If you’re facing the frustrating Windows 11 USB fix after the recent KB5066835 update, Microsoft has finally released an emergency patch. This bug is separate from other known issues, like the Windows 11 dark mode legacy UI bug, and directly affects the recovery environment.
Today, Microsoft acknowledged the problem and has released an “out-of-band” patch to correct it.
What Was the Problem?
The recent KB5066835 security update, which rolled out to users on recent builds like the Windows 11 25H2 update, caused a critical issue. While Windows 11 itself worked fine, the recovery environment (WinRE) failed to load the necessary drivers for USB devices. This meant that if you needed to use WinRE for system restore, startup repair, or other troubleshooting, you couldn’t use your USB mouse or keyboard to navigate the menus.
How to Get the Emergency Fix “Windows 11 USB Fix” (It’s Not in Windows Update)
This is an “out-of-band” patch, which means it will not appear in your standard Windows Update settings. You must manually download and install it.
Microsoft has provided the patch directly through its official Microsoft Update Catalog.
Here’s what to do:
- Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog and search for the patch.
- Find the version that matches your Windows 11 installation.
- Download and install the package.
This Microsoft emergency patch is designed to fix the WinRE environment so that your USB devices work correctly when you need them most. We recommend all users who installed KB5066835 apply this fix to avoid future troubleshooting headaches.