Microsofts latest release windows 11 version 23H2 brings a fresh and modern experience to users. The company regularly releases Windows updates with the latest bug fixes, new features, and improvements. It’s important to keep your system up to date that not only optimizes the system performance but also keeps your device safe and protected from attacks. Sometimes after installing the Windows update when you restart your computer to apply the updates you may notice Windows 11 is stuck in a reboot loop. Or in some cases when you power on the device, instead of booting the OS and taking you to the sign-in screen, the system is stuck in a loop where it keeps loading Windows and crashing on each attempt.
How to Fix Windows 11 Infinite Reboot Loop
There are multiple reasons cause Windows 11 Boot Loop, Problems with the Master Boot Record (MBR), Corrupted system files, Incompatible or outdated drivers, Disk drive errors or Hardware conflicts are common. Again Certain malware or viruses can interfere with the boot process, causing Windows 11 to loop endlessly. Whatever the reason, this article explores a few effective solutions to help you fix the Windows 11 boot loop problem on your computer.
Perform Startup Repair or repair the boot sector using commands bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /scanos, bootrec /rebuildbcd very effective to fix such problems on Windows 11. Also, you can start your PC in safe mode and run the system file checker utility to ger rid of such problems on Windows 11.
Disconnect external Devices
External devices and peripherals such as printers, scanners or microphones connected to your computer sometimes cause conflict or reboot loop error in Windows 11. If the newly installed hardware device is incompatible or malfunctioning it may prevent Windows from loading.
Let’s first remove all the external peripherals connected to your computer and power cycle your device.
Fix the problem in safe mode
If your computer Reboots continuously after installing Update, Driver or Program boot into safe mode and uninstall the recent driver update or software program. Safe mode helps bypass the infinite reboot loop in Windows 11 by loading only essential components, preventing non-essential programs and drivers from causing conflicts.
- To access safe mode, hold the shift key on the keyboard, click on start menu -> power then restart.
- Next, click troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup settings.
- Click Restart then press F4 to start your computer in safe mode.
Note – If due to the Windows reboot loop, you are unable to access the normal desktop then you need to access the Advanced option using Installation media.
Undo recent changes you have made
If the problem started after a recent change such as a Windows update, driver installation, or application installation may introduce compatibility issues or conflicts that lead to the infinite reboot loop. When you start your PC in safe mode, undoing recent changes can often help fix a Windows 11 reboot loop.
Uninstall Recent Applications:
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to “Apps” or “Installed apps” and locate the recently installed applications.
- Click on each one, and select “Uninstall.” Follow the prompts to remove them from your system.
Remove Problematic Drivers:
- Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager.”
- Look for any devices marked with a yellow exclamation mark, indicating driver issues.
- Right-click on the problematic driver and select “Uninstall device.”
- Confirm the action if prompted.
System Restore:
If you had created a system restore point before the reboot loop started, you can use it to revert your computer to a previous state.
- Press Windows key + R, type rstrui.exe and click ok
- The system restore wizard opens, click next then select and restore point created before the problem starts or you make changes on your PC.
- Confirm your selection and let the system restore process complete. Your computer will restart.
- In addition, if the problem started after a recent Windows update then uninstall the same from Settings -> Windows update -> update history -> uninstall updates.
Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM
Again if for some reason critical system files become corrupted or missing, it can disrupt the boot process and result in the infinite reboot loop. In such a situation, running System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) commands help fix the problem.
Start your computer in safe mode, and the open command prompt as administrator. To do so
- Press Windows key + S, type cmd and select run as administrator,
- First, run the DISM restore health command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- The above command scans and attempts to repair any issues with the Windows image by using the Windows Update files.
- Next, run the system file checker command sfc /scannow.
- This will start to scan your system for corrupted system files and attempt to repair them automatically.
Once done, restart your computer and see if the reboot loop problem is resolved.
Clear Windows update cache
A few users report clear the Windows update cache helps them fix the Windows reboot loop or Windows 11 stuck restarting issue on their computer.
- Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc and click ok
- Scroll down to Windows Update, right-click on it select Stop,
- Now press Windows key + E to open File Explorer and navigate C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads.
- Select all contents inside the download folder and hit the Delete button.
- Again back to Windows services, right-click on Windows update, and select Start.
- Reboot your PC and check if there are no more Windows 11 stuck restart or reboot loop.
Disable Automatic Restart
Disabling Automatic Restart ensures that your computer does not automatically reboot when encountering an error. Instead, it will display the error message, allowing you to troubleshoot the issue or search for specific error codes online.
- Press Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl and click ok
- Move to the Advanced tab then choose the Settings option from the Start-up and Recovery section.
- choose the Settings option from the Start-up and Recovery section.
- Click on the Ok button to save the changes
Perform Startup Repair
If you are unable to access the desktop due to reboot loop in Windows 11 you can use Startup Repair to automatically diagnose and repair any problems preventing Windows from starting correctly. You can access Advanced options using installation media and perform startup repair.
- Or you can power on and off your PC 3/4 times to go into Automatic Repair mode and Wait for Windows to diagnose your PC
Repair and rebuild the Master Boot Record
The Master Boot Record (MBR) is a crucial component that contains information about the partitions and the boot loader. If the MBR becomes corrupted or misconfigured, it can lead to boot problems and result in a reboot loop. If the above solutions didn’t help, Repairing and rebuilding the Master Boot Record (MBR) can indeed help resolve a Windows 11 reboot loop caused by MBR-related issues.
First access Windows 11 Advanced options, then select the command prompt option,
In the Command Prompt window, type command bootrec /fixmbr and press Enter key to repair the Master Boot Record.
Next, run the command bootrec /rebuildbcd to scan for Windows installations and rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD), which includes the MBR information.
In addition run the command bootrec /fixboot to repair the boot sector of the system partition, which contains essential boot-related information.
Now close the command prompt and restart your PC to check if Windows 11 starts normally without a reboot loop.
FAQ:
What is a reboot loop in Windows 11?
- A reboot loop is when Windows 11 repeatedly restarts without successfully reaching the desktop.
What causes a reboot loop in Windows 11?
- A reboot loop can be caused by various factors, such as faulty hardware, driver conflicts, software issues, or corrupt system files.
How do I access Advanced Options in Windows 11?
- Allow the boot loop to occur until Windows enters the Automatic Repair mode. From there, select “Advanced options” to access additional troubleshooting options.
Can scanning and repairing system files fix a reboot loop in Windows 11?
- Yes, using commands like SFC (sfc /scannow) and DISM (DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth) can help identify and repair corrupt system files that may be causing the reboot loop.
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