Microsoft has confirmed that the KB5120998 August 2026 non-security preview update is resetting Windows 11 mouse settings on affected systems. Users report that mouse cursor personalization settings are being changed or reverted to standard defaults after installation, and critically, the previous Windows 11 mouse settings cannot be restored once they’re lost.
What’s happening with Windows 11 mouse settings
According to Microsoft‘s official statement, “mouse cursor personalization settings are being changed or reverted to certain standard settings” following installation of the KB5120998 update released on August 27, 2026. The issue manifests in several ways: high-DPI mouse cursors are replaced with larger, white cursors, and custom cursor animations revert to standard settings. Most troublingly, attempts to restore the previous cursor customization are reported to be unsuccessful, leaving users stuck with the unwanted changes to their Windows 11 mouse settings.
The company describes the problem as resulting in “appearance regressions and intermittent animation changes.” Microsoft is still investigating the root cause and has asked affected customers to file a report via the Feedback Hub if they’re experiencing this issue.
How the update rolls out and what else changed
KB5120998 was released on Thursday with improvements to the Start menu, taskbar, and Windows search for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. Since this is an optional, non-security update, users must manually click the “Download and install” link unless they already have the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option enabled, which prompts the operating system to install it automatically.
This isn’t the first mouse-related problem Microsoft has tackled recently. In October, the company pushed an emergency update to fix a known issue that disabled USB mice and keyboards in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Additionally, Microsoft is investigating a separate bug that causes the mouse pointer to disappear for some classic Outlook users when moving it over the interface—a problem that’s persisted since February. As covered earlier, Motorola Previews Android 15 Update and New Themed Icons showed how vendors continue rolling out updates to address user-facing issues across their platforms. In a related development, Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs S25 FE: Explaining the $50 Price Increase highlighted how even minor updates can affect user experience across different product lines.
المصدر: BleepingComputer
