When Windows 11 shows “Undoing changes made to your computer” and keeps rebooting, it’s almost always a failed update rollback (or a driver install that didn’t “commit”). Your data is typically still safe—the system is looping because Windows can’t finish the rollback cleanly, not because your files vanished.
What usually triggers it:
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A quality update that partially installed and can’t roll back cleanly
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Corrupted update components (Windows servicing / component store)
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Disk issues (low free space, file system errors, unstable storage writes)
Before you clear caches, reset Windows, or assume the drive is dead—use this diagnostic routing and fix the loop surgically.
Is your update frozen before the reboot? Check [How to Fix Windows 11 Update Stuck at 0% or 100%].
Step 0: Diagnosis (jump to the right fix)
Pick the first match:
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A) The loop started right after “Restart to finish updating” → Go to Step 1
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B) It sits on “Undoing changes…” forever, then reboots again → Go to Step 1 → Step 2
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C) You can reach the sign-in screen sometimes, but Windows crashes after login → Go to Step 4 → Step 5
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D) You see BitLocker Recovery Key prompts → Go to Step 3 (do not reset)
Step 1: Uninstall the latest update from WinRE (the fastest real fix)
⏱ Time: 8–15 min | Difficulty: Easy | Risk: Low
WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) lets you remove the bad update even when Windows won’t boot.
External authority (as requested):
Official Microsoft Guide on Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) → [Microsoft Support: Windows Recovery Environment]
Two ways to enter WinRE (use whichever is safer for you)
Method 1 (no sign-in needed): “Force-off 3 times”
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Power on
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When the spinning dots appear, hold the power button to force off
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Repeat 3 times → Windows should enter Automatic Repair / Recovery
Method 2 (preferred if you can reach sign-in): “Shift + Restart”
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On the sign-in screen, click Power → Restart while holding Shift
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This boots directly into recovery options
Uninstall the update (break the loop)
In WinRE, go to: Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates
Then try:
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Uninstall latest quality update
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If you recently upgraded Windows versions: Uninstall latest feature update
Microsoft documents this exact WinRE removal flow.
Step 2: Run Startup Repair (quick, safe, and surprisingly effective)
⏱ Time: 5–10 min | Difficulty: Easy | Risk: Low
In WinRE: Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Repair
If it boots after this, jump to Step 8 (stabilize updates).
Step 3: Use System Restore (rollback without wiping your files)
⏱ Time: 10–30 min | Difficulty: Medium | Risk: Low–Medium
System Restore rolls Windows back to a known-good state (updates/drivers/settings). Personal files are usually unaffected.
BitLocker reassurance (read this if you’re panicking):
If you hit a BitLocker Recovery Key screen, your data is still there—Windows is protecting the drive. Don’t reset. Restore/repair first.
👉 Stuck on the recovery key screen? Learn [How to Fix a BitLocker Recovery Key Loop Without Resetting].
Step 4: Boot into Safe Mode (remove the bad driver/update from inside Windows)
⏱ Time: 10–20 min | Difficulty: Medium | Risk: Low
In WinRE: Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart
Then press:
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4 / F4 = Safe Mode
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5 / F5 = Safe Mode with Networking
Once you’re in:
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Remove recent updates: Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates
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If a driver caused it: Device Manager → (GPU/Storage/Network) → Uninstall device
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Only check “Delete the driver” if you’re confident it’s the trigger.
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Step 5: Repair Windows components (DISM → SFC)
⏱ Time: 10–25 min | Difficulty: Medium | Risk: Low
These are the two commands users search for most—run them in this order in Command Prompt (Admin).
1) DISM (repairs the Windows image/component store):
2) SFC (repairs system files using the repaired image):
Reboot after both finish.
Step 6: Repair file system errors with CHKDSK (the “invisible cause”)
⏱ Time: 15–60+ min | Difficulty: Medium | Risk: Low
If Windows can’t reliably write update files, it will fail installs and rollbacks repeatedly.
External authority (as requested):
How to use CHKDSK to repair file system errors → [Microsoft Learn: chkdsk]
Run:
For deeper scans (slower, more thorough):
Step 7: Prevent the same update from re-triggering the loop
⏱ Time: 5–15 min | Difficulty: Easy | Risk: Low
After you regain access to Windows:
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Make sure you have plenty of free space on C: (updates fail silently when storage is tight)
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Temporarily disable third-party antivirus (if installed)
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Reboot once before retrying Windows Update
Step 8: Stabilize Windows Update so this doesn’t happen again
⏱ Time: 5–10 min | Difficulty: Easy | Risk: Low
Go to: Settings → Windows Update → Pause updates
Then wait for a corrected cumulative update or revised guidance for the specific patch.
Quick Machine Recovery (optional, supported versions only)
If you see it, enable it: Settings → System → Recovery → Quick machine recovery
Note: This feature is available on supported Windows 11 versions/builds (you may not see it on older releases).
👉 If your system stabilizes but still hits random crashes, see [10-Step Guide to Fixing Sudden Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Errors].
Step 9: Last resort without wiping — “Reinstall now” (in-place repair)
⏱ Time: 20–60 min | Difficulty: Medium | Risk: Low–Medium
If uninstalling updates and repairs don’t stick, use Microsoft’s in-place repair:
Path: Settings → System → Recovery → Fix problems using Windows Update → Reinstall now
Official instructions: [Microsoft Support: Fix issues by reinstalling the current version of Windows]
This is usually far safer than “Reset this PC.”
FAQ (Featured Snippet-ready)
Q1) Does “Undoing changes made to your computer” mean I lost my files?
Usually no. It typically means Windows can’t complete an update rollback. Your personal files are generally still intact.
Q2) What’s the fastest fix for the boot loop?
Enter WinRE and uninstall the latest quality update: Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates.
Q3) Should I reinstall Windows immediately?
Not first. Try WinRE uninstall + Startup Repair + DISM/SFC + CHKDSK. If the system remains unstable, use Reinstall now (in-place repair) before any reset.
Wrap-up (quick summary)
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This loop is almost always a failed update rollback, not a dead PC.
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Break the loop first: WinRE → Uninstall latest quality update.
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After you boot, pause updates and harden recovery options (Quick Machine Recovery on supported versions).