The January 13, 2026 Windows update caused several confirmed problems on some PCs, but there was no single package for every Windows computer. The headline Windows 11 update, KB5074109, applies to versions 24H2 and 25H2; Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 received separate updates. Microsoft later documented fixes in out-of-band and cumulative updates, so check your Windows version and build before troubleshooting.
Which January update is on your PC?
Start by identifying the installed Windows release and update. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history to see installed updates, or run winver to check your Windows version and build. KB5074109 is the main Windows 11 package for versions 24H2 and 25H2. Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 had separate January packages, with different issue applicability.
That distinction matters: a symptom documented for one package or device subset does not establish that all Windows PCs were affected. Microsoft’s January 2026 release notes describe the confirmed issues below and list later updates that address them.
Confirmed problems and their fixes
| Problem | Who or what was affected | Fix status |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Desktop sign-in failures | Windows App connections to Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 on specific affected Windows builds; users could encounter credential-prompt failures. | Microsoft’s release notes describe a resolution in updates from January 17, 2026 onward for affected packages. Secondary reporting identifies out-of-band updates KB5077744 and KB5077797, but applicability depends on Windows version. |
| Shutdown or hibernation failure | Some Secure Launch-capable Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and IoT PCs restarted instead of shutting down or entering hibernation. Microsoft documented the symptom for KB5073455. | Microsoft noted an earlier partial fix; updates released from February 10, 2026 onward resolve the documented Secure Launch and Virtual Secure Mode issue. |
| Cloud-storage file operation failures | Some apps could hang or show errors when opening or saving files in OneDrive, Dropbox, or other cloud-backed locations. | Later out-of-band or cumulative updates address the documented issue. Install the update applicable to your Windows release and build. |
| Classic Outlook hangs involving PST files | Some classic Outlook profiles using POP with PST data files stored in OneDrive could hang, fail to reopen, or behave unexpectedly with Sent Items and previously downloaded messages. | Microsoft’s Outlook guidance offered workarounds while affected: move the PST file outside OneDrive or use Outlook on the web. Later Windows updates addressed the issue. |
Remote Desktop: check the Windows App connection and OS version
The documented sign-in problem concerned Windows App connections to Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, not every Remote Desktop use. Because the fix depends on the affected release, use the current Microsoft release-health entry for your Windows version and install its applicable update rather than assuming either named out-of-band package fits your PC.
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Shutdown and hibernation: the Secure Launch issue was limited
Microsoft described the problem this way: “After installing this update, some PCs capable of using Secure Launch are unable to shut down or enter hibernation. Instead, the device restarts.” The statement applies to the documented subset, not all PCs or all Windows 11 versions. For this specific issue, the release notes say updates from February 10, 2026 onward resolve the Secure Launch and Virtual Secure Mode behavior.
Cloud files and Outlook: distinguish a Windows symptom from an Outlook workaround
The broader cloud-storage issue involved apps opening or saving files in cloud-backed locations. Outlook’s more specific case involved classic Outlook, a POP account, and a PST file stored in OneDrive. Microsoft’s documented temporary workarounds were to move that PST outside OneDrive or use Outlook on the web. Check the applicable later Windows update to confirm the system-side fix for your release.
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Other symptoms reported after the update
Secondary coverage also described black screens on some NVIDIA systems, graphics-performance problems such as frame drops, startup freezes, boot failures, and broader instability. The Microsoft release pages reviewed for the confirmed issues do not establish how common these reports were or confirm that every reported symptom was caused by the January update. Treat them as reports, not universal or officially established effects.
January changes that were not regressions
The update summaries also describe planned fixes and behavior changes. These should not be mistaken for bugs introduced by the update:
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- Secure Boot certificate targeting changes.
- Removal of specified legacy modem drivers.
- A change to Windows Deployment Services hands-free deployment defaults.
What to do if your PC is still affected
- Identify the release and installed KB: check Settings > Windows Update > Update history, then run
winverif you need the Windows version and build. - Match the issue to your configuration: for example, the shutdown symptom was documented for Secure Launch-capable Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and IoT PCs, while the Outlook workaround concerned classic Outlook with POP and a OneDrive-hosted PST.
- Check Microsoft’s current release-health entry for that Windows version: Microsoft’s pages list subsequent out-of-band and cumulative updates, and the correct remedy varies by release and build.
- Install the applicable later update, then retest: do not assume a fix listed for another Windows version or KB applies to your system.
Uninstalling a security update should not be the first response. It can remove security fixes as well as the problematic change, and the appropriate uninstall route depends on the Windows version. If you are considering it, first consult the release-health guidance for your exact build and use it only as a temporary troubleshooting measure.
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