Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to resolve bugs from its January 2026 security patch that affected shutdown and remote login functions on Windows devices. The problems impacted users of Windows 11 with the Secure Launch feature and caused credential failures for remote access on both Windows 10 and 11. This fix aims to restore normal operations for affected systems.
In response to recent disruptions, Microsoft deployed an emergency patch on January 18, 2026, targeting vulnerabilities introduced by the prior month's security update. The main issue involved Windows 11 devices equipped with Secure Launch, a protective measure against firmware attacks during boot processes. Users attempting to shut down or hibernate these machines found their systems restarting instead, hindering routine operations.
Additionally, the update restored remote connectivity for Windows 10 and 11 users. Previously, attempts to log in via remote apps failed due to credential prompt errors, as detailed in Microsoft's Known Issues documentation. This out-of-band release specifically addresses these login barriers, ensuring smoother access for remote workers and administrators.
Reports from tech site WindowsLatest indicate that some residual problems persist, such as blank screens and crashes in Outlook Classic, though the core shutdown and remote access functions should now work as intended. This is not the first such intervention; in October of the previous year, Microsoft issued a similar fix for issues with the Windows Recovery Environment.
For those delaying a switch to Windows 11, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for Windows 10, providing continued protection beyond its standard support end. These developments underscore the challenges of balancing security enhancements with system stability in ongoing Windows updates.
