What You Need to Know About KB5077797 Windows 11 Update
KB5077797 is the January 17, 2026 out-of-band cumulative update for Windows 11 version 23H2, OS build 22631.6494. It addresses particular regressions after the January security update. It is not a package for every Windows 11 version. Check your version with winver before following instructions for any KB.
What exactly is the KB5077797 update for Windows 11?
The package includes the January 13 security update KB5073455 and additional fixes for Remote Desktop sign-in failures and shutdown or hibernation failures on some Secure Launch devices. Microsoft initially distributed it through the Microsoft Update Catalog, not ordinary Windows Update. It should not be described as a generic performance or driver-compatibility update.
How can I tell if KB5077797 is already installed on my PC?
Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and look for the KB entry. Use winver to check the installed Windows version and build. A later cumulative update may already include these fixes, so an absent historical KB entry does not by itself mean the PC needs this old package. Avoid instructions that depend on WMIC, which is deprecated and has been removed from newer Windows 11 versions.
Are there any known problems with KB5077797 and how can I fix them?
Microsoft documented application hangs or errors when accessing cloud-backed files; KB5078132 addressed that problem. Some Secure Launch-capable devices with Virtual Secure Mode enabled could still restart instead of shutting down or hibernating; updates from February 10, 2026 onward, including KB5075941, fully resolved that issue. Do not replace these documented issues with unsupported reports of generic slow startup or driver failures.
How do I install or uninstall KB5077797 if I need to?
For a device in use now, install the current applicable cumulative update for its supported Windows version rather than seeking this January package. If an administrator needs the historical standalone package, use Microsoft Update Catalog and match version and architecture. Microsoft states that wusa /uninstall does not work on this combined servicing-stack and cumulative package. Removing its LCU requires DISM with the actual LCU package name; the servicing-stack update cannot be removed. Use Microsoft’s package-specific instructions or administrator support instead of guessing a removal command.
Where does KB5077797 fit in the overall Windows 11 update schedule?
This was an out-of-band release on January 17, 2026, outside the normal monthly security-release schedule. Later cumulative updates incorporate earlier fixes. Servicing eligibility also depends on edition: Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro have already reached end of updates; Enterprise and Education reach that date in November 2026. Move to a supported release appropriate for the device rather than treating an old KB as a complete maintenance plan.
Conclusion
Check your Windows version, edition and update history. On a supported installation, use the latest applicable cumulative update and review Microsoft’s release-health guidance for any symptoms. Do not install a 23H2 package on another release or uninstall security updates merely because the update history contains this KB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KB5077797 a security update?
It is a cumulative out-of-band quality update that includes the preceding January security fixes as well as additional regression fixes.
Can I skip installing KB5077797?
A device with a later applicable cumulative update does not need this historical package separately. The priority is to keep a supported Windows version current, not to install every past KB individually.
Why did my PC restart after installing KB5077797?
A requested restart can be part of completing an update. A device that restarts whenever Shut down is selected has a different symptom; review the documented shutdown issue and its later fixes.
What should I do if KB5077797 causes system problems?
Compare the symptoms with Microsoft’s known issues and install the later applicable fixes. Preserve a backup before recovery work and consult an administrator for package removal rather than using a generic WUSA command.
Will KB5077797 add new features to Windows 11?
Its documented purpose is the regression fixes described above. It is not a Windows feature-version upgrade.