Microsoft has hit a major bump in the road to start the year. Just days after releasing the first big security update of 2026, the company had to rush out an emergency fix this weekend. Users reported serious problems like computers refusing to shut down and remote connections failing completely. If your PC is acting strange today, you are not alone.
The Glitch That Stole Sleep Mode
The troubles began shortly after the release of the “Patch Tuesday” update on January 13. While these updates usually keep your computer safe, this one did the opposite for many users. Reports started flooding in that Windows 11 machines were refusing to power off.
Users would click “Shut Down” or try to put their laptops into hibernation mode, but the devices remained active. This is a frustrating bug that can drain laptop batteries and cause machines to overheat in bags.
Microsoft identified that this specific power bug primarily affects Windows 11 version 23H2.
The tech giant wasted no time in acknowledging the fault. They confirmed that the software glitch prevents the system from completing the shutdown process. This forced them to create an “out-of-band” update. This is industry speak for an emergency patch released outside the normal schedule.
Remote Work Nightmares and Server Snags
The shutdown issue was not the only gremlin in the system. A more technical bug also appeared that caused major headaches for businesses and remote workers. This second error broke the ability for computers to connect to each other remotely.
For people working from home or IT managers trying to fix servers, this was a critical failure. The bug caused “authentication failures,” which simply means the computer would not recognize valid login attempts from remote users.
“Microsoft has identified issues upon installing the January 2026 Windows security update. To address these issues, an out-of-band (OOB) update was released today,” the company stated in a support note.
This connectivity problem was more widespread than the power bug. It affected the latest Windows 11 version 25H2 as well as older systems. It even impacted the new Windows Server 2025 platform which powers many company networks.
Is Your Computer on the List?
It is important to check if your specific version of Windows is on the danger list. Microsoft has confirmed the emergency update applies to several different operating systems.
If you are using any of the following, you need to pay attention:
- Windows 11 version 23H2: Affected by the shutdown and hibernation bug.
- Windows 11 version 25H2: Affected by the remote connection failures.
- Windows 10 version 22H2 ESU: Impacted by connection issues.
- Windows Server 2025: Impacted by connection issues.
This is particularly notable for Windows 10 users. Since official mainstream support for Windows 10 ended recently, only those paying for the “Extended Security Updates” (ESU) are receiving these patches. It is rare to see bugs in these paid updates, which adds to the frustration for business customers.
How to Get the Fix Right Now
The good news is that the solution is already available. Microsoft released the emergency patch on Saturday, January 17. You do not need to wait for the next monthly cycle to fix these problems.
You can download the fix immediately by following these simple steps:
- Click on the Start button on your taskbar.
- Type “Settings” and open the app.
- Go to the Windows Update section.
- Click on the button that says Check for Updates.
You should see a new update available for download. Once it installs, you must restart your computer to apply the changes. This restart should hopefully be the last time you struggle to shut down your PC properly.
Keeping your software up to date is usually the best advice for security. However, glitches like this remind us that even big tech companies can make mistakes. Always make sure your important files are backed up before installing major updates.
We hope this emergency patch resolves your PC troubles and gets your 2026 back on track. Computer bugs are annoying, but a quick fix is always welcome. If you faced these issues, let us know in the comments below or share your experience on social media using #Windows11Update to help others stay informed.
