Microsoft finally lifts Windows 11 24H2 customization hold

In the United States, Microsoft implemented a compatibility hold on devices using wallpaper customization applications the day before the release of Windows 11 24H2. This decision, made more than six months ago, was taken due to issues that led to wallpapers not displaying correctly, icons disappearing, and other related complications. Affected users included individuals who personalize their desktops, as well as organizations employing custom backgrounds for branding purposes. As the situation evolved, Microsoft faced pressure to resolve the hold due to developers releasing updates to their respective applications. However, there was no clear explanation provided by Microsoft regarding the underlying reasons for the incompatibility between Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 24H2. With the gradual lifting of the hold, users were able to update their systems, although they were sometimes presented with notices to uninstall their wallpaper apps in order to complete the installation of the new version. Microsoft advised users to check for app updates or uninstall the existing wallpaper applications to avoid issues. Some wall customization applications, like Wallpaper Engine, managed to push updates that improved compatibility with Windows 11 24H2 as early as February. Despite this progress, Microsoft did not clarify why the hold was implemented for such a long duration, leading to speculation that it was mainly a matter of developers updating their applications rather than Microsoft addressing the fundamental compatibility issues. Microsoft emphasized that the timing for resolving these issues depended on the specific applications and their respective developers releasing updates.