Loading ...Step 1: Force Windows into Recovery Mode (WinRE)
If Windows won’t boot, we need the recovery environment.
Power on the computer
As soon as you see the Windows logo or spinning dots → hold the power button to force it off
Repeat this 2–3 times
On the next start, Windows should say:
“Preparing Automatic Repair”
If that doesn’t appear, let me know — there’s a USB fallback.
Step 2: Use Startup Repair (safe, fast)
Once in the blue recovery screen:
Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Repair
Choose the Windows 11 installation
Let it run
Reboot when finished
👉 If it boots, you’re done.
👉 If it fails, keep going.
Step 3: Roll back the broken update (very often the fix)
Back to:
Troubleshoot → Advanced options
Try these in order:
A. Uninstall latest quality update
Select Uninstall Updates
Choose Uninstall latest quality update
Reboot
B. If that fails, uninstall feature update
Same menu
Uninstall latest feature update
Reboot
⚠️ This does not delete files.
Step 4: Boot into Safe Mode
If updates are stuck mid-install:
Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart
When it reboots, press:
4 = Safe Mode
5 = Safe Mode with Networking (preferred)
If you gets in:
Open Settings → Windows Update
Pause updates
Reboot normally
Step 5: Fix a “pending update” loop (command line)
This one is gold for update-brick situations.
From Advanced options → Command Prompt:
Type exactly (one line at a time):
dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions
Wait for it to finish, then:
exit
Reboot.
This explicitly tells Windows:
“Stop trying to finish the update that’s killing me.”
Step 6: Last non-destructive option – System Restore
If you had restore points enabled:
Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore
Pick a restore point before the update attempt.
Step 7: If none of this works
At that point the choices are:
In-place repair using a Windows 11 USB (keeps files)
Reset this PC → Keep my files
Both are recoverable, but usually you won’t need to go this far.
Two quick questions that help me tailor this:
Do you see “Preparing Automatic Repair” at all?
Does the failure happen after a reboot during “Working on updates”?