Latest bug in the Windows 11 2022 Update might cause apps to become unresponsive

Kevin Okemwa

Yet again, Microsoft has identified a bug that is affecting users that have installed the Windows 11 2022 Update. The company has stated that if you use keyboard shortcuts to turn on/off or change IME (Input Method Editor) input modes, some apps may become unresponsive.

If you aren’t familiar with the IME, it is a tool that allows users to input text in a language that is difficult to represent on a standard QWERTY keyboard. Microsoft has further provided instances that can cause this issue to occur:

  • ​For Japanese:
    • ​Using the Hankaku/Zenkaku (半角 / 全角) key on a Japanese keyboard
    • ​Using the default keyboard shortcut: holding down the Alt key and pressing ~ (tilde)
  • ​For Chinese:
    • ​Using the default keyboard shortcut: holding down the Control key and pressing Space
  • ​For Korean:
    • ​Using the default keyboard shortcut: pressing down the right Alt key

Microsoft has indicated that the issue can occur silently, even without displaying any error message. It has narrowed down the issue to apps that load certain components of the Text Services Framework (TSF). However, not all apps will encounter this issue, especially those that don’t load these components.

As a workaround, Microsoft recommends changing the input mode by clicking the IME mode icon in the taskbar rather than using keyboard shortcuts. However, the issue has since been resolved through an update. “This issue was resolved in updates released November 29, 2022 ( KB5020044) and later. We recommend you install the latest security update for your device,” stated Microsoft via the Windows 11 Health Dashboard.

This come shortly after Microsoft issued a fix for the printer drivers issue that was affecting users after installing the Windows 11 2022 Update. The company also confirmed that it had identified another bug that was breaking Remote Desktop Connections last week.

Has any of your apps become unresponsive after using keyboard shortcuts to turn on or change IME? Did installing the latest security update help you resolve the issue? Let us know in the comment section.