Knowledge Base > Windows Systems > Troubleshooting > Part 2

OneDrive and Dropbox Freezing After Updates [Part 2 of 2]

Windows Systems February 14, 2026

When cloud sync breaks your workflow

You are working on a document, hit Save, and your app just stops. The cursor spins. Nothing happens. Eventually, you get an error or the app crashes entirely.

If you installed the January 2026 Windows update (KB5074109 or later), you are not alone. Microsoft broke cloud storage sync, and it is affecting OneDrive, Dropbox, and other cloud-backed storage providers.

The Problem

After installing Windows updates released on or after January 13, 2026, apps become unresponsive or throw unexpected errors when:

  • Opening files from cloud storage (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
  • Saving files to cloud-synced folders
  • Browsing cloud-backed directories in File Explorer

Microsoft has officially acknowledged this issue in their Windows 11 24H2 Known Issues documentation.

Symptoms You Might See

  • Apps freeze for 10-30 seconds when saving
  • "Not Responding" in the title bar
  • File Explorer hangs when opening OneDrive folders
  • Random application crashes during file operations
  • Outlook freezing when saving attachments to OneDrive

The Fix: Install the Out-of-Band Update

Microsoft released an emergency patch on January 24, 2026 to fix this. Here is how to get it.

Option 1: Windows Update (Recommended)

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update
  2. If you have "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" enabled, you may already have it
  3. Click Check for updates
  4. Look for KB5078127 and install it
  5. Restart your PC

Option 2: Manual Download

If the update is not showing up:

  1. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog
  2. Download the version matching your Windows edition (x64 for most PCs)
  3. Run the downloaded .msu file
  4. Restart your PC

Verify the Fix

After installing:

  1. Open a cloud-synced folder in File Explorer
  2. Try opening and saving a document
  3. Apps should respond normally without freezing

Temporary Workarounds (If You Cannot Update Yet)

If you are in an environment where you cannot immediately install updates, here are some options:

Workaround 1: Work with Local Files

  1. Copy files from your cloud folder to a local directory (like Desktop or Documents outside OneDrive)
  2. Work on the local copy
  3. Copy back to cloud storage when done

Not ideal, but it avoids the freezing issue.

Workaround 2: Pause Cloud Sync Temporarily

OneDrive:

  1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray
  2. Click Pause syncing > Choose duration
  3. Work on files locally
  4. Resume sync when done

Dropbox:

  1. Right-click the Dropbox icon in the system tray
  2. Click your profile picture > Pause syncing
  3. Work on files locally
  4. Click Resume syncing when done

Workaround 3: Use the Web Interface

Access your files through the browser instead:

Edit files directly in the web app to bypass the local sync issue.

Preventing Future Update Issues

This is not the first time a Windows update has broken core functionality, and it will not be the last. Here is how to protect yourself:

Delay Feature Updates

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options
  2. Under "Pause updates," select a delay period
  3. This gives time for Microsoft to fix major bugs before they hit your machine

Keep a System Restore Point

Before major updates:

  1. Search for "Create a restore point" in the Start menu
  2. Click Create and name it (e.g., "Before January 2026 Update")
  3. If an update breaks something, you can roll back

Monitor Known Issues

Before installing updates, check:

How to Roll Back the Problematic Update

If you cannot install the fix and the workarounds are not working, you can uninstall the broken update:

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history
  2. Scroll down and click Uninstall updates
  3. Find KB5074109 (or the January 2026 security update)
  4. Click Uninstall
  5. Restart your PC
Warning

Uninstalling security updates removes security patches. Only do this temporarily until you can install the fixed version (KB5078127).

TL;DR

Problem Solution
Apps freeze when saving to OneDrive/DropboxInstall KB5078127 via Windows Update
Update not showingDownload manually from Microsoft Update Catalog
Cannot update yetWork with local files or use web interface
Need to undo the damageUninstall KB5074109, then install KB5078127

Resources

Part 1: File Explorer Freezing
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