Microsoft hunts for fix to annoying Windows 10 taskbar bug

Microsoft has confirmed an annoying bug in Windows 10: users who right-click on the taskbar are shown an incorrect “Open with” dialogue with the meaningless “How do you want to open the file?” instead of the usual drop-down lists and program-specific context menu.

This problem is apparently caused by some of the latest updates that Microsoft provided for Windows veterans in recent months. Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 10 version 21H2 are both affected.

Specifically, optional update KB5036979 from April 2024 is causing this misbehavior, as reported by BleepingComputer. Updates KB5039211 (June 2024), KB5037849 (May 2024, optional) and KB5037768 (May 2024) are also said to cause this problem.

Microsoft writes:

After installing the April 23, 2024 Windows update (KB5036979) and updates released after it, certain applications may display an “Open with” dialogue box asking you how you want to open this file. This problem can occur when you click with the mouse on an application icon in the taskbar or in the Start menu and right-click on the application to perform a task in that application. As a result, the “Open with” dialogue box may appear instead of running the selected task.

Microsoft continues:

This issue has been reported by users of Teams, the new Outlook for Windows, and Snip & Sketch. This issue may also affect other applications if you right-click on their icon to find a context menu with a list of tasks.

However, not all computers seem to be affected by the problem. On some, the right-click menu works as usual.

Microsoft says it’s working on a solution to the problem and will make it available with an update. Until then, you’ll have to select the desired tasks directly in the menus of their respective programs.