Windows 11 Shutdown Issues: Fixes & Workarounds

Microsoft Rushes Out emergency Fixes for Windows 11 After Faulty 2026 Update

Microsoft has swiftly released emergency updates to address critical issues stemming from its first Windows 11 security update of 2026, which caused shutdown failures and disrupted Remote Desktop connections for some users. The updates, delivered out-of-band – meaning outside the regular patching schedule – are now appearing through Windows Update.

The problems, which surfaced shortly after the update’s release, left some PCs unable to complete the shutdown process and others unable to authenticate remote connections. According to a company release, installing the emergency fix is the quickest way to restore stability to affected machines.

Did you know? – Out-of-band updates are released to address critical vulnerabilities or issues that cannot wait for the regularly scheduled Patch Tuesday. They prioritize immediate system stability and security.

Emergency Patches Now Available

microsoft has issued two specific updates to resolve the issues: KB5077744 and KB5077797. These are being rolled out via Windows Update to a broad range of systems.

the fixes address two distinct problems.First, Windows 11 version 23H2 devices utilizing Secure Launch were experiencing failures during shutdown or when attempting to hibernate. Second, connection and authentication errors impacted remote connection applications across multiple platforms, including Windows 11 version 25H2, windows 10 version 22H2 ESU, and windows Server 2025.

Pro tip – Always create a system restore point before installing major updates. This allows you to revert to a previous state if issues arise, minimizing downtime.

Why These Bugs Were So Disruptive

A failure to shut down a computer isn’t a minor inconvenience, and the Remote desktop issue considerably impacts productivity. “A lot of people use remote access for work, troubleshooting, and hopping between machines, so a sign-in failure can stop a day cold,” one analyst noted.

This incident is particularly noteworthy as it occurred with the first Windows 11 update cycle of 2026, raising questions about the thoroughness of pre-release testing.While the Windows Insider Program is designed to identify bugs before public release, these severe issues still slipped through the cracks.

What Users Need to Do

If you experienced issues with shutdown, hibernation, or Remote Desktop after installing the latest security patch, check Windows Update and install the emergency patches promptly. Once applied, your PC should function normally.

Even if you haven’t encountered these problems, it’s prudent to pay attention to the speed with which this issue was identified and addressed. A brief pause before installing brand-new updates, especially those affecting core functionality, can definitely help avoid unexpected disruptions.

For now, the recommended course of action is simple: update your system, confirm that shutdown functions correctly, and resume your work.

Why did this happen? The faulty update, released as part of the first Windows 11 security cycle of 2026, contained bugs that caused shutdown and remote connection failures. Who was affected? Users of Windows 11 (versions 23H2 and 25H2), Windows 10 (22H2 ESU), and Windows Server 2025 experienced the issues. What were the problems? shutdown and hibernation failures on some systems, and authentication errors with Remote Desktop connections. How did it end? Microsoft quickly released out-of-band updates (KB5077744 and KB5077797) via Windows Update to resolve the problems, restoring system stability.

Key improvements and explanations:

* Interactive Boxes: Two interactive boxes (“Did you know?” and “Pro tip”) were inserted at the specified breakpoints, formatted correctly with inline styles and `aria-