Lock Screen Preferences Not Respected After Updating SuperNova

A critical issue has been identified where previously configured lock screen startup preferences are not retained after performing an in-place upgrade of SuperNova. Although the user’s settings remain correctly configured within the Startup Settings interface, the login screen behaves as though default accessibility options have been re-enabled.

This can result in unexpected speech, magnification, and login screen controls appearing after an upgrade, despite these options being explicitly disabled prior to updating.

Because the issue affects accessibility behaviour on the Windows login screen and may conflict with managed IT deployments or user-specific requirements, this issue has been classified as a Critical (Showstopper) defect.

Affected Versions

• Source Version: 25.01 (Build 3844)
• Target Versions:
  • 25.02
  • 25.03 
  • 25.04
• Installation Method:
  • In-place (over-the-top) installation
  • Not observed during side-by-side installations

Symptoms

After upgrading SuperNova using an over-the-top installation:

• Speech may become active on the Windows login screen.
• Magnification may appear on the login screen.
• Magnifier controls or accessibility buttons may be displayed.
• Startup/login screen preferences appear unchanged within Startup Settings.
• Reopening Startup Settings and selecting OK restores the expected behaviour.
• The issue persists across subsequent restarts until the settings are reapplied.

User Impact

This issue can cause:

• Unexpected accessibility features to activate on the lock screen.
• Behaviour that contradicts organisational deployment standards.
• Additional support desk contacts from end users.
• Potential accessibility confusion for users who intentionally disabled these features.
• Inconsistency between configured settings and actual login screen behaviour.

For managed environments, this can result in systems presenting accessibility options that administrators explicitly configured to remain disabled.

Root Cause

Following an in-place upgrade, the installer appears to overwrite or fail to correctly apply existing lock screen startup preferences. Although the stored settings remain visible within the Startup Settings configuration window, the lock screen behaves as if default values have been applied.

Selecting OK within Startup Settings forces the preferences to be reapplied, which immediately restores the expected login screen behaviour.

This indicates the configuration data is likely being retained but not correctly applied during or after the upgrade process.

Workaround

Until a permanent fix is available, administrators or users can manually reapply the startup settings through the enterprise config or via the control panel with the steps below:

1. Open Startup Settings.
2. Review the configured login screen preferences.
3. Click OK without making changes.
4. Restart the computer.

The login screen should then honour the configured settings correctly.

This article was last updated 26/08/206.