The start of 2026 has proven bumpy for Microsoft and its Windows user base. What was expected to be a routine January security update has instead exposed several weaknesses in the delicate balance of modern operating systems. Following the latest Patch Tuesday release, users began reporting unexpected performance and compatibility problems, prompting Microsoft to acknowledge the issues and deploy rapid fixes.
The situation highlights a familiar reality of contemporary software: even updates designed to improve security can unintentionally disrupt everyday workflows. As reports mounted, Microsoft moved quickly to investigate and confirm a set of recurring problems affecting Windows 11 systems, particularly in professional and enterprise environments.
Three problems Microsoft has officially acknowledged
Microsoft has confirmed three primary issues linked to the January 2026 updates.
The most disruptive involved Remote Desktop connectivity. After installing the update, some users were unable to connect to their work machines through the Windows remote access application, causing immediate disruption for remote and hybrid workers.
A second issue affected Windows 11 version 23H2, causing systems to fail to shut down correctly. Instead of powering off, affected devices would restart or remain active even after users selected the shutdown option.
The third confirmed problem concerns Outlook Classic, which has been crashing unexpectedly for some users. Unlike the other two issues, this Outlook-related bug does not yet have a finalised fix, and Microsoft has acknowledged that work is still ongoing.
Remote Desktop access restored
The Remote Desktop failure quickly became one of the most widely reported problems, particularly among users who rely on virtualisation and remote access for daily work. The issue appeared immediately after the January update and blocked access to remote systems without clear warning.
Microsoft has since confirmed that this bug has been resolved. An emergency update released mid-January restores normal Remote Desktop functionality, allowing affected users to reconnect to their systems without further interruptions.
The shutdown bug in Windows 11 23H2 has been addressed
Equally confusing for many users was the Windows 11 23H2 shutdown bug. After issuing a shutdown command, systems would either restart automatically or fail to power down altogether. While no data loss was reported, the behaviour raised concerns about energy usage and system stability.
Engineers traced the issue to a loop in the shutdown process introduced by the January patch. Microsoft has now corrected the underlying code, ensuring that affected systems properly power off when instructed.
Emergency updates released outside the normal patch cycle
Rather than waiting for the next monthly update, Microsoft released a series of out-of-band patches on January 17 to stabilise affected systems. These updates are available through the Microsoft Update Catalog and must be installed manually.
For Windows 11 users experiencing Remote Desktop issues, update KB5077744 provides the fix. Systems running Windows 11 version 23H2 that are affected by the shutdown problem can resolve it by installing KB5077797.
Additional updates have also been released for server and enterprise environments, including KB5077793, KB5077800, and KB5077796, addressing related stability concerns.
While the Outlook Classic crash remains unresolved for now, Microsoft has indicated that a solution is in development. In the meantime, the emergency patches have restored core functionality for most affected users, bringing a measure of stability back to Windows systems after a turbulent start to the year.
