Windows 10 Frozen Due to Update Issues as of May 9 2026

Timothy Angelone 25

Let me preface this by stating that there seems to be widespread issues with pcs running Windows 10 and 11 as of May 9 2026. I have never had this happen before. Then out of the blue one of my Dell desktops running Windows 10 just inexplicably began freezing up after a few minutes. Based upon information I have gathered this is due to the most recent Windows updates. Unfortunately every attempt I have made to remedy this has failed including trying to RESET WINDOWS 10 and trying to uninstall the most recent update which is said to be the root cause. My PC is running but is frozen. This is very frustrating. What is Microsoft doing to fix this?

Timothy Angelone 25 Reputation points

2026-05-10T13:22:47.66+00:00

It is now May 10 2026. I tried to uninstall the most recent quality updates via the recovery area and received an error message that states that the most recent quality updates cannot be uninstalled. I then tried to reset my pc and received an error message. This is infuriating! 2 days and still no fix? sorry, but this is unacceptable. I have owned this same Dell desktop for many years and have never run into issue like this prior to the dodgy update. Please do something to address and fix this.
Daniel See 20 Reputation points

2026-05-12T11:34:24.5033333+00:00

I am also seeing a full system wide freeze on my Dell Machine - OptiPlex 3040 running Windows 10 latest public update.
Doug Mavay 0 Reputation points

2026-05-17T06:49:38.1933333+00:00

I had the same problem following Win 11 May 2026 Update. I've used Daniel See's solution, and it works - for me anyway! Thanks Daniel. I have no idea of the consequences of turning off Secure Boot in the BIOS.
bob dole 0 Reputation points

2026-05-18T08:01:29.8766667+00:00

Yea the may 15 update basically bricked my my computer.

It would boot up fine then 3-5 mins it would totally freeze my computer.

I want no Microsoft updates any more. Ill take my chances with with the internet.

If anyone is wondering? I really dont know. After 20 times I restarted it said going back to normal or something like that. God damn know i know why people say avoide win 11.
LSF 0 Reputation points

2026-05-20T15:06:07.7066667+00:00

My husband and I have the same issue on both our computers (Windows 10 with extended support). After a recent update, both our computers freeze shortly after booting. We each were able to access recovery mode only once. I tried to go back to an earlier restore point but once Windows loaded, the screen froze and the changes could not be completed. My husband was able to uninstall the last update and his computer was fine, but Microsoft downloaded the update again before he could stop it and now he is back to a system that freezes. Microsoft needs to provide a fix for this. Both our computers are not usable and we paid for extended support!
Gremlin 0 Reputation points

2026-06-14T20:29:58.9566667+00:00

I've got two separate machines that are also exhibitng this exact behaviour, it'd be great if Microsoft could actually fix the issue.
Michael D 0 Reputation points

2026-06-24T03:30:51.5166667+00:00

Thank you. I just saw this tonight. I thought I was the only one with this problem or I am just getting old (74). Since right around May 9 my Lenovo, Windows 11, has been freezing. I thought it had something to do with the updates. Frustrating isn't the word for it but I won't put in here. So what can I (we) do about it. I will keep looking for fixes. Again, thanks, just so I don't drive myself crazy.
Todd Reser 0 Reputation points

2026-06-24T18:00:09.84+00:00

One of my Dell Inspiron 3250 (with BIOS 3.11.1) systems running Windows 10 extended support recently started randomly locking up after boot at different times. Disabling Secure boot in the BIOS has resolved the problem temporarily. I see there is an updated BIOS 3.12.1 which is "supposed to fix this problem" and allow me to turn secure boot back on. Hoping this might help others. Haven't tried it yet, but will https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=k07n5
Todd Reser 0 Reputation points

2026-06-25T14:37:56.28+00:00

Completed the BIOS update to version 3.12.1 on my Dell Inspiron 3250 yesterday and can still use "Secure Boot" in the BIOS now. I have had zero problems in the last 24 hours. Computer used to lock up within 5 to 7 minutes maximum after the last Microsoft Security Update.
Aleksandr 0 Reputation points

2026-09-11T08:36:04.8433333+00:00

Thank you! Your solution helped me as well.

I have a Dell Vostro 3900 running Windows 10 Pro 22H2 (build 19045), with BIOS A10, UEFI and Secure Boot enabled.

