Recent reports from users across forums and tech news sites reveal that Microsoft’s February 10, 2026 cumulative update — KB5077181 — is causing major startup issues for some Windows 11 PCs. This has become one of the most talked-about Windows 11 problems this month.
🔁 Endless Restart Loops: What’s Happening?
After installing the KB5077181 update, many Windows 11 devices enter continuous restart or “boot loop” cycles. Users describe:
Systems rebooting more than a dozen times without ever reaching the desktop.
PCs stuck in automatic repair mode.
Login screens that never appear or show errors.
In some reports, users encountered a System Event Notification Service (SENS) error, preventing them from signing in even if the PC briefly reaches the login screen.
🌐 Networking & Connectivity Breakdown
Even when the PC seems to start, network connectivity may fail after the update. Some users report:
Wi-Fi or Ethernet showing “Connected” but no internet access.
DHCP client errors that stop devices from obtaining an IP address.
This means even logged-in users can’t browse the web or reach help pages to troubleshoot.
🛠 Why This Matters
Microsoft bundled critical security patches in the February update — fixing around 58 vulnerabilities, including some that were actively exploited. But for some systems, the update’s rollout has had severe side effects.
Affected builds include Windows 11 24H2 (build 26200.7840) and 25H2 (build 26100.7840) — both getting KB5077181 installed via Windows Update.
⚠️ What Users Are Saying
Across forums and community discussions:
Some users had to pause automatic updates to stop the cycle.
Others found that the restart loops only stopped after uninstalling the update.
A few even needed to use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to rollback changes.
Tech outlets noted that Microsoft hasn’t yet publicly acknowledged the reboot loop as a confirmed issue, even though the practical impact is widespread.
💡 What You Can Do Now
If you’re affected or worried about updating, here are some steps users are trying:
🧰 Quick Fix Options
Pause Windows Updates — prevents KB5077181 from reinstalling until it’s fixed.
Uninstall the update:
If you can boot normally:
Go to Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates and remove KB5077181.If your PC won’t boot: use WinRE → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates.
Wait for a fix — Microsoft may issue a follow-up patch to resolve these restart loops.
⚠️ Before making changes, back up your data if possible — boot-related problems can make recovery harder.
🧠 Final Thoughts
While Windows updates normally improve security and stability, this February 2026 rollout has revealed some serious side effects for a subset of users. If your PC starts looping after an update:
Don’t panic — many are reporting the same issue.
Try uninstalling the update or pausing updates until an official patch arrives.
Stay tuned for Microsoft’s guidance or a newer cumulative fix.
