DeskScapes 2026 (26.0.1.1) Release Feedback

from Stardock Forums
With the DeskScapes 2026 (26.0.1.1) release, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.

Obtaining the product

Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager 

Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval

Reporting an issue

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making DeskScapes 2026 a better product.

Stardock Support deskscapes Stardock Software
1,461 views 13 replies | Pinned
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

DeskScapes 2026 v26.0.1.1 (Released 7/27/2026)

Date

07/27/2026

Version

26.0.1.1

Changes

  • Adds in AI MCP server (see MCPserver.md in the install dir for how to add it to things)

  • Fixes AI wallpapers page not working in the last build

  • Fixes some of the desktop effects not working right occasionally

  • Fixes clicking back on AI restyle page locking things up

  • Tweaks the rendering of thumbnails in app to have rounded top to blur area too

  • Reducing the need for the explorer restart on apply

  • Fixed the desktop effects altering the desktop animation speed

  • Fixed the stretch over monitor setting not saving

  • New control option for which GPU used for AI restyle/Wallpaper

  • Other minor fixes for flicker issues

  • Adds in three new AI restyle styles (with New badges)

  • Resolves tray icon not showing always

  • Resolves some fences background effects not being visible

  • Resolves desktop effects impacting the frame rate

  • General improvements to AI Restyle and Desktop effects for consistency when applied

  • Most of the supported core languages are now included

  • Adds some missing strings and support for them

  • Fixes issue with launching build a dream file UI

  • Allows spaces before and after strings in info panels

  • Fixes year value for date-based items like x days until y

  • Fix for countdown date accuracy

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Known issues

While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

***Reserved***

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Horribly slow to load content. I just installed this on a brand new Alienware Aurora 16 running Windows 11 Pro. Not sure why Deskscapes seems to always have a bad connection to Wincustomize. My network settings are optimal since websites and everything else is snappy to load.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting empathy762, reply 3996526

Horribly slow to load content. I just installed this on a brand new Alienware Aurora 16 running Windows 11 Pro. Not sure why Deskscapes seems to always have a bad connection to Wincustomize. My network settings are optimal since websites and everything else is snappy to load.

End of empathy762's quote

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know, how long did you actually need to download a file and how large the file size. I just checked on my system and I just need less than a minute to download a 4K animated wallpaper.

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community  Assistant.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Searching Installed background with "Only search for static backgrounds" and "Search for local backgrounds" crashes DeskScapes 26.

My system is Windows 11 Pro - 26200.8973; and DeskScapes 26.0.1.1

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting pelaird, reply 3996745

Searching Installed background with "Only search for static backgrounds" and "Search for local backgrounds" crashes DeskScapes 26.

My system is Windows 11 Pro - 26200.8973; and DeskScapes 26.0.1.1

End of pelaird's quote

Thanks for the report.  Seems there's something unusual when "Search" is clicked, will get looked into.  

As it is now, if you press Enter on your keyboard instead, does it function for you normally?

Best regards,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Support Specialist

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting Abisnabidam, reply 3996750

As it is now, if you press Enter on your keyboard instead, does it function for you normally?

End of Abisnabidam's quote

Yes, it works as expected if you use the Enter key.

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Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm still experiencing DeskScapes 2026 not surviving an Explorer restart. However, once I right-click the desktop and select "Show more options..." DeskScapes starts.

My system is Windows 11 Pro - 26200.8973; and DeskScapes 26.0.1.1

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting pelaird, reply 3996771

I'm still experiencing DeskScapes 2026 not surviving an Explorer restart. However, once I right-click the desktop and select "Show more options..." DeskScapes starts.

My system is Windows 11 Pro - 26200.8973; and DeskScapes 26.0.1.1

End of pelaird's quote

Are you sure the service is starting up as that would typically be the reason.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting Neil, reply 3996773

Are you sure the service is starting up as that would typically be the reason.

End of Neil's quote

Are you referring to the Stardock DeskScapes 11 service?

Following an Explorer restart, I opened Services and the Stardock DeskScapes 11 service is running. I restarted it from the Services panel and nothing happened.

The only thing that works is to right-click the desktop and select "Show more options..."

From what I've read online, clicking "Show more options" forces Windows 11 to load classic shell extensions and legacy context menu handlers tied to background processes. This action wakes up a stalled or sleeping background service that failed to initialize properly during startup.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting pelaird, reply 3996771

I'm still experiencing DeskScapes 2026 not surviving an Explorer restart. However, once I right-click the desktop and select "Show more options..." DeskScapes starts.

My system is Windows 11 Pro - 26200.8973; and DeskScapes 26.0.1.1

End of pelaird's quote

Just to clarify: By "not surviving", can you describe more completely what you're seeing happen? Do you mean a crash, a background disappearing, or some other symptom?  When I restart Windows Explorer (Win11 25H2 build 26200.8893), none of this occurs for me.

If there's a crash, collecting a crash dump could help get more information.

Best regards,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Support Specialist

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting Abisnabidam, reply 3996801

Just to clarify: By "not surviving", can you describe more completely what you're seeing happen? Do you mean a crash, a background disappearing, or some other symptom?

End of Abisnabidam's quote

There is no crash, the restart of Explorer simply doesn't load DeskScapes after the restart. Something is blocking the DeskScapes Service from starting, or it stalls until an action ("right-click the desktop and select "Show more options...") forces Windows 11 to load classic shell extensions and legacy context menu handlers tied to background processes. This action wakes up a stalled or sleeping background service that failed to initialize properly.