After the recent Windows updates, my system started experiencing complete hard freezes about 5 minutes after boot. The computer became totally unresponsive and required a forced power-off. Hardware diagnostics did not show any problems.

I eventually found this discussion and tried the suggested solution. I disabled the scheduled task:

Microsoft\Windows\PI\Secure-Boot-Update

After rebooting, the freezes disappeared. My Vostro 3900 has now been running normally for more than 50 minutes.

This is especially interesting because I had previously spent a considerable amount of time troubleshooting the system, and at one point even had to reinstall Windows. The problem eventually returned after Windows updates.

So far, disabling Secure-Boot-Update appears to have solved exactly the same problem on my Vostro 3900.

Thank you for sharing this solution — it saved me a lot of time and frustration!

Answer recommended by moderator

LTP 10

I had the same Windows 10 Windows locking up issue with the June 9th 2026 patch.

Based on your suggested fix, I did an internet search for details and found this attached instruction (see image I attached) that says after turning off Secure Boot in Safe Mode and logging into Windows, you should disable a certain item in Windows Task Scheduler. Then, log back out of Windows, reboot in Safe Mode, re-enable Secure Boot, save and re-log into Windows. I wouldn't have gotten there, however, without You providing the first steps which I did my search on.

I did these additional steps beyond what you suggested and my machine has been working now for 30 minutes without freezing up. 1000031568

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Gremlin 0 Reputation points

2026-08-17T00:17:46.6366667+00:00
I'm wondering if the next update will help solve this issue it specifically mentions the security certificates and one of the updates includes
- [Secure Boot] This update includes additional high confidence device targeting data, increasing coverage of devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates. Certificate deployment via Windows updates continues across supported PCs and non-managed business devices in the coming months.
Sort of nervous to let this install on my now working again machine.
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LSF 0 Reputation points

2026-08-17T16:02:52.9966667+00:00

The updates worked for me! I recently tried my old computer again (Windows 10 with freezing issue) because I wanted to quickly copy a document I needed onto a flash drive to add to my new computer. I received a message that Windows updates were being installed with instructions not to turn off my computer. I let the updates happen and the freezing issue was resolved! No problems so far. I can now copy whatever I need without worrying about being timed out.
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Y Ha 0 Reputation points

2026-07-26T11:51:55.3733333+00:00

**I have a Dell 7559. I bought a new SSD and completed a clean Win 11 install in July 2026 a few days ago. Sadly, after every boot my laptop kept freezing. I thought that was a problem with the win 11 not supporting Skylake i7 6th gen processors so I performed a ALL clean Win 10 installation. It was just working fine. And WHEN I DID THE **KB5099539 update after a few cylces of update/restart I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. Only thing I could've done was to reinstall it because uninstalling update was too long that the "non-freeze treshold" was not enough. NOW IT IS WORKING FINE WITH 2025 OCTOBER UDATE with auto-updates disabled. Still I am afraid it will somehow install (since i am enrolled ESU) the july update. And tryna find ways to stop ESU enrollment.
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Y Ha 0 Reputation points

2026-07-26T12:23:47.13+00:00

Also keep in mind booting in safe mode doesn't cause freeze. And you can go press shift and click restart as fast as you can -don't stop pressing shift key- and w screen will show tah you can either go repair win, go to restore point, or in advanced setting go to your uefei reboot and non of screens in this mode will cause freeze.
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Nishit Patel 5 Reputation points

2026-07-23T18:00:36.5266667+00:00
My PC (Dell Inspiron 3542, 2014-era BIOS) started hard-freezing a few minutes after every single boot right after installing the June 2026 cumulative update (KB5094127). No BSOD, no error — just a complete freeze. Power button restart, works a few minutes, freezes again.

I even did a clean install of Windows earlier — didn't help, because the next update brought the problem right back. After digging around, found the actual cause.

THE CAUSE

Microsoft's original Secure Boot certificates (from 2011) expire in June 2026. Windows Update is pushing new certificates to every machine via a scheduled task called Secure-Boot-Update, which runs a few minutes after every boot and tries to write the new keys into your BIOS/UEFI firmware.

On older PCs with outdated or no-longer-supported BIOS, this write operation crashes the firmware → entire system hard-freezes. That's why it happens a few minutes after startup, every time. Reinstalling Windows does NOT fix it.

