Microsoft has responded to a serious problem with Windows 11 in which the installation KB5066835 update may break USB keyboard and mousepreventing them from running in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and preventing you from doing anything.
As of yesterday, Microsoft has released two emergency out-of-the-box updates to address this issue: KB5070762 And KB5070773which are for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. Continue reading to get more details about the underlying issue and fixes.
USB input devices fail after update
This issue affects systems running Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2, and Windows Server 2025. After installing the October update (KB5066835), USB keyboards, mice, and other input devices no longer work as expected in the recovery environment. This meant that users could no longer PC repair or reboot Windows.
Two updates that fix the problem
Microsoft confirmed the bug and quickly announced an emergency update to fix the issue with the driver not initializing correctly.
- KB5070762 is a so-called dynamic secure OS update that directly repairs Windows 11 WinRE components.
- KB5070773 is an optional cumulative update (builds 26100.6901 and 26200.6901) that resolves the same issue on systems where the Safe OS update does not take effect automatically.
Both updates address the same issue, ensuring that USB keyboards, mice, and adapters will work again in the recovery environment. Microsoft emphasizes that these updates do not make any other changes to the system and do not require a reboot.
Emergency updates are distributed automatically through Windows Update, but if necessary, they can also be downloaded manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog (KB5070762 And KB5070773). Microsoft recommends that companies install these updates promptly to avoid potential support disruptions during system recovery.
