An emergency update is now available for Windows 11. Microsoft aims to fix a bug affecting USB devices in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), rendering USB keyboards and mice unusable.
As mentioned in our previous articles, the inability to use USB devices in the Windows 11 Recovery Environment has been a significant issue. Fortunately, an emergency fix with reference KB5070773 has been released for both Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, which also experienced bugs right from their launch.
Windows 11 Update Fixes Bug Preventing Keyboards and Mice from Working
This bug emerged during the last Patch Tuesday, causing USB keyboards and mice to stop responding in WinRE, or Windows Recovery Environment, making it impossible to navigate troubleshooting menus. The issue began following the security update KB5066832 released on October 14, 2025, along with the WinRE update KB5067039.
The defect is serious as it blocks access to system repair for all users with USB devices, which are now the norm in nearly all computing environments. Microsoft has therefore released a new WinRE update under reference KB5070762 to resolve the issue completely. This emergency fix, referred to as OOB, applies to builds 26200.6901 of Windows 11 25H2 and 26100.6901 of Windows 11 24H2.
The Redmond company explains that the download and installation of this fix for Windows 11 will occur automatically on affected PCs. However, if you prefer to install it manually, you can obtain the fix from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft thus offers two solutions to swiftly resolve the problem, applicable to both PCs configured for automatic updates and those managed manually by IT administrators.
Source: Microsoft
