Patch Tuesday update Archives

Winsage

February 17, 2026

Microsoft Windows 11 KB5077181 Update Triggers Infinite Restart Loop on Some Devices

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday update, KB5077181, released on February 10, 2026, has caused significant boot failures for users of Windows 11 versions 24H2 (OS build 26200.7840) and 25H2 (OS build 26100.7840), resulting in endless restart loops. Users are reporting over 15 reboot cycles, preventing access to their desktops. Issues include System Event Notification Service (SENS) errors and DHCP problems affecting internet connectivity. Installation errors with codes 0x800f0983 and 0x800f0991 indicate potential hardware, driver, or servicing stack incompatibilities. The update was intended to address 58 vulnerabilities, including six zero-days, but the boot loop issue has overshadowed these enhancements. CVE IDs and their CVSS scores related to the vulnerabilities addressed include: - CVE-2026-21510: 7.5 - CVE-2026-21519: 7.8 - CVE-2026-21533: 8.8 - CVE-2026-20841: 7.1 As of February 15, 2026, there is no "known issues" entry in Microsoft's release notes despite user reports. Users can uninstall the update through the Control Panel if their systems are accessible, or use the Windows Recovery Environment to execute commands for uninstallation if their systems are unbootable.

Winsage

February 16, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 fixes boot failures linked to failed updates

Microsoft resolved a critical bug affecting some commercial systems running Windows 11 that caused boot failures due to an "UNMOUNTABLEBOOTVOLUME" error. This issue was linked to problematic updates from December 2025 and primarily impacted devices on Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. The resolution was included in the February 2026 Patch Tuesday update, specifically the Windows 11 KB5077181 security update released on February 10, 2026. An initial fix was provided in the optional update KB5074105 on January 29, 2026. Affected devices experienced failures after installing the January 13, 2026, security update KB5074109. Microsoft recommends that enterprise customers with still unbootable systems contact Microsoft Support for Business for assistance.

Winsage

February 12, 2026

Microsoft’s latest update patches six zero-days and two critical flaws – but is it another buggy mess?

Microsoft's February Patch Tuesday update addresses feature and security bugs, continuing the refresh of Secure Boot certificates to protect against bootkit malware. Secure Boot prevents malicious software from executing during startup by using trusted certificates, many of which are set to expire in June. The update is available for both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users, with the latter needing to be enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program until October 2026. Windows 11 fixes include resolutions for full-screen gaming and WPA3-Personal Wi-Fi connectivity issues, while Windows 10 improvements address Chinese fonts, specific graphics processing units, and custom folder names in File Explorer. A bug causing unexpected restarts in Secure Launch-compatible PCs has also been fixed. The update includes 55 security patches, a decrease from January's 114, with two classified as critical and six identified as zero-day vulnerabilities. One vulnerability exploited in the wild could allow system privilege escalation, another could disrupt network connectivity, and a third could disable security controls and access sensitive data. Users can update their Windows 11 PCs through System > Windows Update, and Windows 10 users through System > Update & Security. Due to previous buggy updates, users may consider waiting a few days before installing the February update, with the option to uninstall if issues arise.

Winsage

February 11, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 & KB5075941 cumulative updates released

Microsoft has released cumulative updates KB5077181 and KB5075941 for Windows 11, affecting versions 25H2, 24H2, and 23H2, which include the February 2026 Patch Tuesday security patches. Users can install these updates via Start > Settings > Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The build numbers will change to 26200.7840 for 25H2, 26100.7840 for 24H2, and 226x1.6050 for 23H2. Key enhancements include: - Fixed gaming device eligibility issues. - Resolved connectivity issues with WPA3-Personal Wi-Fi networks. - Introduced new Secure Boot certificate targeting data. - New Cross Device Resume feature for continuing activities from Android phones on PCs. - Enhanced MIDI support for musicians with compatibility for MIDI 1.0 and 2.0. - Improved Narrator control over on-screen announcements. - New Device card in Settings for PC specifications. - Ability to toggle Smart App Control without a clean installation. - Revamped Voice Access setup process. - New Wait time setting for Voice Typing commands. - Enhanced sign-in security for Windows Hello with peripheral fingerprint sensors. No new issues have been reported with this month's updates.

