Windows 11 Updates, Changes, and Known Issues (Ongoing)

written for regular PC users who want to understand what matters without reading technical release notes.

Most Windows updates are routine and improve security or stability in the background. When an update causes visible problems, those issues are usually temporary and fixable.

If you’re troubleshooting an issue, this page helps you confirm whether it’s a known update problem before you try random fixes.

Last updated: January 2026

What You’ll Find on This Page

  • Short monthly update notes in plain language
  • Known issues worth watching
  • Recently fixed problems
  • Links to safe troubleshooting guides when updates cause issues

If you updated recently and something feels off, start with the current month’s update notes, then check the Known Issues section below.

Windows Update Notes (For Regular Users)

These notes highlight only what most users should know. No rumors, no speculation, and no Insider-only changes.

January 2026 — Routine stability and security updates

What changed: Microsoft released standard Windows 11 updates focused on security and system stability.

What you might notice: Most users won’t notice visible changes. If your system felt slower immediately after updating, this usually settles after one or two restarts.

Who it affects: All supported Windows 11 systems.

Do you need to do anything? No. Keep updates enabled.

> December 2025 — Background fixes and reliability improvements

What changed: Updates focused on internal fixes rather than new features.

What you might notice: Slight improvements after reboot on some systems.

Who it affects: Users who noticed slower startup or heavy background activity right after updating. (Often temporary.)

Do you need to do anything? No action required.

October 2025 — Post-update performance complaints (resolved)

What changed: A set of cumulative updates triggered performance complaints on some systems.

What you might notice: Some users experienced performance drops after updating. These issues were resolved in later cumulative updates.

Who it affects: Some laptops and desktops after specific updates.

Do you need to do anything? Only if a problem appeared immediately after updating.

Known Issues & Warnings

These are issues currently worth watching. Not everyone will be affected.

Occasional slow startup after recent updates
  • Symptom: Slower-than-normal startup after updating
  • Who it affects: Some systems with older startup software
  • What to do first: Restart once and allow the system to settle. This is usually temporary and resolves after background tasks finish.
    Avoid: Registry “speed tweaks” — most slowdowns here are temporary background work.
  • Status: Monitoring
Unexpected restart or shutdown behavior
  • Symptom: PC restarts instead of shutting down
  • Who it affects: Affected users after specific updates
  • What to do first: Check for newer updates before uninstalling anything.
    Related: If this started after KB5073455, see the KB5077797 fix guide .
  • Status: Mitigated for most users

Recently Fixed Issues

Restart instead of shutdown behavior (resolved)

Earlier reports of restart-instead-of-shutdown behavior have been largely resolved through follow-up patches.

What to do: Then restart once and test shutdown again.

If an Update Caused a Problem

If your PC started acting differently right after an update, follow this safe order:

  1. Restart once (many update issues resolve after the first reboot)
  2. Check for another update — fixes often follow quickly
  3. Confirm the issue started immediately after updating
  4. Use basic troubleshooting before changing system settings
  5. If needed, pause updates temporarily rather than rushing to uninstall

Detailed, step-by-step guides are linked from individual troubleshooting articles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install every Windows update immediately?

For most users, yes. Security updates are important, and most issues are minor or temporary.

Why do updates sometimes slow my PC?

Updates can trigger background tasks temporarily. This usually settles after a reboot or two.

Should I uninstall an update if something breaks?

Not right away. Check for follow-up updates first. Uninstalling should be a last step.

Is it safe to pause Windows updates?

Short pauses are fine if you’re troubleshooting, but long-term pauses are not recommended.

Older Updates Archive

Older entries are kept for reference. Expand a year only if you need it.

2026 Archive

January 2026, February 2026, March 2026…

2025 Archive

October 2025, September 2025, August 2025, July 2025…

2024 Archive

Historical reference entries.

Notes are reviewed periodically against official documentation and real-world update behavior.