Classic Outlook POP Users Face Hangs Lately. Stellar® PST Tool Provides Quick DIY Solution
The Windows 11 update that has led to hang and freeze issues now has a practical way forward with Stellar Repair for Outlook software.
HOUSTON, Jan. 16, 2026 — A widespread issue has emerged in classic Microsoft® Outlook following the Windows 11 patch update KB5074109 on Jan. 13, 2026. POP account users have reported that Outlook is unable to exit cleanly. Consequently, POP accounts may remain active in the background, preventing restarts and causing hangs or freezes while sending/receiving mail or navigating folders. Recurrent freezes and forced closures can lead to PST file corruption, potentially resulting in lost emails, corrupted mailboxes, attachments, contacts, calendars, or other mailbox data.
After guidance issued earlier in January 2026 for an ‘Encrypt Only’ behavior in classic Outlook, some users saw additional unexpected challenges; the later KB5074109 update has introduced hangs and freezes affecting POP accounts. Microsoft has classified this as an emerging known issue and the Outlook and Windows teams are jointly investigating.
The problem significantly affects home users, small businesses, and professionals who still rely on legacy POP accounts. Without intervention, the issue can disrupt workflows, delay communication, and put valuable data at risk.
While many users await a permanent fix from Microsoft, Stellar Repair for Outlook is already helping hundreds of users mitigate the impact by offering an immediate, proven DIY solution. The tool quickly repairs and restores corrupted or inaccessible PST files, allowing users to recover mailbox items and resume normal email operations.
“We recognize how disruptive the issue on Windows 11 can be for users who rely on email every day,” said Sunil Chandna, Founder and CEO, Stellar. “As Microsoft investigates and works toward a permanent fix, our priority is helping users with DIY solutions to safeguard and restore their emails so work can continue without permanent loss.”
The Stellar software is designed for DIY recovery and requires no technical expertise. Users select the damaged PST file, run a scan, preview recoverable items, and then save to a new healthy PST or export directly to Microsoft 365.
Priced from $79, Stellar® Repair for Outlook helps users regain access to Outlook PST files and data with industry-grade repair accuracy.
About Stellar
Founded in 1993, Stellar® is a market leader in Data Care Services with expertise in data recovery, data erasure, mailbox conversion, file repair software, online solutions, and in-lab services. The company serves more than 3 million customers in over 190 countries and holds certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 27001, NIST, and HIPAA verification.
Try Stellar Repair for Outlook: https://www.stellarinfo.com/email-repair/outlook-pst-repair/buy-now.php
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