A new bug is affecting some Windows 11 and Windows 10 users and it is caused by Microsoft’s July Cumulative Update.
It’s also strange: some users are seeing the BitLocker recovery screen after booting their device. That must have been quite a shock for those affected.
According to Windows CentralMultiple versions of Windows 11 are affected by the issue, including Windows 11 versions 23H2, 22H2, and 21H2, as well as Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, and others.
Microsoft’s monthly cumulative updates are also known as “Patch Tuesday” updates because they’re released on the second Tuesday of every month. They deliver quality improvements and security fixes to Windows 10 and Windows 11. And of course, they occasionally contain bugs, like this July offering.
BitLocker is a tool that provides disk encryption to keep your data safe and secure. It can be configured on Windows 11 Pro (or business and education versions of the operating system), but Windows 11 Home does not have BitLocker support – it does, however, offer a Device Encryption option (essentially a lightweight alternative).
We don’t expect Windows 11 Home users to be affected by this bug, but if you’re running Windows 11 Pro you should still be careful when applying the July update.
Microsoft is investigating the bug, but what can be done in the meantime?
Microsoft is aware of this issue and has updated the Windows 11 release health dashboard with details about the glitch. The software giant advises that the bug is more likely if you have Device Encryption enabled and BitLocker turned on. You can find this option in the Institutions app, go to the Privacy and security section, and click on Device encryptionIf Device Encryption doesn’t appear for you, it may not be available on your device.
In any case, if you encounter the buggy BitLocker recovery screen after applying the July update (when you weren’t expecting it), there is currently a workaround available – namely, entering a BitLocker recovery key. This key is available via your Microsoft account and can be retrieved by signing in to Microsoft’s Recovery Screen PortalAfter you enter the recovery key, your PC should boot normally.
Unfortunately, this is currently the only known workaround for the issue, but Microsoft is working on it and says it’s investigating the bug, so hopefully a fix will be released soon. If Microsoft can find the time and help combat the larger CrowdStrike outage at the same time, that is.
