Microsoft has issued an urgent patch to address critical bugs that plagued its latest security update for Windows 11. The January 2026 update was intended to provide improved security features, but it inadvertently introduced issues with shutdown and hibernation functionality on certain devices.
The problem arose specifically for users employing the Secure Launch feature, a security measure designed to protect against firmware-level attacks during startup. Unfortunately, this update rendered some Windows 11 devices unable to shut down or enter hibernation mode, forcing users to rely on forced restarts.
In related news, Microsoft has also restored remote login functionality for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. The company attributed the issue to credential prompt failures in affected devices.
Further complications have surfaced with some users still experiencing blank screens or Outlook Classic crashing after installing the latest update. This is not the first time Microsoft has had to intervene; an emergency fix was issued last October to address a separate Windows 11 issue related to the Windows Recovery Environment.
In response, Microsoft has extended its support for older versions of Windows by offering Extended Security Updates, allowing users to continue receiving security patches and updates on their current operating system until further notice.
The problem arose specifically for users employing the Secure Launch feature, a security measure designed to protect against firmware-level attacks during startup. Unfortunately, this update rendered some Windows 11 devices unable to shut down or enter hibernation mode, forcing users to rely on forced restarts.
In related news, Microsoft has also restored remote login functionality for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. The company attributed the issue to credential prompt failures in affected devices.
Further complications have surfaced with some users still experiencing blank screens or Outlook Classic crashing after installing the latest update. This is not the first time Microsoft has had to intervene; an emergency fix was issued last October to address a separate Windows 11 issue related to the Windows Recovery Environment.
In response, Microsoft has extended its support for older versions of Windows by offering Extended Security Updates, allowing users to continue receiving security patches and updates on their current operating system until further notice.
They're supposed to make things better but it's breaking everything instead 
. And now they're restoring remote login for Windows 10 too? That's a nice touch, at least that part is fixed 
. But seriously, why can't they just test their updates before pushing them out to everyone? It's like they're trying to make things harder on us 
. Anyway, I'm glad they're offering Extended Security Updates for older versions of Windows... that's a lifesaver 
!
I swear, can't Microsoft just get it right? 
They're always patching one thing only to introduce another bug later on. I've got a friend who's been using Windows 11 for ages and now he's having issues with shutdown and hibernation too. It's just so frustrating! 
And don't even get me started on the Secure Launch feature... who thought that was a good idea? 
Anyway, at least they're offering Extended Security Updates to help out older versions of Windows. That's a good move, I guess. 
. Can't believe we have to worry about our devices instead of, you know, studying for our math tests 
.
. But seriously, can't they just get it together? 
like what even is secure launch supposed to do? sounds important but clearly microsoft needs to test this stuff better before releasing it to the masses lol...anyway, at least they're being good about fixing these issues and supporting older versions of windows - thats more than i can say for some other companies 
. But hey, at least they're offering Extended Security Updates, so I guess that's a good thing... but let's be real, it's probably just a band-aid solution 
.
. and i'm sure many users are getting frustrated having to use forced restarts because they can't even shut down their devices properly 
!
and I'm like 
can't believe they messed up so badly 
Secure Launch feature was meant to be a good thing, not a cause of frustration 
I guess it's nice that they're offering Extended Security Updates for older versions of Windows, but it's like they're saying "Hey, we messed up so badly, let's just throw some band-aids on it and hope you don't notice". 
Still, at least their support team is good about responding to issues... right? 
. And now we're stuck with forced restarts? That's just so... frustrating 
. I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who cares about user experience around here 
.
. Can't we just have a smooth update cycle without all the drama and headaches? 
and now we have to rely on forced restarts because of course we do 
It's just one of those things where tech companies should take a step back and say, "Wait a minute, maybe we didn't think this through."
I swear, Microsoft needs to work on their testing process. Meanwhile, can someone please tell me how to disable that thing so I can just shut down already? 
ugh I was so done with my laptop all day yesterday it just wouldn't shut down properly I ended up having to force restart it like three times 
It's just so frustrating that I have to pay for Extended Security Updates now... 
. And can we talk about how they're making users suffer? Extended Security Updates might sound like a good idea, but what's the point if the main update is still buggy?