Troubleshooting Outlook Freezes for POP Users After Windows 11 Update

Microsoft Investigating Windows 11 Update Causing Outlook Freezing Issues for POP Email Users

Reports have surfaced regarding a January Windows 11 security update causing freezing and hanging issues for users of the classic Outlook desktop client with POP email accounts. Microsoft is actively investigating this widespread issue.

POP, short for Post Office Protocol, is utilized for retrieving emails from a server to a local device. While not as popular as IMAP or Exchange, POP remains a favored option among home users and small businesses.

The problem specifically impacts users who have installed the KB5074109 security update for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. Affected individuals have noted that the classic Outlook client fails to exit properly and does not restart after being closed.

According to a support document released by Microsoft, “This is an emerging issue, and we don’t have all the symptoms yet, but we will update the topic as we understand the issue better.” Both the Outlook and Windows teams at Microsoft are actively investigating the problem, with no timeline provided for a fix or workaround.

Microsoft has assured that their advisory will be updated as more information is gathered about the scope and cause of the known issue. In the meantime, affected users can temporarily address the bug by uninstalling the KB5074109 update through the Settings app.

One affected user shared, “As soon as the January 14th update was issued, Outlook started freezing and crashing. I uninstalled KB5074109 and now Outlook works fine again.” Another user added, “No repairs or fixes listed worked except uninstalling the security update. I had to postpone updates to keep it from reinstalling.”

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that removing security updates could expose Windows devices to potential malware and other threats, as these updates typically patch vulnerabilities that may already be exploited in attacks.

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