Outlook Freezes: Microsoft's Latest Update Causes Cloud Saving Woes

Daily Technology

22/01/2026

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue impacting users after its January Windows update, where applications, most notably Outlook, may freeze when saving files to cloud storage services like OneDrive and Dropbox. This problem adds to a series of recent glitches introduced by Microsoft's updates, causing user frustration and demanding immediate attention from the tech giant.

Key Takeaways

Microsoft's January Windows update is causing applications, including Outlook, to freeze when saving files to cloud storage.
The issue specifically affects saving files to services like OneDrive and Dropbox.
Outlook users may experience unresponsiveness with PST files stored on OneDrive, requiring a process termination or system restart.
Microsoft is actively working on a resolution and advises users to contact application developers or use webmail as temporary workarounds.

The Outlook Freeze Problem

Following the installation of the January 13 update, users have reported that certain applications become unresponsive or encounter unexpected errors when attempting to open or save files from cloud-backed storage. The most prominent example is Microsoft Outlook. When a PST (Personal Storage Table) file is stored on OneDrive, Outlook might freeze, becoming unrecoverable without terminating its process via Task Manager or restarting the entire system. In some instances, sent emails may not even appear in the outbox.

Workarounds and Recommendations

Microsoft's primary workaround for the Outlook issue is to relocate the PST file from OneDrive. While storing PST files on OneDrive is generally discouraged outside of backup scenarios, users and administrators often configure their systems this way. The need to alter established workflows due to a bug introduced by an update is a significant inconvenience.

For users experiencing the freeze, Microsoft suggests reaching out to the respective application developers for alternative file access methods. Alternatively, if your email provider supports it, using webmail is recommended as a temporary solution. The company has stated that it is prioritizing a fix and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

A Pattern of Update Issues

This latest bug follows closely on the heels of other problems introduced by recent Microsoft updates. Earlier, an emergency out-of-band update was released to address connection and authentication failures within the Windows App. Another fault from the same update caused some Windows 11 23H2 PCs to refuse to shut down or hibernate, necessitating further damage control from Microsoft. The recurring nature of these issues, especially so early in the year, suggests ongoing challenges in Microsoft's update deployment process.

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