A recent security update for Windows 11 has introduced a significant bug causing the classic Microsoft Outlook desktop application to freeze and become unresponsive. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and advised affected users to either uninstall the update or switch to webmail until a permanent fix is released.
The Problematic Update
The issue stems from the KB5074109 security update released on January 13, 2026. This mandatory update is causing the classic Outlook application to hang, display a “Not Responding” status, and in some cases, fail to close without using the Task Manager.
Who is Affected?
The bug primarily impacts users with specific account setups:
· POP email accounts (as opposed to IMAP or Microsoft 365/Exchange accounts).
· Users who store their Outlook data (.PST files) in a folder that is synced with cloud storage services like OneDrive.
Official Advice and Workarounds
Microsoft has published guidance for users experiencing this problem. Their recommended solutions are:
· Uninstall the update: Remove the KB5074109 update from your system and temporarily pause Windows updates to prevent its automatic reinstallation.
· Use Outlook on the web: Access your email through a web browser at outlook.com or your service provider’s webmail portal as a stable alternative.
· The company notes that manually moving .PST files out of OneDrive-synced folders is a potential but complicated workaround.
Microsoft is working on a patch to resolve this issue in a future update. In the meantime, affected users are urged to follow the company’s guidance to restore email functionality.
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