Taskbar and/or EP freeezing and crashing after switching users

[DeanosT50]

Before reporting your issue

• I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

EP v 26100.4946.69.6

Repro Windows Versions

Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.7628

3rd party tweak software installed

None

Describe the bug

2 user accounts on this machine and Fast User Switching is enabled for this purpose.

EP works 100% if I use the Win 11 style toolbar. I can lock the screen, log in with the other user and back again, no problems.

As soon as I revert to the Windows 10 style toolbar and change a few things, then lock the screen and come back, the toolbar has frozen up.
We use 2 screens, the toolbar on the main screen is not visible, the second screen shows the toolbar, but when you mouse over you get the spinny busy wheel and nothing can be done.

I even tried to end the Explorer tasks, but even this cannot be done. Click End, doesn't do a thing.
Also tried restarting the Explorer task, also no results.

You need to manually use Windows+TAB to cycle through each open window, close and save if needed.
Then Ctrl+Alt+Del and choose reboot from there...

You can't even get back to the other user.

Expected outcome

And like I said in the beginning, if I use Win 11 toolbar, you can switch users all day no problem.
But I miss my taller toolbar and weather now... :)

Hope there is a fix or workaround of sorts?

Actual outcome

As soon as I revert to the Windows 10 style toolbar and change a few things, then lock the screen and come back, the toolbar has frozen up.
We use 2 screens, the toolbar on the main screen is not visible, the second screen shows the toolbar, but when you mouse over you get the spinny busy wheel and nothing can be done.

Additional info

No response

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[pyrates999]

That windows update was just released yesterday: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/january-24-2026-kb5078127-os-builds-26200-7628-and-26100-7628-out-of-band-cf5777f6-bb4e-4adb-b9cd-2b64df577491

Was this happening before you installed it? And do all users have administrative privileges?

[DeanosT50]

It was happening last week also. and Yes, Full admin for both users.
Also local accounts, not MS.

[pyrates999]

if you enabled the option register as shell extension, disable it by opening up the EP properties application, go to File Explorer, and untick Register as shell extension.

Here's why: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Using-ExplorerPatcher-as-shell-extension

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Check if debug symbols were downloaded. Check using the console in explorer patcher. Open up the properties application for explorer patcher, go to advanced, and click on enable console.

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Do you have any third party antivirus installed? If so, which one? Have you added the exceptions to it?

[DeanosT50]

Yes, Shell extension is NOT enabled.
No 3rd party AV, just the basic MS systems.
Symbols download is enabled...

Console report the following:

Running on Windows 11, OS Build 10.0.26200.7628.
Loaded symbols
Setup user32 functions done
CAppResolverCacheBuilder::_AddUserPinnedShortcutToStart() = 4C0CC
Setup explorer functions done
Setup uxtheme functions done
Setup twinui.pcshell functions done
Setup combase functions done
Setup twinui functions done
Setup stobject functions done
Setup bthprops functions done
Setup shell32 functions done
Setup windows.storage functions done
Setup inputswitch functions done
Setup peopleband functions done
Installed hooks.
Open Start on monitor thread
EP Service Window thread
Started "Open Start on current monitor" thread.
Initialized taskbar centering module.
Progman: 132512
Progman hook: 328753
0 0
[EnsureXAML] 15 ms.
[Updates] Starting daemon.
[Updates] Configured update policy on this system: "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".
[Updates] Path to module: C:\WINDOWS\dxgi.dll
[Updates] Using hardcoded hash.
[Updates] Checking against hash "26100.4946.69.6.4c0cd564d448ea65"
[Updates] Update URL: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest/download/ep_setup.exe
[Updates] Hash of remote file is "26100.4946.69.6.4c0cd564d448ea65" (valid).
[Updates] Local version obtained from hash is 26100.4946.69.6.
[Updates] No updates are available.

[pyrates999]

I would do a basic file system check: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000148643/using-the-chkdsk-utility

And keep running it until it no longer is reporting any errors with the file system.

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When a crash happens again, post the latest dump file related to the affected exe in %LOCALAPPDATA%\CrashDumps

then rename the file extension to .txt and upload it to here. If it's too big, compress it into a zip file and upload it to here.

[DeanosT50]

Does EP change any file systems if you select Windows 10 taskbar?

This issue only happens once Win 10 style task bar is selected and you Win+L to change user.

[pyrates999]

Checking the file system is just a general troubleshooting technique. Please do it.

[DeanosT50]

chkdsk done, rebooted, no faults found.

[pyrates999]

Thank you. Please wait for a developer to respond.

[DeanosT50]

Thank you. 🙏