Microsoft recently released security updates (KB5040427 for Windows 10 and KB5040442 for Windows 11) to fix vulnerabilities in these operating systems. While installing these updates is important for security, some users are experiencing issues.
What’s Happening?
People who installed the updates are reporting problems like:
- Computers restarting constantly (looping)
- Blue screens appearing during restarts
- Freezes and crashes
This appears to be happening only on devices with BitLocker encryption turned on.
What to Do if You’re Affected
If you’re experiencing these issues and have BitLocker enabled, here’s how to potentially fix it:
- Enter your BitLocker recovery key.
- Windows should start normally after showing the BitLocker recovery screen.
How to Find Your Recovery Key
You can retrieve your BitLocker recovery key by logging in to your Microsoft account on the BitLocker recovery screen portal. Microsoft provides instructions for finding your key [here](link to Microsoft’s BitLocker recovery key instructions).
Another Update to Avoid (For Now)
There’s another update (KB5040525) available for Windows 10 (optional preview for version 22H2). However, this update is also causing problems like memory issues and app crashes. Since it’s optional, it’s best to avoid installing it for now.