Windows 11 Update Triggers Reboot Loops, Breaks Bluetooth and USB Devices

A new Windows 11 update has caused major problems for some users and has frozen PCs, brought blue or green screens, or caused reboot loops where PCs repeatedly try to restart.

The Sept. 26 update, KB5043145, has also caused some users’ USB or Bluetooth devices—including keyboards, mice, headphones, microphones, memory sticks, printers, or other accessories—to suddenly stop working with the connected PC.

“After I installed this update it broke something in my system files and I had to do a fresh reinstall of Windows,” one user explains in a post about the issue on Tuesday. “I was getting BSOD every 15 mins.”

Others have found that the update caused issues with Wi-Fi or software like VirtualBox and Linux features like WSL2. Multiple Windows 11 users with Asus laptops, specifically, have reported issues with this update.

If you’ve run into any of these issues, Microsoft says its Automatic Repair tool may appear if your PC gets stuck in a reboot loop and can be used to resolve the issue. Bitlocker recovery can also be used in some cases, according to a support page.

Microsoft has also made a tweak via its Known Issue Rollback service, so these issues may be resolved automatically. If your PC still isn’t working, however, Microsoft recommends trying a restart to trigger the automatic fix.

Microsoft doesn’t yet have a fix for Windows 11 PCs that are managed by an IT department, however. The tech giant says IT admins will have to do some work to install and configure a specific “group policy” until Microsoft rolls out a fix for work PCs and a fix more broadly in a future update.

Windows 11 users previously saw similar issues in an update earlier this year. KB5039302, released back in June, caused some PCs to get stuck in reboot loops as well. This glitch was less likely to affect Windows 11 Home users, but it was still enough of a problem that Microsoft pulled the update.

About Kate Irwin

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I’m a reporter covering early morning news. Prior to joining PCMag in 2024, I was a reporter and producer at Decrypt and launched its gaming vertical, GG. I have previous bylines with Input, Game Rant, and Dot Esports. I’ve been a PC gamer since The Sims (yes, the original). In 2020, I finally built my first PC with a 3090 graphics card, but also regularly use Mac and iOS devices as well. As a reporter, I’m passionate about uncovering scoops and documenting the wide world of tech and how it affects our daily lives.

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