Imagine not being able to shut down your own PC because Windows simply doesn’t want you to. That’s exactly how bad the latest update from Microsoft was to many PCs, stopping them from shutting down entirely.

Microsoft has now released an emergency fix after its first Windows 11 update of 2026 introduced two serious issues that slipped through internal testing. The problems were highlighted by a senior editor at Windows Central, who said the bugs were severe enough to disrupt basic system functions.

Shutdown and Remote Desktop Failures

According to Windows Central, the January 2026 update for Windows 11 caused some users to be unable to fully shut down their PCs. Others were unable to sign in to devices when using Remote Desktop. The publication described the shutdown issue as a major oversight, noting that it adds to a growing list of disruptive Windows 11 update problems over the past year.

To address the issues, Microsoft released out-of-band updates KB5077744 and KB5077797. Windows Central said the fixes are now available through Windows Update and are rolling out to all users. Once installed, affected PCs should regain normal shutdown behavior, and Remote Desktop sign-ins should work again.

Pattern of Problematic Updates

The report also pointed to earlier Windows 11 bugs that made it into public releases. One update caused Task Manager to remain open in the background even after users closed it, eventually locking up system resources if the app was opened and closed repeatedly. Another update intended to improve dark mode caused File Explorer to briefly flash a white screen when opened, affecting users sensitive to sudden brightness changes.

The publication questioned the effectiveness of Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program, suggesting that its ability to catch serious bugs before release appears to have weakened, given that multiple critical issues have reached shipping versions of the OS.

Outlook Crash Bug and Additional Issues

Separately, Microsoft has acknowledged a third issue affecting Outlook Classic. According to Windows Latest, Outlook Classic can crash when used with POP email accounts. The bug has been confirmed by Microsoft but has not yet been fixed.

Windows Latest also reported other smaller issues, including a black screen problem tied to update KB5074109. After installing the January 2026 update, some systems experience brief freezes followed by the display turning black for a second or two before recovering. The issue has been observed on a limited number of PCs using both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, though no specific configuration has been identified.

Emergency Fixes Now Rolling Out

While Microsoft has moved quickly to issue fixes for the most disruptive problems, reports suggest that Windows 11 users may continue to encounter instability following recent updates. Microsoft has not commented on whether changes will be made to its testing or preview processes to prevent similar issues in future releases.