Microsoft’s January 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 have turned into a fiasco, creating more issues than they resolved. Following poor feedback, the company had to quickly release an emergency update to address critical problems. Just a week later, another emergency update was necessary to fix a major bug that left popular applications like Outlook, OneDrive, and Dropbox unusable.
Initially, users were advised to uninstall the problematic updates, but the latest KB5078127 aims to provide a better solution. It’s designed for versions 24H2 and 25H2, and is meant to restore functionality without requiring rollbacks.
Microsoft explained, “An out-of-band (OOB) update was released today, January 24, 2026, to tackle this issue. This cumulative update includes all protections and improvements from the January security update and earlier OOB fixes.”
What Went Wrong?
When the January updates rolled out, many users reported their systems failing to shut down or enter hibernation. They also faced login issues with Remote Desktop. While the first emergency update fixed these problems, it inadvertently caused software like Outlook to freeze and lose access to cloud services.
Here’s a quick look at the main fix introduced by the KB5078127 update:
- Fixed Cloud Issues: Users experienced unresponsive applications when accessing files stored in cloud services, especially when using Outlook with PST files on OneDrive. This could lead to lost emails or missing sent items.
This patch isn’t just limited to Windows 11; it’s being released for various other Windows versions as well, including Windows 11 23H2 and Windows Server editions. For the latest updates and issues affecting your system, you can visit the Windows release health dashboard.
Industry Insight
Experts in the technology sector suggest that frequent updates can lead to such errors if not properly tested. According to a survey conducted by TechRadar, 60% of users expressed dissatisfaction with the reliability of software updates. Microsoft’s frequent updates are essential for security, but they must also ensure users can trust the stability of their systems.
Conclusion
Right now, Microsoft faces a significant challenge in restoring user confidence. With this rocky start to the year, it’s crucial that the next Patch Tuesday brings improved updates. Until then, users remain on high alert, hoping for smoother sailing ahead.
