A newly released Windows 11 security update has quickly become a hot topic across international forums such as Reddit, after widespread reports of severe performance issues began surfacing. The January 2026 security patch, identified as KB5074109, is reportedly causing significant frame rate drops for users running Nvidia graphics cards, turning what should be a routine update into a serious headache for PC gamers.
According to multiple user reports, installing the update can result in FPS losses of 15 to 20 frames, alongside noticeable micro-stuttering and occasional temporary screen blackouts. These issues have been reported most frequently by users on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, particularly those using Nvidia GPUs.
What makes the situation more alarming is that the problem does not appear to be limited to older hardware. Even high-end graphics cards such as the GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 have reportedly been affected, with players describing unstable frame pacing and inconsistent performance under heavy gaming loads. In some cases, users have also experienced driver crashes, further disrupting gameplay sessions that were previously smooth.
Despite the growing volume of complaints, Microsoft has yet to officially acknowledge the issue in its Known Issues documentation. As a result, no dedicated hotfix has been released to directly address the performance regression. Nvidia has attempted to mitigate the situation by releasing a new Game Ready driver, version 591.74, but many affected users claim that this only partially alleviates the symptoms.
Based on community feedback, the only method that consistently restores performance to previous levels is uninstalling the KB5074109 update entirely. This, however, presents users with an uncomfortable choice. The patch includes fixes for more than 114 security vulnerabilities, meaning that removing it may expose systems to potential risks.
Beyond gaming performance, the update has also caused issues in other areas of Windows 11. Some users reported Microsoft Outlook failing to launch, while others encountered broken Remote Desktop functionality, particularly in enterprise environments. Microsoft has already released an out-of-band emergency update to resolve those problems, but the gaming-related performance issues remain unresolved at the time of writing.
Given the current situation, many experts recommend that gamers who rely heavily on performance-sensitive applications consider rolling back their system using System Restore if they are already affected. For those who have not yet installed the update, pausing Windows Update for one to two weeks is advised to avoid potential performance degradation.
This incident serves as another reminder that installing major Windows updates immediately upon release can carry risks, especially during early-year patch cycles that often introduce unexpected side effects. Until Microsoft provides a clear fix, patience may be the best option for PC gamers who want to keep their frame rates stable.
Source: Notebookcheck
