Microsoft has confirmed that shutdown and hibernation failures linked to January 2026 Windows updates affect more devices than initially reported. The issue now includes systems running Secure Launch alongside Virtual Secure Mode (VSM), expanding the scope beyond Microsoft’s original assessment.
According to the updated Windows Health Dashboard, some affected PCs fail to shut down or enter hibernation after recent updates. Instead, the system restarts automatically, disrupting normal power management behavior.
What’s causing the shutdown problem
The issue appears after installing the January 13, 2026 security update KB5073455. Microsoft says the bug mainly impacts enterprise-style systems that use advanced security features.
See also: Windows 11 KB5074105 Camera Issue Causes Webcam and Lock Screen Failures
Secure Launch relies on virtualization-based security to protect devices from firmware-level threats during startup. When Virtual Secure Mode is also enabled, certain systems cannot complete shutdown or hibernation processes correctly after the update installs.
Microsoft clarified that this problem does not affect typical consumer PCs. The issue mainly appears on devices where Secure Launch and VSM are actively configured.
Affected Windows versions
Microsoft confirmed the issue impacts the following platforms:
- Windows 11 version 23H2
- Windows 10 version 22H2
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019
Server editions remain unaffected.
Windows Shutdown Issue Fix Available for Some Devices Only
Microsoft has already released out-of-band updates to address part of the problem. Devices using Secure Launch without VSM can resolve the issue by installing the January out-of-band updates KB5077797 or KB5078132.
See also: Microsoft Releases Windows 11 KB5074105 Preview With Critical Boot, Sign-In, and Activation Fixes
The January 24, 2026 update (KB5078132) is available directly through Windows Update for affected systems that already installed the problematic January security update. Microsoft recommends installing updates through Windows Update instead of the Microsoft Update Catalog when possible.
However, Microsoft confirmed that systems with Virtual Secure Mode enabled still lack a fix. The company says it plans to resolve VSM-related shutdown and hibernation failures in a future Windows update, but it has not shared a release timeline yet.
Ongoing concerns around update reliability
January 2026 has been a difficult month for Windows updates. Alongside shutdown issues, other reports point to boot failures, camera malfunctions, and lock screen problems linked to recent updates.
Microsoft says recent non-security updates for Windows 11 have resolved a large number of bugs, suggesting improvements in internal testing. Still, the continued emergence of new issues highlights ongoing challenges with update stability.
For now, Microsoft advises affected users to install the latest available updates and monitor Windows Health Dashboard announcements for further guidance.
