Windows Update friction continues

Microsoft is still fixing how Windows 11 handles updates: one March patch broke Microsoft account sign-ins in native apps, even as the company pushes users toward choosing restart times instead of getting bounced unexpectedly. (support.microsoft.com) The broken patch was KB5079473, released March 10, 2026 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 as OS builds 26100.8037 and 26200.8037. Microsoft said the update bundled security fixes, February’s non-security changes, and a servicing stack update that installs future patches. (support.microsoft.com) Microsoft later logged a known issue saying Microsoft account sign-ins could fail in apps including Microsoft Teams Free and OneDrive after KB5079473. The company said business accounts using Microsoft Entra ID were not affected. (learn.microsoft.com) Microsoft marked that sign-in bug resolved with KB5085516 on March 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time for Windows 11 version 24H2, and listed the same issue as resolved for version 25H2 on March 24, 2026. The release health pages tie both cases back to KB5079473. (learn.microsoft.com 1) (learn.microsoft.com 2) Windows Update works in two steps: the system downloads and installs files first, then asks for a restart to finish replacing parts of the operating system. Microsoft’s own documentation says administrators can set active hours, delay automatic restarts, or block scheduled restarts while a user is signed in. (learn.microsoft.com) That same documentation also says one older warning-timer policy is now a legacy setting that does not apply to Windows 11. In current Windows 11 rollout guidance for version 25H2, Microsoft says eligible Home and Pro devices can “choose when to restart” or postpone the update after it is offered. (learn.microsoft.com 1) (learn.microsoft.com 2) Microsoft is also leaning harder on automatic delivery for consumer machines. Its 25H2 rollout page says the machine learning-based rollout has expanded to all eligible Windows 11 Home and Pro devices on version 24H2 that are not managed by information technology departments. (learn.microsoft.com) For users, the pattern is familiar: Windows 11 promises more control over restart timing, but the monthly servicing model still means a single cumulative patch can touch sign-in, security, and core app behavior at once. Microsoft’s own support pages now show both the fix and the friction in the same update trail. (support.microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com)