Microsoft forced to issue emergency out of band updates for Windows 11 after latest security patches broke PC shutdowns and sign-ins

As an analyst, I’ve been tracking the initial rollout of Microsoft’s 2026 Windows 11 update, and we’re already seeing some significant problems. Users have reported their PCs failing to shut down properly, and difficulties signing in via Remote Desktop. These weren’t caught in pre-release testing, and Microsoft has had to quickly release an emergency fix to resolve them. It’s concerning to see such critical issues slip through, but a fast response is a positive step.

Microsoft has repeatedly released Windows 11 updates with significant problems, and this latest issue – where PCs can’t shut down – is just the newest example. It highlights ongoing quality control concerns with Windows 11, as similar problematic updates have occurred throughout the past year.

Updates KB5077744 and KB5077797 are now available through Windows Update for all users. After installing these updates, your computer should shut down normally again, and you should be able to sign in using Remote Desktop without issues.

Recently, Windows 11 users have experienced an issue where the Task Manager wouldn’t always close properly. This could lead to system slowdowns and resource locking if Task Manager was opened and closed repeatedly during a single session.

A recent Windows 11 update unexpectedly caused File Explorer to briefly flash white when opened in dark mode. This issue occurred in an update that was actually intended to *improve* dark mode functionality.

A recent update unexpectedly damaged the Windows Recovery Environment, preventing users from being able to use it to fix their computers. Bugs like this are increasingly appearing with Windows Updates, even though Microsoft claims to test updates with a group of users beforehand.

The Windows Insider Program, which allows users to test pre-release versions of Windows, seems to be failing. Serious bugs are unexpectedly appearing in the final releases of the operating system. Microsoft needs to fix these quality control problems to improve Windows 11’s reputation, which is currently very poor.

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2026-01-18 23:24