Windows 11 KB5083769 is sending some PCs into BitLocker recovery and boot loops, users report

Microsoft’s April Windows 11 security update, KB5083769, is drawing complaints from users who say their PCs are getting stuck in recovery screens, reboot cycles and, in some cases, blue-screen crashes after installation.

The reports cover Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 machines, with HP and Dell systems showing up repeatedly in user posts and tech reports.

The company’s official support note for KB5083769 says:

The update “addresses an issue where the device might enter BitLocker Recovery after the Secure Boot updates.”

Microsoft also says the package applies to Windows 11 version 25H2 and 24H2, with OS builds 26200.8246 and 26100.8246 listed in the release note.

That wording points to a narrower problem than the worst reports circulating online.

Windows Central says the BitLocker prompt appears after the first reboot on a limited set of devices with an “unrecommended” BitLocker configuration tied to a TPM validation policy that includes PCR7, plus certain Secure Boot settings and a non-2023-signed Windows Boot Manager.

PCWorld reports a different class of failure on some HP and Dell systems, where users say they hit persistent boot loops and BSODs after installing the same update.

Microsoft has not publicly described KB5083769 as a general boot-loop bug in the materials reviewed, and the user reports remain uneven rather than universal.

Even so, the volume of complaints on Microsoft Q&A, plus the similarity of the failure pattern in multiple reports, is enough to make the update a higher-risk install for systems that rely on BitLocker and custom Secure Boot policies.

Microsoft’s own support text suggests the issue can be resolved on affected machines by entering the recovery key and continuing startup, but the broader boot-loop complaints reported by users are a separate problem from the BitLocker case.

Key Details regarding the KB5083769 Update Issue:

Before we go for the solutions, here's what you should need to know:

• Systems Affected: Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2 (primarily HP and Dell reported so far).
• Symptoms: Pixelated/distorted visuals, Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), and an automatic repair loop that fails to fix the issue.
• Other Issues: The update is also triggering BitLocker recovery key prompts, locking users out of their devices.
• Status: Users are advised to pause updates to avoid the issue.

If your system falls into one of the above issues, you should follow the guide below:

Potential Fixes:

Here's how to fix Windows 11 KB5083769 update errors and the blue screen of death caused by this update:

1. Uninstall Update: Use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to uninstall the KB5083769 update entirely.
2. System Restore: Revert to a restore point of Windows 11 that was created before April 14, 2026.
3. Command Line Tools: Use sfc /scannow and DISM commands if you are able to reach a command prompt, as suggested in this YouTube video. 

You can watch this video for a step-by-step guide on how to use command line tools to fix the issue right now:

That's all.