A faulty BitLocker configuration is forcing some PCs into BitLocker recovery mode after the April 2026 update, but there's a workaround to resolve this issue.

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/windows-11-april-2026-update-breaks-bitlocker-for-some-pcs-heres-the-fix

"On April 14, 2026, Microsoft began rolling out the April 2026 Security Update (KB5083769) for Windows 11, introducing several visual changes, improvements, and fixes."

"... some devices are being prompted to enter the BitLocker recovery key on the first restart after installing the update.

The issue only affects a small number of systems with a specific configuration."

"... this is a one-time recovery event. After entering the BitLocker recovery key, future restarts should boot normally into Windows 11."