14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just acknowledged a new issue in the latest cumulative updates for Windows 10, explaining that installing them could break down Internet Explorer.
Specifically, Redmond says that these updates make it impossible to launch the browser if the default search provider is not set or is malformed.
The bug exists in the May cumulative updates, which means that all users whose devices are up-to-date are prone to the error preventing Internet Explorer from running.
Needless to say, the easiest workaround for this issue is to set the default search provider, or for users who are ready for the most hardcore solution, to remove the cumulative updates altogether.
Microsoft says it’s already working on a resolution, and it expects this fix to go live for Windows 10 devices in mid-June. In other words, there’s a chance Microsoft is waiting for the June Patch Tuesday rollout to resolve the bug. This month, Patch Tuesday updates are projected to be released on June 11.
Affected Windows 10 versions
The affected platforms and cumulative updates are the following:
| Windows 10, version 1809 - KB4497934 |
| Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 |
| Windows 10, version 1803 - KB4499183 |
| Windows 10, version 1709 - KB4499147 |
| Windows 10, version 1703 - KB4499162 |
| Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016 |
| Windows 10, version 1607 - KB4499177 |
Microsoft recommends against using Internet Explorer as the primary browser, and the company says Windows 10 users should switch to Edge for navigating the web. Internet Explorer continues to be offered in Windows 10 for compatibility purposes, as it’s the browser that many enterprises use for their internal apps and services.
In the meantime, Microsoft is working on a revamped version of Microsoft Edge that makes the switch from EdgeHTML to Chromium as the powering engine. This browser will also include an Internet Explorer mode for compatibility reasons.