What was supposed to be a routine security and performance update for millions of Windows 11 users has quickly turned into an unexpected disruption. Microsoft’s January 2026 cumulative update, KB5074109, is now causing widespread issues, and in a rare move. Microsoft is actively advising users to uninstall the update until a stable fix is available.
Released on January 13, 2026, the update was designed to strengthen security and improve performance for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. But within days, complaints began flooding online forums, social media, and enterprise IT channels. From everyday users to corporate environments, the experience has been frustratingly similar: systems that once worked smoothly now feel unpredictable.
From Security Fix to System Frustration
The problems linked to KB5074109 are more than minor inconveniences. Users have reported:
- Outlook crashing or freezing, especially when using classic POP accounts or PST files stored in OneDrive
- Black screens and boot loops, particularly on some systems with Nvidia graphics cards
- Apps becoming unresponsive, affecting productivity across multiple tools
- Sleep mode failures and UI glitches, including disappearing wallpapers and reset folder names
To make matters worse, some users have found that the update isn’t easy to remove, encountering error codes such as 0x800f0905, which adds yet another layer of frustration.
Microsoft’s Unusual Response: Roll It Back
Microsoft has acknowledged the problems and updated its guidance to recommend uninstalling KB5074109 for users facing serious issues. That’s not something users hear often from a company that usually pushes updates forward rather than backward.
Workarounds currently include pausing Windows Updates, uninstalling the patch through update history, and temporarily switching to web versions of affected apps such as Outlook.
Why Do These Failures Happen?
Modern operating systems run across countless hardware combinations, making large-scale testing incredibly complex. Still, for users, the explanation offers little comfort. Each failed update erodes trust, especially for businesses where stability is not optional.
Final Take
This incident is a reminder that even the biggest tech companies stumble. A patch meant to protect users has instead disrupted workflows, caused downtime, and sparked uncertainty. For now, caution is the smart approach: roll back if affected, pause updates, and wait for Microsoft’s corrected release.
Until then, patience, and a reliable backup, remain every Windows user’s best defense.
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