Windows 10 Emergency Update KB5077796 Fixes Remote Desktop Sign-In Failures

Patch Tuesday updates have triggered a wave of problems for Windows users, ranging from reboot loops and shutdown bugs to black screens on NVIDIA GPUs. Microsoft has now stepped in with an emergency update for Windows 10 that targets one of the most disruptive issues.

Microsoft releases out-of-band Windows 10 fix

Microsoft has released KB5077796, an out-of-band emergency update dated January 17, 2026, for Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2. The update applies to OS Build 19045.6811 for 22H2 and Build 19044.6811 for 21H2.

KB5077796 rolls up fixes and quality improvements that first appeared in the January 13, 2026 cumulative update KB5073724. Microsoft pushed this emergency patch after reports confirmed that the earlier Patch Tuesday release caused widespread connection problems.

Remote Desktop sign-in failures finally resolved

The primary fix in KB5077796 addresses a Remote Desktop sign-in failure. Some users could not authenticate when connecting through Remote Desktop apps, including the built-in Windows Remote Desktop App.

The issue also disrupted Azure Virtual Desktop connections, which previously left affected systems unable to complete the authentication step.

This emergency update resolves those authentication failures on impacted Windows 10 machines. Microsoft lists no new security features in KB5077796, only stability and quality improvements carried over from the earlier update. The company also reports no known issues with this release.

Microsoft distributes KB5077796 exclusively through the Microsoft Update Catalog, not through standard Windows Update, which means users must install it manually if they need the fix.