If you installed the January 2026 Windows update (KB5074109) and your Nvidia GPU started showing visual artifacts, black screens, or frame drops during games, you're not alone. Nvidia has confirmed this is a Windows update issue, not a driver problem.

Here's how to fix it.

Quick Fix: Uninstall KB5074109

Open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell and run:

wusa /uninstall /kb:5074109

Restart your PC when prompted. Your GPU performance should return to normal.

Alternative: Uninstall via Settings

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history
  2. Scroll down and click Uninstall updates
  3. Find KB5074109 in the list
  4. Click Uninstall and restart

What's Actually Happening

KB5074109 is a mandatory security update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 (builds 26100.7623 and 26200.7623). It patches 114 security vulnerabilities, which is why Windows pushed it to everyone.

The problem: something in this update conflicts specifically with Nvidia GeForce GPUs. AMD Radeon users are unaffected.

Reported symptoms include:

  • Rectangular artifacts and color banding in games (especially Forza Horizon 5)
  • Black screens during gameplay
  • 15-20 FPS drops with worse 1% lows and microstutter
  • Screen flickering under GPU load
  • DLSS Frame Generation producing visual corruption
  • Occasional Nvidia driver crashes
  • OpenGL rendering broken in professional apps (Cinema 4D, Quadro cards)

Nvidia's Response

Nvidia staff member Manuel Guzman posted on the official GeForce Forums confirming the investigation:

"Even though it started after a Windows 11 update, we are looking into it. As far as I know, the only way to resolve it appears to be uninstalling KB5074109."

This is a Windows update problem, not a driver problem. Updating or rolling back your Nvidia drivers alone will not fix it.

If You Can't Uninstall the Update

Some users are getting error 0x800f0905 when trying to remove KB5074109. If that happens:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Run a DISM repair first:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
  1. Try the uninstall again:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5074109
  1. If it still won't budge, try System Restore to a point before the update was installed.

DDU Clean Install (If Symptoms Persist)

If artifacts continue after removing the update, do a clean driver install:

  1. Download DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller)
  2. Boot into Safe Mode
  3. Run DDU and select Clean and restart
  4. After reboot, install fresh Nvidia drivers from nvidia.com/drivers

What About the Security Patches?

KB5074109 covers 114 vulnerabilities, so leaving it uninstalled is a tradeoff. Microsoft is expected to include a permanent fix in the February 11, 2026 Patch Tuesday update. Once that drops, install it immediately to get both the security patches and the GPU fix.

Microsoft also released an optional preview update KB5074105 on January 29 that fixes the black screen at boot/login specifically, but it does not address in-game artifacts or FPS drops.

Affected Hardware

Reports cover a wide range of Nvidia GPUs:

  • RTX 4090, RTX 4080 Super
  • RTX 4070 series
  • RTX 3080, RTX 3070
  • Nvidia Quadro M2000M (professional workloads)

No specific GPU generation is immune. If you have an Nvidia card and installed KB5074109, you may be affected.

GPU problems slowing down your work? RainCity Techworks provides IT support for businesses across the Seattle-Tacoma area. Get in touch if your team needs help.