Windows 11's October Update Causes A Serious Recovery Mode Glitch - But There's A Workaround

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• A caller bug stops USB devices successful nan Windows Recovery Environment.
• You can't navigate nan WinRE screens utilizing a rodent aliases keyboard.
• Microsoft is moving connected a fix, but location is 1 workaround.

What would a monthly Windows update beryllium without astatine slightest 1 bug? That's nan lawsuit pinch nan October Patch Tuesday update rolled retired by Microsoft almost a week ago. This 1 fixed much than 170 information flaws, but it besides introduced a glitch that affects immoderate Windows 11 users who move to nan Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot boot-up issues.

Also: Windows 11 AI agents will enactment connected your behalf - really overmuch tin you spot them?

"After installing nan Windows information update released connected Oct.14, 2025 (KB5066835), USB devices, specified arsenic keyboards and mice, do not usability successful nan Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)," Microsoft revealed connected its known issues page for Windows 11. "This rumor prevents navigation of immoderate of nan betterment options wrong WinRE. Note that nan USB keyboard and rodent proceed to activity usually wrong nan Windows operating system."

Also: Don't want to upgrade to Windows 11? You don't person to, but here's what you should know

The rumor affects Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2, arsenic good arsenic Windows Server 2025. Microsoft said it's aiming to rotation retired a solution successful nan coming days.

Workarounds

WinRE is simply a betterment instrumentality that tin measurement successful if Windows is incapable to footwear up properly. In immoderate instances, nan instrumentality whitethorn automatically commencement and effort to repair nan issue; successful others, you tin manually prime definite options, specified arsenic a recovery drive aliases Safe Mode, to effort to repair aliases astatine slightest constrictive down nan problem. But without support for a USB rodent aliases keyboard, there's nary measurement to navigate nan environment. However, location is 1 workaround.

Also: Microsoft's ultra compact Windows 11 25H2 update is present - get it successful a azygous restart

If you person an old-style PS/2 keyboard aliases rodent and a compatible larboard connected your PC, you should beryllium capable to activity pinch nan WinRE screens, arsenic nan glitch affects only USB devices. Otherwise, you'll person to hold for Microsoft's fix, which should get earlier excessively long.

Another action is to simply region nan October update, but that presumes you're still capable to footwear into Windows without immoderate issues. If so, caput to Windows Update, prime Update History, scroll to nan bottommost of nan screen, and click nan action to uninstall updates. Look for nan KB5066835 update and click nan Uninstall nexus to region it.

Other bugs

Beyond nan WinRE glitch, a fewer different bugs person popped up successful nan latest October update. One affects IIS websites, but only those stored connected your ain PC. If you're utilizing your machine arsenic an IIS server to big websites, those sites whitethorn neglect to load. This 1 affects Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2, arsenic good arsenic Windows Server 2025. Here, Microsoft said it's moving connected a hole slated for a early Windows update.

Also: Did you cognize that Windows 11 has an emergency shutdown feature? Here's wherever to find it

With different issue, arsenic documented by Windows Latest, nan File Explorer preview model whitethorn extremity moving correctly. When trying to show a record downloaded from nan unreality aliases moreover an soul network, nan preview whitethorn trigger an correction telling you that nan record could harm your computer. Though Microsoft hasn't publically acknowledged this one, hopefully a hole is connected nan way.

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