Windows 11 update KB5074109 is breaking systems — Microsoft says uninstall it ASAP. Here's how.

Windows 11 users are dealing with yet another update headache, and this time, Microsoft is openly telling people to uninstall the problematic patch. Update KB5074109 has triggered a wave of bug reports ranging from performance issues to broken features, and the company has now published guidance urging affected users to roll it back. It’s the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Windows updates causing more problems than they solve.

On January 13, 2026, Microsoft started the rollout of the 2026-01 Security Update (KB5074109) (26200.7623) for Windows 11 version 25H2 and 24H2, but shortly after, a number of reports from users started to emerge with different complaints.

For example, we've seen reports of apps not working correctly, resulting in error messages such as 0x803F8001. Also, a small number of users have reported random black screens after installing the update KB5074109 on devices featuring NVIDIA GPUs.

Now, if you use the legacy version of the Outlook app, Microsoft has acknowledged (via WindowsLatest) problems with accounts configured using the POP protocol and profiles with PST files, where users may experience "Outlook hangs and does not exit properly" issues. According to the notes, the problem may occur for any profile that has PSTs stored on OneDrive.

Since the company still doesn't have a permanent fix and the workaround "may be complicated," it's recommending users to either use the web version of the service, relocate the PST files out of OneDrive, or uninstall the build 26200.7623 from the computer.

Also, recently, the company was forced to release an Out-of-band (OOB) update, KB5077744, for versions 25H2 and 24H2 to address sign-in failures during Remote Desktop connections. Furthermore, the software giant released an emergency update for version 23H2 (which is already out of support) to address a problem that prevented users from properly shutting down their devices.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the easy steps to uninstall the latest update of Windows 11 to mitigate the current issues.

How to uninstall update KB5074109 from Windows 11

To uninstall the January 2026 Security Update from your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click the "Pause for 1 week" button to prevent the system from reinstalling the update.

• Quick tip: You can also use these instructions to permanently disable Windows Update.

4. Click the Update history page on the right side.

5. Click the Uninstall updates setting under the "Related settings" section.

6. Click the Uninstall option to remove the update KB5074109 from Windows 11.

7. Click the Uninstall button one more time.
8. Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, the cumulative update will be uninstalled from your computer, thus restoring the system to the time it was working correctly.

Whether this is another isolated misfire or a sign of deeper quality‑control issues inside Microsoft, the frustration is real — especially for users who rely on Windows 11 for work. For now, uninstalling KB5074109 seems to be the safest move until a fixed build arrives. But it raises the same question our audience asks every time: why does Windows Update feel like a gamble in 2026?

Have you come across any issues with the January 2026 Security Update? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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