How to fix blank screen when logging into Windows

Question

We're currently having issues with some of our PCs on both W10 and W11. This seems to be random and we're not sure if this is from a recent update. When logging in, all we can see is a blank screen and nothing else. Tried a bunch of fixes including DISM, SFC, Windows Repair etc. but none work so far. We can login with some cached users on the PC but could not perform any task. We think this is due to the recent Dec 2025 security update KB5074109 that letf the system in an "improper state". We tried to uninstall any recent updates via powershell and command prompt but none worked. Please let us know of any other work around besides factory reset. Thank you.

Answer 1

Good morning

I hope you are doing well.

Have you found the answer useful? If everything is okay, don't forget to share your experience with the issue by accepting the answer. Should you need more information, free free to leave a message. Happy to help! :)

Domic Vo.

Answer 2

Hello Ron Ines,

This is a client‑side Windows 10/11 servicing problem, most likely tied to the December 2025 cumulative update you mentioned (KB5074109). The blank screen at logon with cached users still accessible but unusable indicates that the update has left the system in a broken state where explorer.exe or the shell initialization sequence fails to load.

Since you already attempted DISM, SFC, and standard uninstall commands without success, the next step is to focus on servicing rollback. When a cumulative update leaves the system in an improper state, the supported recovery path is to use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to remove the update. Boot into WinRE (Shift+Restart or boot from installation media), then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates. From there, you can specifically uninstall the latest Quality Update or Feature Update. This method bypasses the servicing stack restrictions that prevent removal from within the running OS.

If WinRE uninstall fails, another option is to perform an in‑place upgrade repair using the latest Windows 10/11 ISO. This reinstalls the OS while preserving applications and data, and it refreshes the servicing stack so the broken update state is cleared. It is far less destructive than a factory reset.

For diagnostic purposes, check the logs under C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log and C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log. These will confirm whether KB5074109 is failing to roll back due to pending operations or corruption in the component store. If you see repeated “Failed to revert update” entries, that is a clear indicator that only WinRE or in‑place repair will resolve it.

In short, the workaround besides factory reset is to use WinRE’s uninstall update option or perform an in‑place upgrade repair. Both are supported recovery paths when a cumulative update leaves the system in an unusable state.

I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

Domic Vo.

Answer 3

To address the issue of a blank screen when logging into Windows, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Reset the Graphics Driver: Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This can sometimes resolve display issues.
2. Check the Shell Configuration:
   • Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows logo key + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.
   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.
   • Ensure that the Shell value data is set to explorer.exe. If it is not, change it to explorer.exe after backing up the registry.
3. Event Viewer Check: Use the Event Viewer to check for any errors related to explorer.exe or userinit.exe. Look for Event ID 1000 in the Application log, which indicates that an application has stopped responding.
4. Perform a Clean Boot: This can help identify if a startup application or service is causing the issue. Follow the instructions on how to perform a clean boot in Windows.
5. Use Process Monitor: Download and run Process Monitor to capture logs during the boot process. This can help identify if explorer.exe or userinit.exe is exiting unexpectedly.
6. Check User Group Membership: Ensure that the local Users group contains the Interactive account and the Authenticated Users group. Changes to this group can lead to issues with desktop interaction.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to explore further options or consult Microsoft support for assistance related to the specific update you mentioned.

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References:

• Blank desktop in Windows
• Scenario guide: Black screen after you sign in to the system