Technology

Microsoft rushes out emergency Windows 11 patch after botched update breaks Recovery — restores USB keyboard and mouse input inside WinRE for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Oct 21, 2025

TL;DR

AI Generated

Microsoft has released an emergency patch, KB5070773, for Windows 11 to fix a bug that broke the Windows Recovery Environment in versions 24H2 and 25H2, rendering USB keyboard and mouse input unusable. The issue was caused by cumulative update KB5066835, affecting users trying to access recovery tools like Startup Repair and Reset this PC. Users are advised to install the patch via Windows Update to restore functionality. Despite the fix, concerns arise about the reliability of Microsoft's update process, especially with recent back-to-back failures impacting critical recovery features.

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