THE FIX (5 minutes, fully reversible)

Step 1 — Disable the scheduled task:
1. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, press Enter
Navigate to: Task Scheduler Library → Microsoft → Windows → PI

Right-click Secure-Boot-Update → Disable

Step 2 — Stop future updates from re-enabling it (registry):

Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecureBoot

Double-click AvailableUpdates → set value to 0

Right-click empty space → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value → name it HighConfidenceOptOut → set value to 1

Step 3 — Restart and use the PC normally for 15–20 minutes. If no freeze, you're done.

TIP: If the PC freezes before you can finish, restart and do Step 1 first — the task usually waits a few minutes after boot, so you have a window. Work fast.

WHAT THIS DOES / TRADE-OFF

This opts your PC out of the Secure Boot certificate rollout. On old machines with unsupported BIOS, the update can never apply properly anyway — the only thing it does is freeze your system. Your PC keeps booting normally with the old certificates.

Everything is reversible: re-enable the task and delete HighConfidenceOptOut if you ever want the update back (e.g., after a BIOS update, if your OEM ever releases one).

Standard disclaimer: this involves a registry edit — follow at your own risk. But both changes are simple and fully reversible.

Hope this saves someone the days of frustration it cost me. If this fixed your freeze, drop your PC model in the comments so others can find this thread when searching.My PC (Dell Inspiron 3542, 2014-era BIOS) started hard-freezing a few minutes after every single boot right after installing the June 2026 cumulative update (KB5094127). No BSOD, no error — just a complete freeze. Power button restart, works a few minutes, freezes again.

I even did a clean install of Windows earlier — didn't help, because the next update brought the problem right back. After digging around, found the actual cause.

THE CAUSE

Microsoft's original Secure Boot certificates (from 2011) expire in June 2026. Windows Update is pushing new certificates to every machine via a scheduled task called Secure-Boot-Update, which runs a few minutes after every boot and tries to write the new keys into your BIOS/UEFI firmware.

On older PCs with outdated or no-longer-supported BIOS, this write operation crashes the firmware → entire system hard-freezes. That's why it happens a few minutes after startup, every time. Reinstalling Windows does NOT fix it.

THE FIX (5 minutes, fully reversible)

Step 1 — Disable the scheduled task:

Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, press Enter

Navigate to: Task Scheduler Library → Microsoft → Windows → PI

Right-click Secure-Boot-Update → Disable

Step 2 — Stop future updates from re-enabling it (registry):

Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecureBoot

Double-click AvailableUpdates → set value to 0

Right-click empty space → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value → name it HighConfidenceOptOut → set value to 1

Step 3 — Restart and use the PC normally for 15–20 minutes. If no freeze, you're done.

TIP: If the PC freezes before you can finish, restart and do Step 1 first — the task usually waits a few minutes after boot, so you have a window. Work fast.

WHAT THIS DOES / TRADE-OFF

This opts your PC out of the Secure Boot certificate rollout. On old machines with unsupported BIOS, the update can never apply properly anyway — the only thing it does is freeze your system. Your PC keeps booting normally with the old certificates.

Everything is reversible: re-enable the task and delete HighConfidenceOptOut if you ever want the update back (e.g., after a BIOS update, if your OEM ever releases one).

Standard disclaimer: this involves a registry edit — follow at your own risk. But both changes are simple and fully reversible.

Hope this saves someone the days of frustration it cost me. If this fixed your freeze, drop your PC model in the comments so others can find this thread when searching.
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Y Ha 0 Reputation points

2026-07-26T12:28:11.1633333+00:00

Wish I saw it before thinkin I had a defective win/pc when performing a celan win11 update and having issues which lead me installing win10 and buying a license for it. Lol. Thx man it was probably the root cause adn since I am enrolled in ESU with auto updates disabled now if i ever again have with accidental june-july 2026 updates I will keep it in mind. Any advises welcome for my situation I also posted as a comment on this thread.
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Gabriel 90 Reputation points

2026-06-15T11:13:28.5433333+00:00

See also https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5829701/windows-10-freezes-every-time-5-minutes-after-star and https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/xps-8910-and-the-nightmare-of-june-2026-secure-boot-update/6a2f121d172f524e9c53981c
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Windows 10 Frozen Due to Update Issues as of May 9 2026

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