ExplorerPatcher’s latest maintenance release restores a broken weather widget and a raft of Windows 11 tweaks — but the fix also lays bare the fragile ecosystem that surrounds third‑party shell mods, where changes made by Google, Microsoft, or antivirus heuristics can suddenly break a feature that users rely on. (newreleases.io)
In late 2024 and into 2025, Windows 11 feature updates (notably 22H2 and 24H2) introduced internal changes and compatibility checks that caused several ExplorerPatcher functions to fail or get flagged during upgrades. In response, ExplorerPatcher’s maintainers released pre‑release builds that both adapt to internal API changes and — controversially — rename helper binaries to sidestep Microsoft’s upgrade‑safeguard mechanisms. Those actions solved immediate compatibility pains for many users but also highlighted longer‑term maintenance and security trade‑offs.
This explanation is consistent with community troubleshooting traces: users reported seeing a cookie/consent dialog or a blocked resource that prevented the widget’s embedded page from completing its load sequence — behavior that can follow a backend or UI change from the weather data provider (in this case, the Google weather content embedded in Windows widgets). Several community issue threads and the official issue tracker captured both the symptom and the workaround. (github.com)
That pattern is common in desktop widgets that surface web content: the outer shell (Windows widget host or ExplorerPatcher’s weather host) is effectively a minimal browser instance that needs to react to external web changes. When Google changed how it presents weather content or added a cookie/consent step, ExplorerPatcher’s weather glue code could no longer complete the automated load sequence — hence the “Unable to load weather information” symptom. The change could be as small as a DOM selector moving or as large as a CSP/security change that prevents embedding. The project’s changelog pins the root cause to Google’s side, and community issue traces show cookie prompts interfering with the load cycle. (newreleases.io)
A few details remain context‑sensitive: ExplorerPatcher’s exact build number variations (26100.4946.69.x) show several pre‑release iterations; users should confirm the latest published build before installing. Where the changelog attributes the cause to “changes in Google’s side,” that statement traces to the maintainer’s assessment and community reproduction; absolute root‑cause tracing (e.g., the specific Google endpoint or DOM change) wasn’t published in exhaustive detail by the maintainer and therefore should be treated as the developer’s diagnosis rather than a forensic, third‑party confirmed analysis. (newreleases.io)
For Windows 11 power users, ExplorerPatcher remains a powerful way to restore productivity features removed or changed by Microsoft’s redesign. For users who opt in, the rule of thumb is simple: back up, test, and keep an eye on release notes and community issue trackers. Those steps provide the best balance between enjoying the productivity benefits of a classic UI and limiting the operational risk of an unsupported shell patch.
ExplorerPatcher fixed the immediate weather problem and documented practical recovery steps; the episode should be a reminder that when you stitch together UI behavior with external web content and runtime hooks, you inherit the volatility of every component in that chain. (newreleases.io)
Source: Neowin Google broke a Windows 11 function, if you were using this free popular modding tool
Background
ExplorerPatcher is an open‑source utility that hooks into the Windows shell to restore or emulate legacy behaviors from Windows 10, including a classic taskbar, Start menu options, and the File Explorer ribbon. It has become a go‑to tool for enthusiasts who prefer productivity‑centric UI patterns over Windows 11’s modernized defaults. The project is actively maintained and often issues rapid updates to stay compatible with Windows feature updates and security patches. (explorerpatcher.org)In late 2024 and into 2025, Windows 11 feature updates (notably 22H2 and 24H2) introduced internal changes and compatibility checks that caused several ExplorerPatcher functions to fail or get flagged during upgrades. In response, ExplorerPatcher’s maintainers released pre‑release builds that both adapt to internal API changes and — controversially — rename helper binaries to sidestep Microsoft’s upgrade‑safeguard mechanisms. Those actions solved immediate compatibility pains for many users but also highlighted longer‑term maintenance and security trade‑offs.
