Microsoft’s April 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 is causing major headaches for some PC owners, with multiple reports pointing to a serious boot failure linked to cumulative update KB5083769. On certain Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems, the update appears to trigger an unrecoverable restart loop that prevents the computer from loading normally without hands-on recovery steps.
What’s happening after installing KB5083769
Soon after the update rolled out on April 14, reports began appearing on Microsoft’s own support channels describing a repeatable pattern. After KB5083769 installs and the PC restarts, some users see a screen filled with pixelated, mosaic-like visuals. Moments later, the system crashes into a Blue Screen of Death. From there, Windows attempts to enter recovery, but recovery efforts can dump the machine straight back into the same failed boot cycle.
The issue doesn’t seem limited to one brand or configuration. One user described the problem on an HP Pavilion desktop running an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 paired with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Another report confirmed similar behavior on a Dell desktop, with the commenter adding that multiple people in their organization ran into the same problem after the update.
BitLocker recovery prompts and excessive restarts
Alongside the boot loop reports, KB5083769 is also tied to another disruptive behavior: unexpected BitLocker recovery prompts on restart. Microsoft has since acknowledged this as a known issue affecting some devices, where the update can force the machine into BitLocker recovery mode.
Users are also reporting an unusually high number of restarts during the installation process itself. While Windows updates commonly require at least one restart, some machines reportedly cycle through four or more reboots before the update completes, making the process feel unstable and raising concerns for IT teams and home users alike.
What you can do right now
At the time of writing, Microsoft has not released an out-of-band fix specifically addressing the “death loop” boot failure scenario. If your PC is already stuck in the restart loop, the main path forward is using the Windows Recovery Environment.
If your device can reach recovery tools, try System Restore first to roll the system back to a restore point created before the update installed. If that doesn’t work, try Startup Repair. If neither option resolves the problem, a local reinstall using “Reset this PC” may be the last resort to regain access.
If your computer is still running normally and you haven’t installed KB5083769 yet, consider pausing Windows Update temporarily while Microsoft investigates. This can be especially important on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems where the update has been associated with boot failures, BitLocker recovery loops, and repeated restarts.
For anyone managing multiple PCs—at home or in a business—this is also a good moment to verify you have recent backups and access to BitLocker recovery keys, just in case your device prompts for them after a restart.
