The Latest Patch Tuesday Disaster: How Microsoft's Latest Update Accidentally Removed Copilot from Windows
Microsoft's latest Patch Tuesday update has brought a surprise "feature" to Windows users - the accidental removal of Copilot, the company's AI-powered assistant app. The KB5053598 update, released on March 17, aimed to address 57 security flaws, including seven zero-day vulnerabilities. However, in the process, it left many users scratching their heads as they found their Copilot application gone from their systems.
For those unfamiliar with Copilot, it's a conversational AI app that allows users to interact with Microsoft applications using natural language. The app was initially released as part of the Microsoft 365 suite and has since become a popular tool for productivity and automation. So, what happened? According to Microsoft, the issue arose due to a compatibility problem between the Copilot app and the new update.
The company is currently working on a fix, advising affected users to download and reinstall Copilot from the official Microsoft Store. To restore the chatbot functionality, manually pinning the app to the taskbar should do the trick. However, for many users, this solution might not be enough, especially given the numerous other issues that have surfaced with the KB5053598 update.
A Troubled Update
While Copilot's disappearance is certainly a notable issue, it's just one of three outstanding problems acknowledged by Microsoft for the KB5053598 update. Roblox, on Arm devices, has stopped working altogether, and installation failures on systems with certain Citrix components are another problem plagued by users.
Beyond these officially listed issues, numerous reports have surfaced about additional problems caused by the update. Installation failures, including error codes 0x800f0993, 0x800F081F, 0x80070032, and 0xC004F211, are just a few examples. When the update installs successfully, users may encounter post-installation issues such as Remote Desktop Protocol disconnections, kernel or critical error messages, Blue Screens of Death (BSODs), and more.
A System in Crisis
But that's not all - some users have reported being unable to boot their systems after installing KB5053598. Yes, you read that right - the update has left some devices completely unbootable. For those who've experienced this, restoring system stability is a significant challenge.
As with many Microsoft updates, it seems the company's focus has shifted away from providing a reliable PC operating system towards selling AI services and cloud subscriptions (or showing ads). This raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of Windows as an ecosystem for users. With powerful hacking tools freely available on GitHub, lacking censorship or restriction, it's hard not to wonder if Microsoft is more interested in advancing its own interests than in ensuring the stability and security of its products.
Only time will tell how Microsoft resolves these issues, but one thing is certain - this latest Patch Tuesday disaster has left a sour taste in the mouths of many Windows users. As always, we'll be keeping an eye on this situation and providing updates as more information becomes available.