System freezes every 5 minutes and this will stop freeze but it is not the boot update causing the freeze.

Paul 20 Reputation points
2026-05-16T20:41:16.58+00:00

Where do I find Microsoft\Windows\PI\Secure-Boot-Update it seems this is the culprit that causes my system to freeze up every 5 minutes and other have stated that disabling this task stops the freeze and hopefully Microsoft will get a fix out for this problem

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2026-05-17T01:29:09.5833333+00:00

Hi Paul,

I understand your system freezes every ~5 minutes and you suspect the “Secure-Boot-Update” scheduled task may be involved.

Have you already tried the Q&A Assist suggestions? In addition, please try the following:

1, Check if the task really exists (via Command Prompt)

Sometimes the task may not appear in the UI if it's hidden or corrupted.

  1. Press Windows + S, type “cmd”
  2. Right‑click Command Prompt > Run as administrator
  3. Run: schtasks /query /tn "\Microsoft\Windows\PI\Secure-Boot-Update"

If it says ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified, then the task may not exist on your system (so the freezes likely have a different cause)

2, Test with a clean boot (to rule out conflicts)

This helps confirm whether the freeze is caused by a Windows task or a third‑party service:

  1. Press Windows + R > type “msconfig”
  2. Go to “Services” tab > check “Hide all Microsoft services”
  3. Click “Disable all” > Apply
  4. Restart the PC

If the freezing stops, then a background app/service is likely the cause (not the scheduled task itself)

3, Check Event Viewer for freeze timing

This can help confirm whether a scheduled task is really triggering the issue:

  1. Press Windows + X > Event Viewer
  2. Go to “Windows Logs” > “System”
  3. Look for Critical/Error events around the exact freeze times

If you see events repeating every ~5 minutes, note the source name

4, Install latest Windows updates

If this behavior is related to a recent issue, Microsoft typically resolves it through cumulative updates:

  • Go to Settings > Windows Update > “Check for updates”

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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-16T20:41:25.6233333+00:00

    The Secure-Boot-Update task is located in Task Scheduler under the Microsoft\Windows\PI folder.

    To find and disable it:

    1. Press Windows + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter to open Task Scheduler.
    2. In the left pane, expand:
      • Task Scheduler Library
      • Microsoft
      • Windows
      • Then select PI.
    3. In the middle pane, look for the task named Secure-Boot-Update.
    4. Right-click Secure-Boot-Update and select Disable.

    Users have reported that disabling this task prevents the recurring freezes that occur a few minutes after startup while connected to the internet. This is a workaround; a future Windows update may address the underlying issue, so installing the latest cumulative updates is recommended once available.

    References:

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    3 people found this answer helpful.
  2. Gabriel 95 Reputation points
    2026-06-20T22:02:42.7833333+00:00

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