Windows 11's October update causes a serious recovery mode glitch - but there's a workaround

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• A new bug stops USB devices in the Windows Recovery Environment.
• You can't navigate the WinRE screens using a mouse or keyboard.
• Microsoft is working on a fix, but there is one workaround.

What would a monthly Windows update be without at least one bug? That's the case with the October Patch Tuesday update rolled out by Microsoft almost a week ago. This one fixed more than 170 security flaws, but it also introduced a glitch that affects some Windows 11 users who turn to the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot boot-up issues.

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"After installing the Windows security update released on Oct.14, 2025 (KB5066835), USB devices, such as keyboards and ...