What happened: the weather widget break and the fix
The symptom
Users of ExplorerPatcher noticed the weather data in the taskbar/widget area failing to load, showing an “Unable to load weather information” or similar error instead of the expected brief forecast. In many cases the small weather icon appeared but clicking it produced an error dialog or the content blinked briefly before disappearing. Community bug reports showed this behavior across multiple Windows 11 builds and ExplorerPatcher versions. (github.com)The immediate cause reported by the developer
ExplorerPatcher’s changelog explicitly states that the weather issue was caused by changes on Google’s side and that an update to ExplorerPatcher’s weather host has fixed the “Unable to load weather information” error. The maintainer recommends clearing the local widget data in ExplorerPatcher’s properties (Weather > Clear weather widget local data) if the widget does not immediately recover. (newreleases.io)This explanation is consistent with community troubleshooting traces: users reported seeing a cookie/consent dialog or a blocked resource that prevented the widget’s embedded page from completing its load sequence — behavior that can follow a backend or UI change from the weather data provider (in this case, the Google weather content embedded in Windows widgets). Several community issue threads and the official issue tracker captured both the symptom and the workaround. (github.com)
How the fix was distributed
The fix is included in a pre‑release ExplorerPatcher build series identified with 26100.x versioning (multiple build labels appeared as maintainers iterated), and the changelog entry lists ep_weather as repaired. The releases were published as pre‑release assets on the project’s GitHub/mirror pages and are marked with the usual caution about antivirus false positives and the pre‑release status. (newreleases.io)Technical details and change log highlights
The release that addressed the weather problem also bundled numerous other compatibility fixes and internal refactors. Key technical items in the changelog include:- ep_weather: Fixed “Unable to load weather information” due to changes on Google’s side; recommended clearing weather widget local data if the widget remains stale. (newreleases.io)
- GUI / File Explorer: Title bar restored on Windows 11 22H2+, fixes to shrinked address bar graphics on 24H2 builds, and corrected toolbar button sizing when Microsoft’s Servicing_CFDNavButtonsTheming flag is active. (newreleases.io)
- Hooking and runtime changes: Switched hooking library to SlimDetours to address ARM64 incompatibilities with certain Windhawk mods and to reduce rare crash scenarios. (newreleases.io)
- Taskbar: The ExplorerPatcher taskbar (ep_taskbar) is now used by default on Windows 11 22H2+, and ep_taskbar now statically links the private functions it uses. (git.pcoof.com)
- Compatibility patches: Fixes for Start11 and Start10 interactions on specific builds, and Taskbar10 corrections where Windows feature flags (e.g., TrayThreadBSTA) interfered with legacy toolbar behavior. (newreleases.io)
How to fix it on your PC right now
If you rely on ExplorerPatcher and are seeing the weather widget failure, follow this conservative procedure:- Backup and prepare:
- Create a system restore point or a full disk image.
- Note your ExplorerPatcher settings (export where offered) so you can restore them after an update.
- Update ExplorerPatcher:
- Download the latest pre‑release build from the project’s official release page or mirror and run the installer. Use the in‑project instructions for adding Defender exclusions only if you understand the security implications. (git.pcoof.com)
- Clear widget local data in ExplorerPatcher:
- Open ExplorerPatcher Properties > Weather.
- Click Clear weather widget local data, then restart Explorer (or sign out/sign in). If the UI does not respond, reboot the PC. The maintainer notes that a reboot may be required before the clear operation succeeds. (newreleases.io)
- If the weather still fails:
- Confirm that antivirus has not quarantined EP host libraries (look for quarantined ep_weather_host_stub.dll or ep components).
- Temporarily disable or examine security logs to ensure legitimate EP files are not being blocked. Community threads report Defender sometimes quarantining EP runtime libraries, causing intermittent failures. (github.com)
- Roll back if unstable:
- If Explorer or the taskbar becomes unstable after installing EP, revert by uninstalling ExplorerPatcher (EP provides an uninstall option) and restoring your image/restore point. If Explorer fails to start, use Safe Mode or a recovery environment to remove EP binaries.
Why Google’s change matters (and why it broke a Windows 11 function)
ExplorerPatcher’s weather integration does not implement a full weather backend; it relies on embedding or proxying content supplied by a third‑party provider (in this case, Google’s weather content surfaced through Windows widget UI). When that provider adjusts markup, adds consent flows, or changes resource URLs, any code that expects a consistent structure can fail to parse or load the required information, causing the embedded widget to show an error.That pattern is common in desktop widgets that surface web content: the outer shell (Windows widget host or ExplorerPatcher’s weather host) is effectively a minimal browser instance that needs to react to external web changes. When Google changed how it presents weather content or added a cookie/consent step, ExplorerPatcher’s weather glue code could no longer complete the automated load sequence — hence the “Unable to load weather information” symptom. The change could be as small as a DOM selector moving or as large as a CSP/security change that prevents embedding. The project’s changelog pins the root cause to Google’s side, and community issue traces show cookie prompts interfering with the load cycle. (newreleases.io)
The broader ecosystem problem: fragile dependencies and multiple failure modes
ExplorerPatcher operates at the intersection of several fragile dependencies:- Windows internals: Microsoft changes internal APIs, feature flags, and shell behaviors between feature updates (22H2 → 24H2 → 25H2), forcing EP to adapt quickly. The project has, at times, renamed helper binaries to circumvent upgrade blocks — effective but politically and operationally sensitive.
