Microsoft pushes emergency OOB update to fix Windows 11 restart loop
Microsoft has deployed an emergency update addressing critical bugs within its January 2026 Windows security update that affected some Windows 11 devices.
The “out-of-band” update resolves an issue where certain Windows 11 devices would only restart upon user attempts to shut down or hibernate. It also restores remote login capabilities for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users.
Microsoft stated the shutdown and hibernation issues impacted Windows 11 devices utilizing Secure Launch, a security feature designed to protect against firmware-level attacks during startup. The company noted credential prompt failures caused remote login difficulties for affected Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices, as detailed on its Known Issues page.
Windows Latest reported persistent issues from the January 2026 Windows security update, including blank screens and Outlook Classic crashes. Microsoft previously issued an emergency fix in October for Windows 11 related to the Windows Recovery Environment. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 users.