Microsoft Windows Problems

Microsoft released an out-of-band update to fix the March 2026 non-security preview update, which was pulled over the weekend due to installation issues. The optional cumulative update (KB5079391) was released on Thursday for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems, with 29 changes, including Smart App Control and Display improvements. However, right after it started rolling out, users started reporting errors saying that "Some update files are missing or have problems. We'll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80073712)."

Microsoft has broken account sign-ins in Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 with a recent update, causing error messages in apps like OneDrive and Office. The glitch affects sign-in operations for Microsoft accounts. Businesses using Entra ID (previously known as Azure Active Directory) for application authentication are not affected.

The February 2026 Windows 11 update (KB5077181) is causing significant issues, including boot loops, broken login screens, network DHCP errors, and installation failures. Affected users report being unable to access their desktops.

Microsoft shipped out-of-band updates to address Outlook freeze issues affecting systems on recent Windows 11 cumulative updates.

Microsoft published mitigation steps for Outlook freezing after installing recent Windows 11 updates, as described by BleepingComputer.

Microsoft released KB5086672 to address problems with the Windows 11 feature update process. Reporting also tied prerequisite/servicing stack work to KB5079391 in the same timeframe.

The January 2026 Windows 11/10 updates (specifically KB5074109) caused widespread issues, including "unmountable boot volume" black screens, broken Remote Desktop connections, system freezes, and shutdown failures. Microsoft released out-of-band updates (e.g., KB5077744) to address these issues, but users should uninstall updates if experiencing severe boot failures.

Neowin and other outlets reported severe Outlook problems on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 after recent cumulative updates. Multiple related KB packages were referenced in coverage of the incident and subsequent fixes.

Microsoft has admitted that it might have broken Windows components including the Start menu and Explorer in the latest round of updates. The problem, which "primarily affects a limited number of enterprise or managed environments," occurs on PCs running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 with a monthly cumulative update released from July 2025. XAML-dependent modern apps such as the Start menu, Explorer, Windows Search, and the taskbar might abruptly crash or fail to load.

The November 2025 Windows updates (specifically KB5068861 and KB5066835) caused significant issues, including broken audio, malfunctioning UAC/admin rights on virtual machines (AVD), and file search failures. Microsoft confirmed that these updates, along with others since July 2025, broke core features like Taskbar and StartMenuExperienceHost, particularly affecting non-persistent virtual environments.

The October 2025 Windows security update (KB5066835) caused significant issues, including broken USB functionality in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and localhost connection failures (ERR_CONNECTION_RESET) for developers. Out-of-band updates (KB5070881/KB5070883) were released in late October 2025 to address these issues.

The September 2025 Windows updates (specifically KB5065426 for Win 11 and KB5065429 for Win 10) caused significant issues, including broken SMBv1 file sharing, broken video playback (DRM/HDCP) in some apps, and failure to install, according to user reports and Microsoft support documentation. Users experienced freezing, black screens, or inability to access network files.

The August 2025 Windows security updates (specifically KB5063875, KB5063709, and KB5063877) broke "Reset this PC" and recovery tools for Windows 10/11, causing them to fail silently. It also caused UAC prompt issues and app crashes. Microsoft addressed this with a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) in September 2025, but impacted systems might need a restart.

Microsoft confirmed that April 2025 Windows updates could disrupt Windows Hello on certain hardware and software combinations.

Microsoft resolved Outlook drag-and-drop regressions introduced by earlier Windows / Office servicing updates, per BleepingComputer.

The KB5051974 cumulative update for Windows 10 was reported to install or promote the new Microsoft Outlook client, which surprised some managed environments.