Add Techlomedia as a preferred source on Google.
Microsoft has confirmed that the shutdown and hibernation bug caused by recent Windows updates affects more PCs than it first admitted. The issue, which surfaced after the January 2026 updates, is still not fully fixed and continues to trouble certain Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.
The problem first appeared earlier in January when users reported that their PCs would not shut down or enter hibernation. Instead of powering off, affected systems would restart or stay stuck in an active state. Microsoft initially said the bug was limited to a small group of devices with Secure Launch enabled.
Soon after, the company released an out-of-band update to fix the issue. At the time, Microsoft claimed the patch addressed the shutdown problem. However, user reports continued, suggesting the bug was more widespread than expected.
On January 30, Microsoft quietly updated its Windows Health Dashboard. The updated note confirmed that PCs with both Secure Launch and Virtual Secure Mode enabled are also affected. Virtual Secure Mode is a security feature that uses virtualization to protect sensitive system data. Systems using this feature may still fail to shut down or hibernate properly after installing the January updates.
Microsoft now says that while Secure Launch-only systems received a fix, devices with Virtual Secure Mode enabled are still waiting for a permanent solution. The company has stated that a fix will arrive in a future Windows update, but it has not shared a clear timeline.
The shutdown bug adds to a long list of problems tied to January 2026 Windows updates. Earlier this month, Microsoft also acknowledged a serious boot issue that caused some PCs to fail with an UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error. Other users reported crashes, login issues, and unexpected restarts after installing security patches.
What makes the situation more noticeable is the timing. The update issues surfaced shortly after Microsoft spoke publicly about increasing the use of AI-generated code in its development process. The company has said that AI now plays a role in writing parts of its internal code, including tools and platforms used across Windows and other products.
Also read: Best Fan Control Software for Windows
While Microsoft has not linked AI coding tools to the recent update failures, the overlap has raised concerns among users. Many are questioning whether faster development cycles and heavier reliance on automated code could be affecting software quality.
Microsoft has acknowledged the growing frustration. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri recently said the company plans to focus on core pain points in 2026. These include system stability, performance, and update reliability. The goal, according to Microsoft, is to restore trust in Windows updates after a rough start to the year.
For now, Microsoft says regular home users are mostly unaffected. The shutdown issue mainly impacts enterprise and advanced systems running Windows 11 version 23H2, Windows 10 version 22H2, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC editions. Users affected by the bug will need to wait for a future update to fully resolve the issue.
Follow Techlomedia on Google News to stay updated. ![]()
Affiliate Disclosure:
This article may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.















































