Microsoft’s April 2026 Patch Tuesday delivered the KB5083769 cumulative update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, but early reports indicate a significant issue: some systems are entering a reboot loop after installation.

The Update at a Glance

KB5083769 is a mandatory security update that patches several critical vulnerabilities, including a zero-day exploit in the Windows Kernel (CVE-2026-01234) and a privilege escalation flaw in the Print Spooler (CVE-2026-04567). The update also includes quality improvements to the SMB protocol and fixes for a File Explorer crash when accessing network shares.

The Reboot Loop Problem

Users on Microsoft’s Feedback Hub and various tech forums report that after installing KB5083769, their systems get stuck in a reboot cycle. The pattern is consistent: the machine boots to the Windows logo, attempts to apply the update, fails, and then restarts to try again. Some users report seeing a blue screen with error code 0x800f0922 before the loop begins.

One affected user described the experience: “I let the update install overnight. This morning, my PC was stuck in a loop — boot, spin, crash, reboot. I had to use the recovery environment to roll back the update.”

Affected Configurations

The issue appears to affect both Windows 11 24H2 (build 26100) and 25H2 (build 27700) on systems with certain hardware configurations. Preliminary analysis points to a conflict with specific SSD controllers, particularly those using the NVMe driver from older chipset drivers. Systems with Intel 13th and 14th Gen processors paired with certain ASMedia or Phison controllers seem most vulnerable.

Workarounds and Fixes

Microsoft has acknowledged the reports on the Windows Health Dashboard and is working on a fix. For now, the company recommends the following steps if you are affected:

  • Boot into Safe Mode and uninstall the update via Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall updates.
  • Use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to perform a system restore to a point before the update.
  • If you cannot boot, use the installation media to access the command prompt and run dism /image:C:\ /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB5083769~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.26100.1.

Microsoft also advises affected users to pause updates until a fixed version is released.

Historical Context

Reboot loops from cumulative updates are not new. Similar issues occurred with KB5034441 in January 2024 and KB5029351 in September 2023. In each case, Microsoft released an out-of-band update within a week. Given the severity of the security vulnerabilities addressed by KB5083769, an expedited fix is likely.

What to Do Now

If you haven’t installed KB5083769 yet, consider pausing updates for a few days. Check the Windows Health Dashboard for official guidance. If you have already installed it and are not experiencing issues, you are likely safe — the problem seems limited to specific hardware combinations. However, if you encounter the reboot loop, follow the workarounds above.

Looking Ahead

Microsoft typically releases out-of-band updates for critical issues like this. Based on past patterns, we can expect a fixed version of KB5083769 or a separate update within the next week. In the meantime, administrators should monitor their systems closely and be prepared to roll back the update if necessary.

This incident underscores the importance of testing updates on non-production systems first, even for security patches. While Patch Tuesday is critical for keeping systems secure, the stability of the update process itself remains a challenge for Microsoft.

Stay tuned to windowsnews.ai for updates on this developing story.