Microsoft released two emergency out‑of‑band (OOB) updates—KB5077744 for Windows 11 and KB5077797 for Windows 10/Windows Server—to resolve a power‑control regression, a Remote Desktop failure, and a sign‑in block introduced by the January 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative update. The patches are offered as optional Windows Update items and can be downloaded manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
What Caused the Shutdown and Remote Desktop Failures
The January 2026 cumulative update altered kernel interactions with the power‑management subsystem and misconfigured the Remote Desktop Services authentication module. These changes caused PCs to ignore shutdown commands, stall at the shutdown screen, reboot unexpectedly, and prevent Remote Desktop connections and sign‑in attempts.
Microsoft’s Emergency OOB Fixes
Within 24 hours, Microsoft delivered two critical OOB updates:
- KB5077744 – Windows 11 fix targeting power‑control regression and Remote Desktop authentication.
- KB5077797 – Windows 10 and Windows Server fix covering the same issues.
The company classifies these updates as “critical bug fixes” and recommends immediate installation.
How to Install the OOB Updates
Via Windows Update
- Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- In the Optional updates section, locate “2026‑01‑Cumulative‑Update‑for‑Windows‑10/11‑KB5077797/KB5077744”.
- Click Download and install.
Manual Download
- Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
- Search for KB5077744 (Windows 11) and KB5077797 (Windows 10/Server).
- Download the appropriate .msu file for your architecture.
- Run the installer and follow the prompts.
Enterprise Deployment
Use WSUS or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager to distribute the patches across managed devices, allowing staged rollouts and compliance reporting.
Impact on Home Users
After installing the OOB update, shutdown commands, sign‑in screens, and Remote Desktop connections should function normally within minutes. Users should verify that the optional update was applied and restart the PC to confirm the fixes.
Impact on Enterprises
For organizations relying on Remote Desktop Services, Azure Virtual Desktop, or RDS farms, the outage could have halted remote administration and productivity. IT teams should prioritize the OOB patches, test compatibility with existing management tools, and consider a phased deployment to monitor for regressions in legacy applications.
Best Practices After Applying the Fixes
- Confirm that shutdown, sign‑in, and Remote Desktop functionality are restored.
- Document the patch level (KB5077744 or KB5077797) in your asset inventory.
- Maintain a backup and rollback plan for future cumulative updates.
- Monitor Windows Update release notes for any follow‑up hotfixes.
Future Outlook
Microsoft will continue monitoring the situation and may release additional hotfixes if residual issues appear. A “quick‑turn” Insider build containing the same fixes is expected, giving power users early access to the corrected code. Maintaining a balance between rapid security patching and system stability remains a core focus for the Windows platform.
