What happened and why it matters
Microsoft released the second unscheduled update in January 2026 for Windows 11 to fix a critical bug that was causing crashes in Outlook and file issues in cloud storage, including OneDrive. This is not just an inconvenience for users — for businesses and government services it is a matter of access to mail and documents.
According to Microsoft, the problem appeared after the January security bundle: some applications stopped responding or showed errors when opening or saving files. Users who work with PST files stored in the cloud were particularly affected. A week ago the company already fixed other regressions (issues with shutdown/sleep mode and difficulties connecting via Remote Desktop).
Installing this update automatically fixes all crashes that occurred after the January update.
— Microsoft
Who was at risk and what to do
The greatest risk was to users and organizations that store mail files in the cloud or actively work with synchronized storage. For IT departments this is not only a convenience issue — it is a question of business continuity and preserving communications at a critical moment.
Recommendations: check for updates via Windows Update or enterprise tools (WSUS/Intune); be sure to restart devices after installation; ensure OneDrive is synchronized before copying/moving PST files; make backups of critical files; for organizations — deploy the update centrally and inform staff of the need to reboot.
Consequences for Ukraine
Rapid patches from major software vendors directly affect the ability of government bodies and businesses to operate under pressure. It is also worth remembering that support for Windows 10 ended in 2025: machines on the older OS no longer receive security patches. For Ukrainian organizations this is a signal — accelerate migration or put compensating controls in place so as not to remain vulnerable.
In short: install the update, restart devices and review update policies within your organization. These are simple but necessary steps to maintain the operability of government and business services under current conditions.
