community has been demanding for a long time.
Furthermore, additional improvements have been announced, such as the future introduction of dark mode in the Run dialog box and minor adjustments to progress bars and graphical views, designed to give the entire interface a more uniform look. Meanwhile, dark mode remains a useful tool for reduce eye strain and, in certain devices, improve battery lifeespecially in laptops and convertible devices.
However, the impact of these improvements is overshadowed by the string of visual errors that accompany them. Every time a user opens File Explorer and sees a white flash, the feeling is that The final experience isn't as polished as it should be.And when a simple password icon disappears from the lock screen, the overall impression is of a system where details are being lost.
This perception is not limited to home users. Industry professionals, such as himself Dave Plummer, original creator of Windows Task ManagerThey have publicly expressed their concern about the current state of Windows 11. Plummer has compared the situation to the pre-stage to the famous Windows XP Service Pack 2 and has suggested that Microsoft should slow down the flood of new features for a while., including the comprehensive integration of AI, to focus exclusively on correcting errors and reinforcing stability.
More recent bugs and how they affect trust in Windows 11
The problems with dark mode add to a list of recent incidents that have eroded trust within the community. In recent weeks, several issues have been reported. errors that affected access to “localhost”This was especially serious for web developers and technical users, and it was also a bug that caused... The Task Manager would multiply in the backgroundconsuming resources unnecessarily.
All these cases have in common that they are not catastrophic failures that render the system unusable, but they do contribute to a feeling of constant instabilityEach patch seems to bring interesting improvements accompanied by unwanted side effects, making it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend the immediate installation of all optional updates.
In the European context, where Windows 11 is widely used in businesses, educational institutions, and public administrations.This perception carries added weight. Many organizations follow a more conservative update schedule precisely to avoid these setbacks, delaying the adoption of previews and prioritizing only tested security patches.
For the end user, the consequence is clear: increased caution before pressing the "Install now" button, even when the patch promises attractive improvements such as a more homogeneous dark mode or new features integrated with Copilot and other Microsoft services.
The current situation with Windows 11's dark mode leaves a bittersweet taste: Recent updates are moving in the right direction by extending the dark theme to more areas of the system.But at the same time, they introduce glaring flaws such as the white flash in File Explorer or invisible icons on the lock screen.
Until Microsoft manages to more carefully balance the arrival of new features with a thorough debugging of bugs, many users and organizations in Spain and the rest of Europe will continue to view each new update as a minor risk which might not be worth running on the same day it appears in Windows Update.
I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.
If you have any questions, my knowledge ranges from everything related to the Windows operating system as well as Android for mobile phones. And my commitment is to you, I am always willing to spend a few minutes and help you resolve any questions you may have in this internet world.