- Third‑party web providers: Weather content served by Google is outside EP’s control; backend changes there can break features without any Windows update being involved. (newreleases.io)
- Antivirus heuristics: EP’s low‑level hooking and helper DLL placement can look suspicious to heuristic engines, triggering quarantines that disable core functionality and lead to unexplained breakage. The project warns about false positives and lists Defender exclusion guidance for advanced users. (newreleases.io)
- Third‑party mod interactions: Other mods (Windhawk, Start11, etc.) can conflict with EP’s hooks; the release explicitly addressed compatibility with Windhawk mods and adjusted hooking libraries to handle ARM64 edge cases. (newreleases.io)
Strengths of the response (what ExplorerPatcher did well)
- Fast, targeted fix: The maintainer located the issue and pushed an update that explicitly addressed the weather problem and included an in‑UI recovery action (Clear weather widget local data). That responsiveness is exactly why community‑maintained tools survive frequent OS churn. (newreleases.io)
- Comprehensive compatibility work: The release didn’t just patch the weather widget; it also updated hooking internals (SlimDetours), fixed File Explorer title bar regressions, and addressed taskbar and Start menu interactions across multiple Windows 11 builds. Those broader changes reduce the chance of regression on other fronts. (newreleases.io)
- Practical guidance for users: The changelog and issue threads include concrete remediation steps (clear local data, add Defender exclusions when necessary, update to the latest pre‑release), which help users recover quickly. (github.com)
Risks and trade‑offs (what to watch out for)
- Antivirus false positives and quarantines: ExplorerPatcher’s runtime behavior can be mistaken for malicious activity. If Defender or another AV detects and removes EP components, Explorer or the taskbar can fail to start — potentially leaving a system with a non‑functional shell. That risk is well documented and flagged repeatedly in releases and community threads. Proceed carefully and keep backups. (newreleases.io)
- Pre‑release status: The builds that fixed the weather widget were released as pre‑releases. Pre‑release code may still contain undiscovered regressions or behave differently across hardware/feature combinations. For production machines, waiting for a stable release is prudent. (git.pcoof.com)
- Upgrade and policy friction: Microsoft’s upgrade safeguard and internal checks can block or flag systems with certain shell modifications. ExplorerPatcher’s workaround (renaming helpers) is practical but creates an arms‑race dynamic with OS enforcement policies; future updates could change detection heuristics and break compatibility again.
- Maintenance burden: Running a shell modifying tool requires ongoing maintenance — regular updates, testing after Windows cumulative or feature updates, and occasional reconfiguration if inner Windows behavior changes. Casual users or enterprise fleets should avoid deploying such tools on production assets without formal testing and support agreements.
Verification and cross‑checks
This article’s core claims were cross‑verified with multiple independent sources: the project’s published changelog entries (mirrors and release pages), the ExplorerPatcher issue tracker (users reporting the weather symptom and maintainers’ guidance), plus community reporting on Neowin and forum threads documenting the same timeline and symptom set. The changelog entry explicitly credits a fix for ep_weather and recommends clearing local widget data to restore the UI — an instruction echoed by issue‑tracker comments where users reported success after clearing local data and rebooting. (newreleases.io)A few details remain context‑sensitive: ExplorerPatcher’s exact build number variations (26100.4946.69.x) show several pre‑release iterations; users should confirm the latest published build before installing. Where the changelog attributes the cause to “changes in Google’s side,” that statement traces to the maintainer’s assessment and community reproduction; absolute root‑cause tracing (e.g., the specific Google endpoint or DOM change) wasn’t published in exhaustive detail by the maintainer and therefore should be treated as the developer’s diagnosis rather than a forensic, third‑party confirmed analysis. (newreleases.io)
Recommendations for power users and IT admins
- For enthusiasts who want the classic Windows 10 behavior: continue using ExplorerPatcher on non‑critical machines, but adopt a disciplined update workflow:
- Test new EP releases on a spare machine or VM before rolling them into daily drivers.
- Delay major Windows feature updates for 7–14 days so the community and EP maintainers can react to breakages.
- Keep a tested rollback plan (system image or restore point) handy.
- For enterprise or managed fleets: avoid installing ExplorerPatcher on production endpoints. Use supported commercial alternatives (Start11/StartAllBack) if a vendor supported Start/taskbar experience is required, and standardize any UI changes in your gold‑image and deployment testing pipelines.
- For anyone troubleshooting the weather error now: update EP to the latest pre‑release, clear the weather widget local data in EP’s properties, and check your AV logs for quarantined EP components before assuming the fix didn’t apply. (github.com)
Final analysis and takeaway
ExplorerPatcher’s quick fix for the weather widget demonstrates the strengths of active, open‑source tooling: a small team and responsive community can diagnose and patch cross‑cutting issues faster than many larger vendors. The release also demonstrates the precarious position that shell‑level customizers occupy — one change outside the Windows stack (a Google weather UI update), one enforcement tweak inside the Windows stack (upgrade checks or Defender heuristics), or a third‑party mod conflict can interrupt functionality rapidly.For Windows 11 power users, ExplorerPatcher remains a powerful way to restore productivity features removed or changed by Microsoft’s redesign. For users who opt in, the rule of thumb is simple: back up, test, and keep an eye on release notes and community issue trackers. Those steps provide the best balance between enjoying the productivity benefits of a classic UI and limiting the operational risk of an unsupported shell patch.
ExplorerPatcher fixed the immediate weather problem and documented practical recovery steps; the episode should be a reminder that when you stitch together UI behavior with external web content and runtime hooks, you inherit the volatility of every component in that chain. (newreleases.io)
Source: Neowin Google broke a Windows 11 function, if you were using this free popular modding tool