Microsoft urges users to uninstall a Windows 11 update after Outlook becomes unresponsive
Microsoft has issued a critical warning for Windows 11 users after confirming that update KB5074109 can cause Outlook Classic profiles with POP accounts and PST files to hang or become unresponsive. Affected users are experiencing frequent freezes, unsaved draft emails, and cases where Outlook will not reopen unless the process is ended in Task Manager or the PC is restarted, particularly after the January 13, 2026 update.
As a temporary measure, Microsoft recommends uninstalling KB5074109 to restore Outlook functionality. Users can remove it via Settings, then Windows Update, Update history, Uninstall updates, select KB5074109, and confirm. Microsoft cautions that uninstalling the patch also removes more than 100 security fixes included in the January 2026 update.
The company says there is no simple in app workaround right now and recommends using webmail or moving PST files out of OneDrive until a fix is available, but says other workarounds can be complicated. The update is also linked to apps becoming unresponsive or throwing errors when opening or saving files to cloud backed storage like OneDrive or Dropbox. In some Outlook setups, PSTs stored on OneDrive can cause Outlook to stop responding, require a restart or Task Manager to recover, and sent emails may not appear in Sent Items. Microsoft says it is still investigating and has not published a permanent fix beyond removing KB5074109.
- Email Client
- Paid
- Proprietary
Related news
External links
- Microsoft says uninstall Windows 11 KB5074109 to fix Outlook POP, PST hang, as 2026's first update causes havocWindows Latest
- Microsoft Issues Critical Update Warning For All Outlook UsersForbes
- Microsoft makes Outlook "completely unusable" as Windows 11 25H2/24H2 update breaks itNeowin
- Microsoft shares workaround for Outlook freezes after Windows updateBleepingComputer
- Microsoft's workaround for classic Outlook issues after Windows 11 updatePCWorld
Comments
Europe is abandoning Microsoft and creating powerful new Linux Distros and as such soon Open Source will be the leading movement with Japan, India, China for supremacy.
I'm way ahead of the curve here! I didn't even get this update on my work computer yet, but Outlook already becomes unresponsive multiple times a day.
I usually work on two big screens with Outlook open on the laptop screen to one side, so I always have it in the corner of my eye. My favourite bit is when I haven't touched it in a few hours, and it suddenly starts flickering, all the rendering getting garbled up, UI elements jumping around, disappearing, reappearing… it wouldn't be simple to implement something like that on purpose. You need real MS vibe coders to get that going.
Man, if only they focus on making Win11 usable first instead of pushing AI slop in our throats...
The minute the linux community finally "cracks the code" and allows multiplayer games to be played on it is when I will finally be free from Microsoft's slop code.
SteamOS and Bazzite are on the way. Stay in touch.
I'm disappointed but not surprised. I've yet to even touch Windows 11 and I don't wish to ever do so.
Don't do it, you'll insta-repent.
Too late. I already uninstalled Windows years ago. Haha.
Oh nice. Which OS/distro have you been enjoying? While I've been using various distros over the years, I've been hesitant to go all in
I know the question wasn't directed at me, but I recommend Fedora Workstation, which I'm currently using.
Fedora is nice, but arch is nicer btw (/!\ only for experienced users /!).
I currently have Debian on my main machine, LMDE and MX on my laptops, and antiX on my ancient Acer netbook. I used Mint for quite a while, and it is quite nice. That's what I'd recommend for folks new to Linux.
Micro$lop handed the FBI the recovery keys to decrypt the hard drives of three laptops encrypted with BitLocker.
BitLocker is enabled by default in modern Agentic OS ((Copilot) (Windows)) laptops, but Micro$lop also prompts users to upload the recovery keys to the company's cloud, which opens up this possibility.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2026/01/22/microsoft-gave-fbi-keys-to-unlock-bitlocker-encrypted-data/
Expecting all (western) intelligence agencies NOT to have a backdoor to Bitlocker would be quite naïve, in my opinion If you want your device encrypted, use Veracrypt with a strong password/passphrase