Wallpaper Engine, a popular third-party platform for millions of users seeking diverse wallpapers, is reportedly facing compatibility issues following Windows 11’s recent update. Named the Moment 4 update, Microsoft introduced this latest addition to Windows 11 last week, unveiling new features and debuting Microsoft Copilot. The latter is a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant fueled by Bing Chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Windows Copilot. However, it appears to be causing performance issues for Wallpaper Engine.
Feedback from Reddit and the Steam Community suggests that the Moment 4 update is in conflict with Wallpaper Engine, leading to various issues and crashes.
The tech-development team responds to ongoing Wallpaper Engine issues
Addressing the problem in a Steam community thread, the development team suggested a solution for users. It was advised that users migrate away from the Windows Insider Preview and disable HDR. This recognition of the issue by the development team came in the wake of prior discussion surrounding the Moment 4 update (KB5030310) and its foreseen issues during Microsoft’s testing phase in July.
After dialogues with Microsoft, the development team has currently retracted the contentious HDR wallpaper function. An overhaul aimed at achieving compatibility with wallpaper applications, such as Wallpaper Engine, has been promised for future system upgrades.
The development team suggests temporary withdrawal as they collaborate with Microsoft for long-term resolution
As reported by the development team, due to the high volume of user complaints, it is currently impracticable to individually address each one. They have proposed the Windows Insider Preview withdrawal, citing Microsoft’s significant alterations to Windows Desktop and the unrealistic expectation for the team to provide instantaneous solutions.
The team is in active collaboration with Microsoft, seeking a viable solution. However, as this process unfolds, simultaneous efforts are being made to roll back some recent changes that have impacted desktop experience.
Users are encouraged to consider alternate options for a stable Windows experience until this issue is permanently resolved. Including those who have shared their experiences on the Feedback Hub, many users have reportedly resorted to the temporary solution of reinstalling Wallpaper Engine and disabling Windows Copilot post the Moment 4 update.
Despite the ongoing issues, users residing in the EU may consider themselves exempt from this complication as new legislation has blocked Microsoft’s rollout of Copilot to users within the region. This respite may not extend to those with an AMD GPU, given the subsequent driver issues reported in the wake of this update.
Microsoft Copilot: A Unified AI Assistant
Last week, Microsoft merged Windows Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Bing Chat into a unified AI assistant for Windows 11. Called Microsoft Copilot, the service will introduce over 150 new features, integrating AI-powered experiences into apps like Paint, Photos, and Clipchamp. Bing will also see enhancements, including support for OpenAI’s DALL.E 3 model and a revamped AI-powered shopping experience. Enterprise customers can anticipate the general availability of Microsoft 365 Copilot on November 1, 2023. Yesterday I reported that the AI now also supports the same plugins found on Bing Chat.
Last Updated on November 8, 2024 10:53 am CET
