Microsoft has rolled out a second emergency update for Windows 11 within the same month, responding to widespread reports of Outlook and other applications freezing after a recent security update. The issue began shortly after the January 2026 security patch was released, leaving many users unable to work normally.
The main problem occurs when applications attempt to open or save files stored on cloud services such as OneDrive or Dropbox. In many cases, apps become completely unresponsive, with Outlook being among the most heavily affected. Users who store Outlook data files, commonly known as PST files, on cloud storage have reported severe issues, including Outlook freezing during startup or remaining stuck in the background even after being closed.
This marks Microsoft’s second out-of-band update in a short period. Just a week earlier, the company released an emergency patch to address a separate Windows 11 issue that prevented some systems from shutting down properly, entering Hibernate mode, or allowing stable remote login sessions. The rapid succession of fixes highlights a challenging start to the year for the Windows development team.
The latest emergency update is delivered as a cumulative patch. This means users who have not yet installed the previous emergency fix can resolve all known issues from the early 2026 updates by installing this single package. Microsoft designed this approach to simplify recovery and reduce the need for multiple manual updates.
Users experiencing frequent application crashes or freezing can install the update by navigating to Settings, selecting Windows Update, and checking for the latest patch. For those who prefer a manual approach, the update is also available directly through the Microsoft Update Catalog.
While Microsoft responded quickly to the situation, the incident serves as a reminder of how complex large-scale software updates can be. Regularly checking system update status remains an important habit to ensure devices remain stable and reliable, especially for users who depend on Windows 11 for daily work.
Source: Engadget