Winsage

February 1, 2026

Windows 11 has 1 billion users

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Windows 11 has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, following the end of support for Windows 10. Despite this milestone, there is significant customer dissatisfaction. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri acknowledged the need for improvements in system performance, reliability, and overall user experience. Recent updates have been problematic, with glitches reported during the first Patch Tuesday update of 2026. The integration of AI features has left some users feeling overwhelmed, while the constant upsell prompts for services like Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft 365 have been criticized as bloatware. Users have also expressed frustration over forced migrations to OneDrive, where files have been deleted without consent. Additionally, there is a notable disparity in support for home users compared to corporate users, raising concerns about Microsoft's commitment to enhancing the consumer experience.

Winsage

January 20, 2026

Microsoft issues emergency patch for latest Windows bugs

Microsoft released the January Patch Tuesday update on January 13, 2026, addressing over 110 security vulnerabilities. The update introduced bugs affecting Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server. The first issue involves authentication failures when connecting to a Cloud PC via Remote Desktop, primarily affecting Windows 11 25H2, Windows 10 22H2 ESU, and Windows Server 2025. The second issue affects systems with Secure Launch enabled, causing unexpected restarts instead of shutting down or entering hibernation mode, specifically impacting Windows 11 23H2. Microsoft has released emergency patches for the affected versions, which include: - Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5077744) - Windows 11, version 23H2 (KB5077797) - Windows 10, version 22H2 ESU and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 (KB5077796) - Windows Server 2025 (KB5077793) - Windows Server 2022 (KB5077800) - Windows Server 2019 and Enterprise LTSC 2019 (KB5077795)

Winsage

January 19, 2026

Windows 11 shutdown bug forces Microsoft into out-of-band damage control

Microsoft released an out-of-band update for Windows 11, designated as KB5077797, on January 17 for version 23H2 to address a critical malfunction that prevented some systems from shutting down, restarting, or hibernating after the January Patch Tuesday update. This issue primarily affected systems with System Guard Secure Launch enabled by default. The update also resolves a separate authentication problem with Remote Desktop that caused credential prompts to fail or loop indefinitely. Additionally, Microsoft acknowledged a bug affecting classic Outlook POP account profiles, which has not yet been fixed. Users are urged to install KB5077797 to resolve these issues.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that! PCs refuse to shutdown after Microsoft patch

Microsoft's January Patch Tuesday update has caused shutdown and hibernation issues for some Windows 11 23H2 users, with devices refusing to power down despite user commands. The problem is linked to the Secure Launch feature, which prevents shutdown, restart, and hibernation attempts from functioning correctly. Microsoft has suggested a workaround using the command "shutdown /s /t 0" to force shutdown. They have not disclosed how many devices are affected or provided a timeline for a fix. Additionally, there is a separate issue affecting classic Outlook POP account profiles that may freeze or hang after the update.

Winsage

January 13, 2026

Microsoft fixes 114 flaws in year’s first Windows 11 Patch Tuesday

Microsoft's January 2026 Patch Tuesday update, KB5074109, addresses 114 vulnerabilities, including a critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-20805) in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) that has been actively exploited. The update is applicable to Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 and includes security enhancements and updates to AI components. Other high-severity vulnerabilities addressed include CVE-2026-20816 (privilege escalation in Windows Installer), CVE-2026-20817 (elevation of privilege in Windows Error Reporting), CVE-2026-20840 (vulnerability in Windows NTFS), CVE-2026-20843 (flaw in Routing and Remote Access Service), CVE-2026-20860 (vulnerability in Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock), and CVE-2026-20871 (another DWM vulnerability). The update removes legacy modem drivers to minimize the attack surface and resolves reliability issues in Azure Virtual Desktop and WSL networking. It also changes the default setting for Windows Deployment Services (WDS) to disable hands-free deployment. Users can install the update through Windows Update, and a system reboot is required for full application.

Winsage

January 11, 2026

Microsoft Tests Uninstall Option for Copilot AI on Windows Devices

Microsoft is testing a new policy that allows IT administrators to completely uninstall its Copilot AI assistant from managed Windows devices. This policy, named “RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp,” is being deployed through management tools like Intune and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and addresses concerns about data privacy, resource consumption, and unwanted software in commercial settings. The feature is currently available in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) and reflects feedback from IT professionals who prefer controlled environments. While this option is exclusive to enterprise-tier Microsoft 365 subscribers, smaller businesses and individual users have limited options for removal. The policy aims to balance innovation with risk management, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, where data privacy is critical.