Windows 11 August preview update adds long-awaited features but brings cursor and wallpaper bugs

According to TechRadar, the update is still in preview and is an 'install at your own risk' affair. Windows Latest first noticed reports of problems, including the mouse pointer changing to a "big white cursor" and the wallpaper becoming a blank black background. There are numerous reports in the official Reddit thread posted by Microsoft's Jen Gentleman. Apparently, the old-style cursor that appears in some cases cannot be changed, and if you try to revert it, it just switches back to the legacy pointer. The black wallpaper can be removed.

While this update is optional, as are all preview releases, many users have rushed to install it because it includes some long-awaited interface changes: the ability to move the taskbar away from the bottom of the screen, resize the Start menu, and turn off Bing in Windows 11 search.

The bugs are purely cosmetic, but they leave the operating system looking stark and basic. One unimpressed Redditor complained: "Wow a buggy mess of an update for everyone." However, those affected are more likely to voice complaints, and some users have reported installing the update without any issues. Windows Latest did not encounter pointer-related problems either.

The volume of reports still raises concerns about quality assurance and testing at Microsoft. This preview release is expected to become the September update next month, so the bugs need to be fixed before then.

Some users who did not encounter the cursor bug are still disappointed because they did not get the interface changes for the taskbar and Start menu. These features are being rolled out gradually, so they appear on only a selection of PCs initially. As another Redditor observed: "So I got black screen, my cursor is stuck to Windows 98 and can't be changed for some reason. I got the movable taskbar but don't have the big or small Start menu. With all due respect, this OS is a 'joke'."